<there's a few places that are doing really well in the globalization game (China, India mainly) but many that are just falling further out of the game (most of Africa, say).>
"Free Trade" is an empty slogan, a sham. In reality, every government uses all their leverage, all the time, to tilt the playing field in their favor. China and India are big enough, self-sufficient enough, that they can play the hard-ball game of Trade Negotiation, and not get screwed. Niger and Bolivia don't stand a chance. Their markets get forced open, while their own exports, anything where they have a competitive advantage, faces high tariffs and massive subsidies to rich countries' producers.
When Bin Laden's vision comes to pass, and the entire Arab world (or maybe the entire Muslim World) is re-united into a New Califate, they can speak with one voice, to Europe and America, and not be ignored. With Saudi oil, Iran's (or Pakistan's) nukes, cannon fodder from teeming Egypt, the Arab's national humiliation will be history.
By trying to seize their land in Palestine, and their oil in Iraq, we are convincing the Arabs to accept Bin Laden's vision, as the only way to keep the Crusaders at bay. |
