Ghost of BiB

"The suspect is hatless...repeat...hatless"

No I didn't.

And how all the respective parties react to that will determine the day. In simplistic terms, that is the greatest threat to stability that the world faces today. And, don't let them fool you. The ones pulling the strings on "militant Islam" are VERY aware of the black stuff beneath their feet. and, they know how to energize their base. Folks have no idea what a bad-worse scenario we are in right now. Crap, you can't even say the word "oil" on American TV. Think your government is "lying" to you? They wouldn't have to if people were willing to understand the truth. But, the media, the politicians-basically all the whores that are out there will put any government, any administration in a total defensive posture because a lot of the CORRECT decisions that have to be made just don't sound good. I remember the Homeland Defense/Security crap from the last election. I can very clearly explain why more firetrucks will not make anyone safer-but the administration can't do that, or they would get crucified.

Quite seriously...why? What has she done to get that type of confidence? Answer? nothing. But, she's Hillary. It has to be some sort of a cult thing. Once again, I'm often tremendously disappointed in my fellow countrymen. How can a nation be this gifted, and yet so stupid? This is not an anti-democrat thing for me. She brings absolutely nothing to the table, and with the state of flux the world is in, is very likely to do a great deal of harm. Hopefully, at least in my little nook and cranny, we will have enough things working that she wouldn't be able to change any of it.

I think they've gone from basketballs and frying pans to tupperwear lids and sponge bob toys. But, it's still the same bizzare ping pong game.

And, they are taking plenty of steps to get there. They don't have to reach "Superpower" status, to be either a nuisance or a friend. From the limited experience I personally have had in China, I'll say this-they are a heck of a lot smarter than most of us take them for, and things are almost never the way they appear. If they usurp America's role as the "go to" guy in the Pacific and far east, we could have a strategic dilema on our hands that might be very hard to solve. China is also very quietly modernizing it's military capacity exponentially from what it was even ten years ago. Locally, they will be able to exert a lot of influence. just my view, but I think they bear a lot closer scrutiny than Russia. Russia has way too many internal problems and difficulties with former member states to be able to consolidate anything at the rate China can. But, Russia's ace in the hole is oil. As the middle east goes into whatever it turns into-our idea or someone elses, Russia could well be holding a big trump card for playing the big game. We can sing hydrogen powered Kumbaya songs all we want, but oil is going to drive the world economy for a long time to come.

Maybe he was afraid of being hit with another nerf ball.

Good catch. This hasn't been lost on us, has anyone noticed how nice India and Pakistan are playing together since we got involved? Oh, that's right-this administration can't do foreign policy. My bad. Let's not discount Singapore as a future player, as well. Point is, EVERYTHING is shifting. Maybe the average American is too caught up in Lost, 24 or American Idol to notice...but most of the rest of the world is watching. We, thanks to a variety of reasons we never seem to want to consider long range planning. Folks see something on the TV, and they want a certain thing to happen RIGHT NOW. Well, it is often the case that certain things right now go against a long term strategic plan. Everyone has their own opinions, but I'm glad we finally have an administration in place willing to worry about the future and take risks-be unpopular, to see that we have a future. that's not Republican-Democrat type of thinking. I'm looking at this particular group of people. If it were a Democratic administration pursuing the same policies, I'd be just as happy.

Meanwhile... And, I'm pretty certain that there are several people who will say that THIS is an out and out lie.

Now that, is definitely cool.

But, they are not going to until the rest of their powers of national projection come together - if then. China will increase it's economic clout, and while doing so see which way the wind is blowing. Our old buddy France has been getting pretty chummy with them recently. The writing is on the wall, that unless we take steps now- the United States could well find itself rendered inconsequential in a not so distant future. The paradigms are shifting, but the "average American" is not watching.

If/when the EU actually gets it's stuff together, you might see the US making some very strange bedfellows. If any one of 2 or 3 Mid-near east governments go belly up, and get replaced with a fundamentalist Islamic theocracy, most of the EU, led by France will make deals real quick. It will take some serious clout to offset that.

Which sensitive parts? And, can I get interogated too?

ssssshhhhh. Maybe it will go away....

This is like watching ping pong played with a basketball and two frying pans while in the middle of three hits of windowpane.

Now you've done it...

What do the words "status quo" mean to you?

A part of the problem

I lifted this from another thread...it's more or less applicable here.

The Chinese are looking to increase their role and dominate within their sphere of influence, and it IS going to happen. There have been many reforms and a great deal of modernization over the last several years. We speak of Hong Kong, which is an absolutely amazing city-but the development in Shanghai has been staggering. Disney is openning a theme park near the Airport in HK later this year, and has plans for one in the Shanghai area soon. And, as for "old men", China has been quietly replacing the old guard political hacks with a younger, better educated and more forward thinking crowd. They are also very patient, and very pragmatic. China will end up being either a strong partner, or a fierce economic adversary. The only thing that will screw up serious, decent relations between us both is the Taiwan issue. As long as Taiwan behaves itself, and maintains the staus quo, everything will be hunky-dory. Should Taiwan decide to press for full independance, it's going to throw the entire region into some serious upheaval.

Don't forget how much of us they ALREADY own in investments.

My comments?

So far, pretty well.

When it comes out of draft, I'll send you a copy of the National Military Strategy to Combat WMD. I'm one of the authors. Tell me about your TV show again? You really piss me off.

Yeah, Brandon. I've never seen a single episode. Never would bother with that level of crap-but Mom likes it, so what are we gonna do?