http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/31/weekinreview/31EAKI.html Is the globe more stable or less so? Is the world reaping the benefits of empire in the form of some semblance of stability, or is it more a matter of brute force with no countervening influence? Peace.
goofyfish ... Care to check your URL ... Take care Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Chagur is pointing out that you must register to view this link, which some are loath to do. While I hate large cut and pastes, here you are: Peace.
goofyfish ... Thanks for a most interesting read ... But you could have been more considerate of my aging eyes. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Take care Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
My aim in life is to live without interference. My belief is that I can do that if I am indifferent to the bad things that are always going around. My weakness is that I like to philosophise on the present world and society power structure. If you are big , you can get away with any thing any where in the world. The Apex conspiracy in the today's world is the big business, including banks, in collabration with the U.S. CEO and the money bags of the Wahabi. Terrorism is financed by the Apex when it suits it. But now some how, terrorism is also hurting the Apex and the U.S. CEO is caught in a bind. The result is that innocent people are being killed and misplaced because of this situation. Going down from the Apex you have subsidiary power bases and these children are like their parents, oblivious of any thing but their own security and their objective of staying in power. However, this balance is being disturbed. The Empire, as you call it, is all powerful. However, it is scared that a small nuclear device being smuggled into its territory can create vast destruction and suffering. But is the Empire worried if Indians or South Koreans or Japanese are hurt with nuclear devices? So the Empire is not really a world protector . It is protector of the American people.
An interesting follow-up, but I am still looking for a more precise example of how you feel Saudi Arabia can do no wrong... Certainly the U.S is concerned with nuclear devices being used in the India/Pakistan conflict, which is why they are involved in arbitration. Rather than being indifferent, perhaps you could be involved, and contribute to a solution - provide a viewpoint that has not been explored previously. The more people involved in the quest for peace, the better the chance. From your rather unique position as a resident of India, could you explain the current conflict to us? Peace.
Greek empire Roman empire Babar empire British empire (someone missed this one) German empire (though got too greedy and short lived) American empire .... to be followed by Chinese empire Enjoy while it lasts....
The situation in the Indian Subcontinent is generally the same as that in all human societies. The politicians on both sides, i.e. India & Pakistan are crooks, out and out. The crookery is , however, crude and , therefore, shows out. In advanced and educated countries the crookery of the power elite is done in more sophisticated and subtle ways. I am by education etc. a Management Accountant and when very young I learned that "Creative Accounting' is done thing. So the Big 5, (Now 4) will give ordinary folks talks on GAAP, GAAS, FASB, SEC etc. etc. But the crookery is hidden below layers and layers of incomprehensible figures. In India this is not necessary, the politician takes the cash straight in a suitcase and nothing happens as the black economy, now called grey for some unknown reason, is bigger than the white economy. Again the power elite in India & Pakistan also has feudal power. There are people of high castes and high families and they are demi-gods in some localities. THey have similar aims of how to keep the masses under the thumb. Sabre-rattling is ,therefore, one method of getting national support. Ofcourse there are fanatics but the bulk of the politicians just play to the galleery with their patriotic sayings and actions. In these messy waters the U.S. and China found good fishing and helped Pakistan so that India is kept in check and cannot challenge the might of Uncle Sam. Additionally the Wahabi gave a lot of money to their Muslim brethren too. The problem is that no one ever knows who really rules Pakistan. If a fanatic or a Osama disciple takes over he could easily use the Bomb. India with all its corruption is still a working democracy and power is always transferred from one Government to a successor in order and peacefully. Therefore, there are checks and balances built into Indian society. But the day may very well come when Uncle Sam may send his planes to destroy the Pakistani Nuclear Assets. ) Lets not forget that at one time Iraq was an ally of the U.S.). Till then India has to live under the blackmail of the BOMB. So you see why I am indifferent. I cannot be the Managing Director of the Universe so its best to endure what you can't cure. Cheers
Empire? That suggests direct control of multiple foreign governments. We are closer to cohabitative superpower. Hegemon suggests a bit more global unity than is present. We have been known to choose the rulers of certain countries that are part of regional hot spots, but where do you see the signs of empire in the vein Rome and Britain? That alone does not make us an empire. That lacks the next step of showing how this influence=empire. Empires have holdings, other countries they have conquered. The Us has allies and enemies and only one semi-controlled area of Puerto Rico. Afterall we saw what a good thing Soviet occupation was...Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Still military might does not=Empire. Our business model is the only thing imperial about this nation. Of course the military acts with the good of american corporations inmind, but consider the true definition of imperialism. It requires a concerted effort to extend influence by a proccess of assimilation. In most cases we leave local practices alone. Consider the Middle East: we have not yet westernized these people. They still execute rape vicitms for shame. We are more interested in the resource that they harvest. Control is not the goal. Only sufficient stability for continued parasitism is required. We sell goods...to industrialized, independent nations. These are trade relationships and not of the order of imperialism. That may be indicative of an Empire, but not in any way exclusive to said body. Rome was not an empire because of this. Rome was an empire due to holdings in Europe, North Africa and the MiddleEast. Rome also had a dictatorship. Britain was an empire due to control of India, American colonies, parts of Africa, and Hong Kong. America has Puerto Rico. This isn't even much of an empirial territory as it has its own local government which maintains a degree of autonomy. That what this is realy about. A quest to boost the view of the US at the expense of historical accuracy.
