printWhen a world power such as China pursues its national, economic interests, instead of busying itself with unprovoked, non-defensive wars, as America does—analysts in the US call it a free rider.
“China,” pontificates Niall Ferguson, “contributes almost nothing to stability in the oil-producing heartland of the Arabian deserts and barely anything to the free movement of goods through the world’s strategic sea lanes. …In terms of geopolitics, China today is the world’s supreme free rider.”
So that is what the US has been doing in the Middle East! Fostering “the free movement of good” there. I suspect the millions of Iraqis who’ve been displaced and murdered pursuant to our invasion in 2003 would dispute that notion.
Chinese mercantilism is not free trade, but is it not better than American militarism?
Trade, even if it is only managed trade is one hell of a lot better than militarism. How many flat screen televisions are responsible for dead… Sorry forgot American TV. How many Chinese running shoes are responsible for blowing up Afghanistan weddings?
Nial is a slight cut-above-the-average neo-con. National Mercantilism is how great economies are built, globalist free trade is how they are destroyed. Just look at the smoking debt-ruin that passes for an economy in free-traded America.
Yes Ilana, The US and ‘other Country’ Warlords have helped to push the world into Depression. Please devote some of your intelect/reporting on ‘The Power of Worldwide Banks’. PS. Lisa Brown/MN just said a ‘zinger’ on the Senate floor (Jon Stewart). Smile on face mandatory!
I will try to supply the Pew Research International poll that shows that China is liked over America by an enormous percent throughout Pakistan and much of the Middle East. In fact, King Dronekiller Obama is not all that beloved in the lands he is now bombing from his White House Barcalounger (the French, however, adore him!).
Don’t worry once China has established itself the dominant World Power(it’s building up its military at lightning speed and has plenty of “spare” men due to it’s you know “child policy”) I’m sure it will be using it’s new found powers to influence events around the world in their favor. Things will be much different, it will be a kinder, gentler communist world Power. Can’t wait.
I am though very sad that Pakistan and much of the middle east like China over America. It really hurts my feelings and makes me feel unloved and insecure.
The funny thing is if China were to put its nose into other people’s business, we’d bitch.
We want to be the mega military power, unchallenged throughout the world. We complain that the Europeans, Japanese and now the Chinese, don’t pull their weight. But we’d freak out if Europe, Japan and China started to field armies, navies and air forces as capable as ours.
Nell: That was brilliant. I have a Republican friend that would say exactly that, except the venom would be more noticeable. After all, look at all the sacrifices we have made for the ungrateful Pakistanis and Afghanistan.