Drawing the battle lines
In this age of information, we have the capability of reading news articles from around the world. Doing so can sometimes give us a much clearer picture of what is really going on. Its not to say that these foreign papers don't have their own agendas, but that those agendas are quite different from domestic news organizations'. Basically, watching CNN doesn't give you the full picture.
Here's a couple items from the past few weeks:
This article in the Slate brings up a CIA report done by the National Intelligence Council (a right-wing thinktank) which illustrates the declining power of the United States. The report goes on to predict that by 2020, the United States will no longer be the main power broker on the international scene. The US will "probably" still be the single most powerful country, but other countries will have made great gains. The likely usurpers are China, India, Brazil and Indonesia. Read the article for more about what countries like China are up to these days. This report wasn't some "thought experiment" ... there was no "if monkeys fly out my butt and make a spelling mistake on a news release..." ... The seeds were sown long ago.
This next article published in the India Daily announces a formal alliance between Russia and China aimed to curb the expanding American and European military as well as economic global influences. This means trade deals, energy deals, and a defense pact. Why was this published in an Indian paper? Because it looks as though India and Brazil will be invited to join the alliance.
So the CIA says these countries will emerge as key global players, and the countries say they are working with each other to build a strong economic and military base to curb American expansion. Lets not forget all these countries have the bomb.
On my old blog I wrote that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq reminded me of late-1930s Germany. No one really cared when Austria was enveloped into Greater Germany just like no one really cared when the US went into Afghanistan. Both were just sort of expected to happen and few complained when it did. Then Hitler campaigned to "rescue" the Sudeten Germans in Czechoslovakia. This started to piss people off but appeasement won out and no one did anything, even when the causes for Hitler's war turned out to be faked! The backlash for the Iraq war should be obvious to anyone who reads the news. Oh and where are those WMDs?
Figuring that the third time was a charm, Nazi Germany went after Poland. France and England had given Poland guarantees for protection and as we all know, shit hit the fan.
Now for Iran. Considering all the rhetoric from Bush's state of the union speech, it seems clear the US in intent on taking out Iran next.
Time for another article. The Middle East Newsline (not sure what this is) reports that Iran and Russia have a defense alliance! Meanwhile, Russia also announced plans to launch Iranian spy satellites.
This is real folks. The stage is set. The players are lining up. For now its Cold War II but give it a few years, maybe the heat will turn up.
Here's a couple items from the past few weeks:
This article in the Slate brings up a CIA report done by the National Intelligence Council (a right-wing thinktank) which illustrates the declining power of the United States. The report goes on to predict that by 2020, the United States will no longer be the main power broker on the international scene. The US will "probably" still be the single most powerful country, but other countries will have made great gains. The likely usurpers are China, India, Brazil and Indonesia. Read the article for more about what countries like China are up to these days. This report wasn't some "thought experiment" ... there was no "if monkeys fly out my butt and make a spelling mistake on a news release..." ... The seeds were sown long ago.
This next article published in the India Daily announces a formal alliance between Russia and China aimed to curb the expanding American and European military as well as economic global influences. This means trade deals, energy deals, and a defense pact. Why was this published in an Indian paper? Because it looks as though India and Brazil will be invited to join the alliance.
So the CIA says these countries will emerge as key global players, and the countries say they are working with each other to build a strong economic and military base to curb American expansion. Lets not forget all these countries have the bomb.
On my old blog I wrote that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq reminded me of late-1930s Germany. No one really cared when Austria was enveloped into Greater Germany just like no one really cared when the US went into Afghanistan. Both were just sort of expected to happen and few complained when it did. Then Hitler campaigned to "rescue" the Sudeten Germans in Czechoslovakia. This started to piss people off but appeasement won out and no one did anything, even when the causes for Hitler's war turned out to be faked! The backlash for the Iraq war should be obvious to anyone who reads the news. Oh and where are those WMDs?
Figuring that the third time was a charm, Nazi Germany went after Poland. France and England had given Poland guarantees for protection and as we all know, shit hit the fan.
Now for Iran. Considering all the rhetoric from Bush's state of the union speech, it seems clear the US in intent on taking out Iran next.
Time for another article. The Middle East Newsline (not sure what this is) reports that Iran and Russia have a defense alliance! Meanwhile, Russia also announced plans to launch Iranian spy satellites.
This is real folks. The stage is set. The players are lining up. For now its Cold War II but give it a few years, maybe the heat will turn up.
posted by Sober at 17:45
2 Comments:
Leftie tip: When criticizing the current United States government don't forget to bring up Nazi Germany! Extra points for working Adolf Hitler into the mix! This post serves as yet another proof of Godwin's Law. And don't forget; the USA is only the dominant country because people are _choosing_ to buy their manufactured goods, cultural output, and technical knowhow. Is it an Empire if the "conquered" nations unlock their doors and leave a light on for the "invaders"? I think not.
Funny, I don't recall criticizing the current US government in that post.
Rightie tip: Paint anyone who doesn't toe the party line as a bleeding heart liberal communist, a traitor, or unpatriotic. If I had a dime for every time I've been told to "go back to Russia," I'd be rich (comparisons to commies, da; fascists, nein.) Bonus for sidestepping entire issues and trying to re-frame the discussion along more comfortable dogmatic lines (ie, the righteousness of American foreign policy.)
I'm still not sure where the last half of comment fits in any of this discussion. It doesn't seem to have to do with diddly squat. If it had to do with the CIA report, take it up with the CIA or the NIC. I didn't write it, they did.
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