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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Maurice Winn who wrote (204680)	9/29/2006 9:37:27 AM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

There's some more of interest in the story of Louis XVI and the French Revolution. Yes, it's true that spending money to help the Americans against the British hastened the demise of the French monarchy. Also, it's true that the American revolutionaries sided with the French revolutionaries, who were inspired by the American success, although, they really sided with the Marquis de Lafayette, who showed us how to fight the British, was made an honorary citizen of the United States, and was an early member and hero of the French Revolution. It is said, and is no doubt at least partly true, that the US came into WWI to pay our debt to France, proclaiming, "Lafayette, we are here!" But what's really interesting is that early in French Revolution, the French aristocracy sent all their money abroad, into the Bank of England, which was trustworthy, and other British banks, which then loaned out the surplus to fund the Industrial Revolution, which made Great Britain the most powerful empire in the world (at that time). The British, of course, eventually destroyed the last remains of the Mogul Empire and the Ottoman Empire, effectively ending the Caliphate. Thus, it's almost impossible to calculate the future effect of actions today. But, vis-a-vis Afghanistan, consider this. During the Soviet war in Afghanistan, India allied with the Soviets. If the Soviets had kept Afghanistan, taken Pakistan, and consolidated their position in India, would India be as well off today, or would it be struggling like all the other former Soviet countries? The competition for influence in Central Asia was called in the West (when the British were waging it) "the Great Game" and in Russia, "the Tournament of Shadows." Part of the game is limiting Russian access to warm water ports. Russia's greatest ally, winter, is also their greatest foe. The goal now is control of Central Asian oil, but as we have already seen, it's impossible to predict the future results of actions we take today. (BTW, I am not Irish. I'm Catholic because the Catholic French settled Louisiana.)