Japan (catch all)

[Dayuhan]

Although completely suppressed in the U.S. media, the answer to the Iraq enigma is simple yet shocking - it an an oil CURRENCY war. The Real Reason for this upcoming war is this administration's goal of preventing further OPEC momentum towards the euro as an oil transaction currency standard. However, in order to pre-empt OPEC, they need to gain geo-strategic control of Iraq along with its 2nd largest proven oil reserves. This lengthy essay will discuss the macroeconomics of the "petro-dollar" and the unpublicized but real threat to U.S. economic hegemony from the euro as an alternative oil transaction currency.
http://www.rense.com/general34/realre.htm

Rense is a monumentally unreliable source, and this theory has been debunked so often and so conclusively that it's really not worth repeating.

There is a harebrained conspiracy theory "explanation" for just about everything that happens in the world. Their omnipresence does not mean they have any connection to reality.

[Ray]

Rense is a monumentally unreliable source, and this theory has been debunked so often and so conclusively that it's really not worth repeating.

There is a harebrained conspiracy theory "explanation" for just about everything that happens in the world. Their omnipresence does not mean they have any connection to reality.

No source in the world is reliable.

All have an agenda.

Sooner we realise, the better for all!

[Bill Moore]

Ray

I agree with many of your criticisms and agree we made our fair share of missteps to include Bush's your either with us or against us declaration. There were reasons for it but I think we could have achieved the same by stating we will pursue AQ where ever they seek refuge and accomplished the same thing without an ultimatum. Our foreign policy during the cold war for reasons that were probably rationale thus the necessity of realpolitic that conflicted with our stated values. The excesses pursued by the Dulles brothers was inexcusable and our congress got that under control validating the strength of our political system. The people's congress got our foreign policy more in line with our values.

What goodness came out of behavior writ large? Compare the life styles between Western and Eastern Europe for one. Who championed human rights globally? What country more than any other helped lift millions out of abject policy? What other country has a system that enables it intellectual capital to develop technologies to include the Green Revolution and medical advances that contributed to advance humanity?

We certainly act in our interests and we also act at times in an altruistic manner to promote goodness because the American people determine our national interests also, not just the politicians and military. Again the strength of our system. As all becomes more transparent the greater that strength is.

[Bill Moore]

Ray

My point about Ghandi was he wasn't responsible for the bits leaving India but MLK used Ghandi's strategy effectively.

[Ray]

Ray

My point about Ghandi was he wasn't responsible for the bits leaving India but MLK used Ghandi's strategy effectively.

Then why did the British leave and that too in a hurry?

Check what was the writ given to Lord Mountbatten?

One explanation for the chaotic manner in which the two independent nations came into being is the hurried nature of the British withdrawal. This was announced soon after the victory of the Labour Party in the British general election of July 1945, amid the realisation that the British state, devastated by war, could not afford to hold on to its over-extended empire.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british...n1947_01.shtml

Devastated by war, could not afford to hold on to its over-extended empire, why could the British not hold on to India.

What prevented Britain?

Obviously, the unrest and clamour for Independence and which could get ugly.

There was already the mutiny in the Royal Indian Navy.

[Bill Moore]

The british left India for a lot of reasons, but in my opinion the INA revolt , and the subsequent trials, leading to mass mobilization and military defections indicated the British couldn't hold India. As for our misplaced adventure in Iraq and unrealistic goals in Afghanistan the world should question our judgment and lack of strategic foresight. The events playing out now were pretty much predicted by people who understood the region. In my opinion Bush Jr didn't have half the wisdom of his father and we and the rest of the worldwill be paying a high price for that hubris for a long time. U.S. forforeign policy is too elitist, too coercive, non-compromising, and excessively preachy. Oddly it is very much at odds with the American people in many cases. You shouldn't judge us by our policies alone when you think about American contributions to the world.

[Ray]

The british left India for a lot of reasons, but in my opinion the INA revolt , and the subsequent trials, leading to mass mobilization and military defections indicated the British couldn't hold India. As for our misplaced adventure in Iraq and unrealistic goals in Afghanistan the world should question our judgment and lack of strategic foresight. The events playing out now were pretty much predicted by people who understood the region. In my opinion Bush Jr didn't have half the wisdom of his father and we and the rest of the worldwill be paying a high price for that hubris for a long time. U.S. forforeign policy is too elitist, too coercive, non-compromising, and excessively preachy. Oddly it is very much at odds with the American people in many cases. You shouldn't judge us by our policies alone when you think about American contributions to the world.

From the US standpoint, I would not say that the US was wrong into going into Afghanistan and Iraq.

Afghanistan was essential to hunt down OBL who killed a whole lot of people who were American or on American soil and the Taliban were not ready to hand him over. Any country which had the military and economic clout as the US would have done what the US did.

Iraq, to my mind, was a direct and natural corollary to the Defense Policy Guideline of Cheney and Wolfowitz (or Wolfowitz Doctrine) and the Economic Policy Guidelines, given the end of the Cold War and new strategic objectives.

Iraq was the centre of the turbulent and unpredictable Middle East and unlike the First Gulf War which was besot with innumerable logistic issues, having a sizeable presence in Iraq would allow quick reaction anywhere in the ME before it became a festering wound.

Further, Iraq had sweet oil (economically a win win) and the second largest oil reserve. Therefore, a control over that would break the monopoly of the OPEC to manipulate prices and supply. It will be recalled that this blackmail of the OPEC was detrimental to the US, nay world, economy.

Therefore, both actions are justified.

However the manner of approach was, in my opinion, unfortunate. One has to cut one's coat as per the cloth. The US overreached. Instead of first addressing Afghanistan, it also took on Iraq, resulting in none being brought to a logical conclusion. And the US and the world suffers even as of today.

And what a waste in terms of lives and finances.

As the British would say, both are a massive cock-up, not having thought through and instead banking on a self induced superiority complex.

Unfortunate and sad.

My apologies for moving OT.

[Dayuhan]

No source in the world is reliable.

All have an agenda.

Sooner we realise, the better for all!

No source in the world is 100% reliable.

Some are 100% unreliable.

Rense.com is 110% unreliable. Not to be taken seriously,

[Ray]

Bill Moore,

Just see what the goodness of America has done. What the US did may have been in good faith, but that is not how others see it because the consequences for them is more horrendous and horrific.

Iraqi soldiers, police drop weapons, flee posts in portions of Mosul

As security forces ran out, militants overran Iraq's second-largest city on Tuesday -- a stunning collapse that heightened questions about Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's ability to hold onto not only Mosul, but his entire country.
Militants seized Mosul's airport, TV stations, the governor's office and other parts, if not all, of the northern Iraqi city.
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/10/wo...iraq-violence/

Bush wanted Freedom and Democracy and now we have a huge problem on our hands.

The complete Middle East is reeling because of this 'goodness' that US has spread.

Saddam was maybe a tyrant, but that is what kept these people under check. Can't spread ideology, good that it maybe, to people who don't understand and those whose life has been fashioned through a regimentation enforced by strict codes of their religion, which is contrary to democratic principles.

I shudder to think of this onslaught of these fundamentalist fanatics because India has suffered much from these foreign spawned elements. And to find more running menacingly wild, is really very depressing.

Victor Frankenstein must bottle the creature he has created or soon the world will be devoured!

And soon the US will quit Afghanistan which is another chaotic area.

I feel sorry for the US and I feel sorry for fate of the world.

I was reading an article that stated that if the US had kept Iran on their side, then it would not be blackmailed by Pakistan over the logistic route. It would help the US to circumvent Pakistan, which is the womb and hotbed in spawning terrorists and which they cannot now control and is their Frankenstein. Latest reports of the Taliban action on Karachi airport is horrifying.

No offence meant.

Just to state the old proverb - Think before you Leap!