Hi CB,
<<The "Great Game" …was … Russians … getting a warm water port to the south … Great Britain wanted was to protect India, the grand prize of the British Empire…>>
And the British also wanted to push into Tibet, ostensibly to protect India, as the Indians and CIA wanted to do back in the late 50s.
These days, I suspect, the Russians probably would like to keep their ports in the Siberian Far East, the Japanese probably would like to see otherwise, along with the Koreans and Chinese.
The US is benefiting from the violation of rights of the folks who would like to move back to Diego Garcia.
The Game, and it is not over, has no rights, no wrongs, only just is.
<<Your assertion that we wish to "redraw the map" is interesting, because it is contrary to my understanding. We do not have, as far as I can tell, any desire to have an empire in Asia.>>
The consequence of acknowledging the issue of Tibet naturally leads to a possible redrawing of the map, as the USSR map was redrawn, which BTW, in our life time, will likely be redrawn several more times.
I am being liberal in moving back and forth across the time line, between the 18th century and now. My point is that the Game had never changed, even to this day. The Russians still want a southern port, as possibly the Chinese (Burma). And the British and Japanese still wants to see all their neighbors at least no stronger than they are. Just chessboard moves, positioning.
It is good, as you alluded to, that the Afghanis can take care of themselves. Their ability to do so has so far only hindered the British and the Russians, but their more recent harboring of Bin Laden is making the US unhappy. If it is not one thing it is another for this troublesome little country, but again, mostly only taking care of themselves and minding their own business.
<<If push ever comes to shove between our support for Israel and our need for oil, I have no idea how that would play out.>>
That day, maybe coming soon, would not be a good day for the world, and I think the equity and gold markets will go in sharply different directions on that day.
<<>>China is actually … democratic … about the ownership of nuclear bombs know-how<<
I wonder whether you are joking or serious?>>
I was joking. However, bombs should be banned, or, everyone should have 10. Monopoly in bomb ownership is bad for the guys who do not have one, and makes the guys who do act more casually about the rights of others.
Now, between at least you and I, we know for sure that every issue is, in however a twisted manner, connected with every other issue.
<<Made in China … buy>>
Should I worry about the agricultural chemicals that my power station is enabling to be produced and exported to the US, resulting presumably in some edible agricultural products.
On your last post …
<<I can see how US … might cause Chinese to fear that we wish to "redraw the map."
From our perspective, the goal is fighting the expansion of Communism, which we have been doing for decades.
Democracy good, Communism bad>>
No arguments there, and I have good news for you. There are now probably fewer Communists (they are hiding so well that I have not met one in the past 10 years) in China than there are Socialists in the US (met plenty of them) and Europe (same again), and there are fewer Socialists in China (there are those still, and they are kind hearted souls wanting to take care of people who cannot take care of themselves) than there are Communists in Russia.
Capitalism has won. China is capitalisms greatest recent victory, bar none.
Democracy not yet, and should, frankly, be soon, as I hope within 10-15 years, if matters are not delayed by US actions. IMO, the world does not need another Indian-like democracy or Japanese-like democracy or Russian-like democracy adopted in China. China should be able to do far better and deserve no less.
The spreading of ideals and ideas require people-to-people contact, and the US is turning the Chinese people against the US people. From your perspective, China is turning the US people against the Chinese people. This, here, is the crux of the difficulty.
Alas, I do not have any solutions. Back to my mantra … everything good, war bad …
and in China …
Work diligently, continue reform, and oops, what is this about NMD? Let’s build rockets, just in case …
and in the US …
Why is China not following the script? But, before we figure it out, lets fuss on MFN, NMD …
Chugs, Jay |
