Replies

China's newfound prosperity...

I remember reading a while back about the number of Chinese now able to afford cars and how there is no infrastructure to support this -- they lack everything from roads to gas stations.

What do you think of Russia becoming a major supplier of petroleum to China? And of the Chinese embracing the twenty first century sacred cow - the private automobile?

Once again it seems as though Pakistan is going to be a key player. Kerry's questioning of Condi on a subject she refused to address in an open session. Kerry did everything but turn to the cameras and say directly to our enemies, "Please, for the sake of the Democratic Party- take out Musharaf so I can look like a statesman and run again in 08".

Same ole, same ole. China will continue to make some moves that are favorable to the U.S. (e.g. cars, contracts, capitalism), and that are unfavorable (e.g. threatening Taiwan, Iranian oil, etc.).

China simply has not *yet* chosen sides in the new power struggle/war(s).

You could exclude information from a debate and make the case that China is either our inevitable ally or certain foe, in fact.

But it is simply too early to tell. China could turn out to be *either* friend or foe; she simply hasn't decided yet.

"Once again it seems as though Pakistan is going to be a key player. Kerry's questioning of Condi on a subject she refused to address in an open session. Kerry did everything but turn to the cameras and say directly to our enemies, "Please, for the sake of the Democratic Party- take out Musharaf so I can look like a statesman and run again in 08"."

Senator Kerry and most Democrats are puerile. There are good reasons why such intellectual children are not in chrage of the world's economic, social, and military super-power.

Now, Pakistan plays a role in the current global power struggle, but it is not central. Pakistan has had elections before; it will have them again. Pakistan has embraced technology, education, and capitalism before; it can embrace them again.

For his part, Musharaff is even sharper than the old Assad, Sr. of Syria...but Musharaff has chosen our side, and that will buy Pakistan all the time that it needs to get back to democratic elections (lamentations from children like Senator Kerry aside).