Chinatown
If the devil does not exist,
and man has therefore created him,
he has created him in his own image and likeness
--Fyodor Dostoevsky
"Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable
ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century,"
[Bush] said, with no apparent sign of irony.
--Dan Froomkin, "Pootie-Poot"
Vice Stops being vice when
there's no virtue
--Billiards at Half-past Nine,
Heinrich Böll
_______________
and man has therefore created him,
he has created him in his own image and likeness
--Fyodor Dostoevsky
"Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable
ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century,"
[Bush] said, with no apparent sign of irony.
--Dan Froomkin, "Pootie-Poot"
Vice Stops being vice when
there's no virtue
--Billiards at Half-past Nine,
Heinrich Böll
_______________
When Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and wanna-be Henry Kissinger talk of blueprints for U.S. foreign policy, they point to Iraq and Afghanistan as the epicenter -- a gaping maw for hard-earned U.S. taxpayer dollars. The return on those dollars will be felt by the U.S. people for the next several generations.
Meanwhile, China, all 1.34 billion of them, has loaned Angola $2 Billion to be repaid in oil. Chinese business is investing in Angola, and throughout Africa China is supplanting the West. 48 of 53 African countries have significant economic ties with China.
Contrast that with the U.S. which is spending $160 Billion for wars to secure street corners in Kabul and Baghdad, fulfilling no significant strategic goals for the U.S. In fact, the terms "U.S." and "strategic goals" should not be uttered together, post 2000. They have become an oxymoron.
While the U.S. pursues policies alienating Iran, Venezuela and Russia, nations like China are ensuring their future enhanced lifestyles courting these nations. Meanwhile George Bush alternately plays kissy-face with and grovels before Saudi Arabian potentates who share no U.S. values, aside from money grubbing.
While the U.S. focuses on two countries insignificant to U.S. interests, Brazil will exceed the U.S. this year in soybean exports. This fact, linked with Brazil's trade surplus derived from exports to China, effectively elevates Brazil to an agricultural superpower, rendering the U.S. superfluous. The world moves on as we expend our power in the alleys of Baghdad and Kabul. This is not policy, it is monetary and military insanity.
Compare today's actions with another Area of Operations in which American soldiers fought and died for nothing -- the old French Indochina, specifically, Cambodia.
China is the biggest investor in Cambodia today, and in return, Chinese borders are secure and their influence has spread. The U.S. fought in and around Cambodia, but has now ceded it to become a Chinese sphere of influence.
What is U.S. long-term policy? It is senseless to fight a major war and then abandon a large segment of the stated goals of the war when opportunity for an American influence develops. Of course, we are making progress in Iraq, so screw Cambodia.
The U.S. may be the sole hard-power super dog, but China is the largest. And China's economic policies are logical and expansive. Along with India and the EU, China is mastering the art of soft power, while the U.S. soldiers on like Bam-Bam in The Flintstones.
Hard power is meaningless unless based upon a legitimate soft power foundation. Social and economic development produces profit and prestige, minus military siphoning. The U.S. lost that foundation when it embarked upon the aggressive unilateral Phony War On Terror (PWOT ©). (We noticed commentary somewhere today calling for a War on the Phony War on Terror -- a WOPWOT. Sounds like a great idea, save the acronym is not very p.c.)
China is the world's workshop, producing 24-7 and earning $1.2 Trillion from exports in 2007. China adds 1 million new jobs per month to their economy.
Contrast that with the U.S., which lost 65,000 jobs last month. The U.S. sells $2 Billion a day of its debt in T notes, and China is presently financing $1 Trillion of that debt. This is distinct from U.S. businesses absorbing Chinese investments. This does not include the U.S. trade deficit to China. The U.S. Federal Deficit was $597 Billion this year.
What this means is Communist China is exceeding the U.S. in capital development. As Kruschev predicted, a communist country is in the position to bury the U.S., but it will be through economic means and we are digging our grave by frittering away our precious resources in unprovoked, unnecessary military endeavors.
U.S. foreign policy is bankrupt and reflective of limited intellectual ability. All concerned since 2000 (BushCheney, Condi and Powell) are fighting the last Cold War, a superannuated paradigm.
While the world progresses, growing and facing the future, the U.S. is running in place. When it is not running backwards.
Meanwhile, China, all 1.34 billion of them, has loaned Angola $2 Billion to be repaid in oil. Chinese business is investing in Angola, and throughout Africa China is supplanting the West. 48 of 53 African countries have significant economic ties with China.
Contrast that with the U.S. which is spending $160 Billion for wars to secure street corners in Kabul and Baghdad, fulfilling no significant strategic goals for the U.S. In fact, the terms "U.S." and "strategic goals" should not be uttered together, post 2000. They have become an oxymoron.
While the U.S. pursues policies alienating Iran, Venezuela and Russia, nations like China are ensuring their future enhanced lifestyles courting these nations. Meanwhile George Bush alternately plays kissy-face with and grovels before Saudi Arabian potentates who share no U.S. values, aside from money grubbing.
While the U.S. focuses on two countries insignificant to U.S. interests, Brazil will exceed the U.S. this year in soybean exports. This fact, linked with Brazil's trade surplus derived from exports to China, effectively elevates Brazil to an agricultural superpower, rendering the U.S. superfluous. The world moves on as we expend our power in the alleys of Baghdad and Kabul. This is not policy, it is monetary and military insanity.
Compare today's actions with another Area of Operations in which American soldiers fought and died for nothing -- the old French Indochina, specifically, Cambodia.
China is the biggest investor in Cambodia today, and in return, Chinese borders are secure and their influence has spread. The U.S. fought in and around Cambodia, but has now ceded it to become a Chinese sphere of influence.
What is U.S. long-term policy? It is senseless to fight a major war and then abandon a large segment of the stated goals of the war when opportunity for an American influence develops. Of course, we are making progress in Iraq, so screw Cambodia.
The U.S. may be the sole hard-power super dog, but China is the largest. And China's economic policies are logical and expansive. Along with India and the EU, China is mastering the art of soft power, while the U.S. soldiers on like Bam-Bam in The Flintstones.
Hard power is meaningless unless based upon a legitimate soft power foundation. Social and economic development produces profit and prestige, minus military siphoning. The U.S. lost that foundation when it embarked upon the aggressive unilateral Phony War On Terror (PWOT ©). (We noticed commentary somewhere today calling for a War on the Phony War on Terror -- a WOPWOT. Sounds like a great idea, save the acronym is not very p.c.)
China is the world's workshop, producing 24-7 and earning $1.2 Trillion from exports in 2007. China adds 1 million new jobs per month to their economy.
Contrast that with the U.S., which lost 65,000 jobs last month. The U.S. sells $2 Billion a day of its debt in T notes, and China is presently financing $1 Trillion of that debt. This is distinct from U.S. businesses absorbing Chinese investments. This does not include the U.S. trade deficit to China. The U.S. Federal Deficit was $597 Billion this year.
What this means is Communist China is exceeding the U.S. in capital development. As Kruschev predicted, a communist country is in the position to bury the U.S., but it will be through economic means and we are digging our grave by frittering away our precious resources in unprovoked, unnecessary military endeavors.
U.S. foreign policy is bankrupt and reflective of limited intellectual ability. All concerned since 2000 (BushCheney, Condi and Powell) are fighting the last Cold War, a superannuated paradigm.
While the world progresses, growing and facing the future, the U.S. is running in place. When it is not running backwards.
Labels: china soft power, communist country buries u.s., u.s. hard power mistakes
posted by rangeragainstwar at 5:23 PM
3 Comments:
Great post!
And now we're pissing off Russia by putting missles in Poland!
tw, and what you don't say is that we're paying the cabbage countries billions upon billions of dollars for the privelege of defending them. jim
Too good, too true, and too making me wish to spike my orange juice with vodka. I never do, of course, but boy, I think a lot about it.
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