Dear Stephen - you sez, "You all post a common theme: self interest."
come to think about it, yes, you've hit the nail on the head [my apology, today I seem to be plagued with cliche <g>.] You are quite right about "self interest." Having said that, however, even Secretary Rubin himself has mentioned about enlightened self-interest and I think the key how enlightened the interest is being invested in the process. By no means I am defending the IMF, especially it lacks the political know hows to affect changes in political explosive regions like Malaysia, Indonesia and Russia [but it does deliver a somewhat better performance in Thailand - and to a lesser extent, in Korea;] however, IMHO, its spending is no different than the foreign aid the US has been doughing out in the past several decades. In the past, we gave money to people like Marco. At least, IMF isn't footing the bill for torturing innocent people [boy, I am getting too worked up here <G>]
Regarding the Russian response, you ve again hit right. Come to think about it, maybe the financial sharks have failed to learn enough Russian history before trying to raid the country. They [the Russians] did it to Napolean; they did it to Hitler. Scorch earth tactics is their specialty and the sharks should think twice in the future <G>.
To digress a bit, if indeed every country has a historical identity, I am hopeful that China will eventually emerge from its geriatric cocoon and become an enlightened leader in the Pac Rim politically, economically and racially.
best, Bosco |
