The Price of Superpowerdom
Can anyone of you have some sympathy for Russia the past superpower, and China the emerging one? Come on people give them both a break. I am talking specifically to you in the media, and every speaking head International Relations expert out there. Look at the data, in 1979 Superpower Russian dominated USSR invaded Afghanistan, and suffered the world indignation and especially American condemnation. The result of that debacle was the introduction to the world to fanatic Muslim fundamentalism, the final destruction of Afghanistan, and demise of the Soviet Union as we all knew it. In 2008, Russia still reeling from lost of world power , status and influence is again to make a Leonid Brezhnev like invasion move against neighboring Georgia. The possible result might just be World War 111 if Secretary of State Condi Rice, perennial disgruntled political neo-conservative hark John Bolton ,or any unpopular sleeping duck have any thing to say about it. Notice that no one is really loosing much sleep over the millions of Chechnyans that have lost their lives at the hands of the brutal and sadistic Russians since the demise of the Soviet Empire. http://www.newstatesman.com/200401260014
So let’s see the comparisons, for those too young to remember, America invaded Vietnam and Cambodia and that’s no problem, she invaded a non- threatening and sovereign state Iraq, and that’s fine by most accounts as well. Her close Allie Israel with tactic support invaded and destroyed Lebanon and no back lash resulted. A baby war created in Panama on the verge of an end to the imbalanced and unfair Canal treaties. The result of this was arrest and conviction of its political leader Manuel Noriega, as well as continual regional political and economic status quo.
As for the Chinese, they are simply the emerging superpower that many envious nations and people love to hate or perhaps hate to love. They have done everything that all other global or pretending powers have ever done and yet are treated with derision and contempt. At this proud moment in their history where the entire world is getting a chance to savor what resilient people can achieve as manifested in one of the most spectacular Olympics ever , and what do they get in return? They are repeatedly questioned as cheaters on age related issues involving young gymnasts .On other fronts they are mocked by the tasteless and uncouth Spaniards basketballers even after sponsoring the nuvo rich Southern European ingrate's national teams to the tune of over 150 million dollars. They help beat America in the pointless and illconcieved Korean War ,and will never heard the end of it. In addition the country had to resort to every trick and pressure possible to get a seat on the glorified and powerful UN Security Council or join nuclear club to make company with the likes of a second rate power such as France. It did not stop there, there was Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet, Sudan, Asian Flu, Human Rights abuses, and please don’t forget their cultural taste in foods, environmental neglect, one child policy . These and several other petty political, social, and economic issues are daily thrown in the face of the Chinese.
I am not sure if this ploy is working against China the new economic and political power horse on the block. They obviously are not planning to disappear anytime soon, and could care less about what the world thinks about them. Social capitalism -as defined by China and its billion and more growing population-is the new model that is ready for export. War mongering is a thing of the past, and so is the influence of Russia or that of any other possible Cold- War Super Power victor.
Can anyone of you have some sympathy for Russia the past superpower, and China the emerging one? Come on people give them both a break. I am talking specifically to you in the media, and every speaking head International Relations expert out there. Look at the data, in 1979 Superpower Russian dominated USSR invaded Afghanistan, and suffered the world indignation and especially American condemnation. The result of that debacle was the introduction to the world to fanatic Muslim fundamentalism, the final destruction of Afghanistan, and demise of the Soviet Union as we all knew it. In 2008, Russia still reeling from lost of world power , status and influence is again to make a Leonid Brezhnev like invasion move against neighboring Georgia. The possible result might just be World War 111 if Secretary of State Condi Rice, perennial disgruntled political neo-conservative hark John Bolton ,or any unpopular sleeping duck have any thing to say about it. Notice that no one is really loosing much sleep over the millions of Chechnyans that have lost their lives at the hands of the brutal and sadistic Russians since the demise of the Soviet Empire. http://www.newstatesman.com/200401260014
So let’s see the comparisons, for those too young to remember, America invaded Vietnam and Cambodia and that’s no problem, she invaded a non- threatening and sovereign state Iraq, and that’s fine by most accounts as well. Her close Allie Israel with tactic support invaded and destroyed Lebanon and no back lash resulted. A baby war created in Panama on the verge of an end to the imbalanced and unfair Canal treaties. The result of this was arrest and conviction of its political leader Manuel Noriega, as well as continual regional political and economic status quo.
As for the Chinese, they are simply the emerging superpower that many envious nations and people love to hate or perhaps hate to love. They have done everything that all other global or pretending powers have ever done and yet are treated with derision and contempt. At this proud moment in their history where the entire world is getting a chance to savor what resilient people can achieve as manifested in one of the most spectacular Olympics ever , and what do they get in return? They are repeatedly questioned as cheaters on age related issues involving young gymnasts .On other fronts they are mocked by the tasteless and uncouth Spaniards basketballers even after sponsoring the nuvo rich Southern European ingrate's national teams to the tune of over 150 million dollars. They help beat America in the pointless and illconcieved Korean War ,and will never heard the end of it. In addition the country had to resort to every trick and pressure possible to get a seat on the glorified and powerful UN Security Council or join nuclear club to make company with the likes of a second rate power such as France. It did not stop there, there was Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet, Sudan, Asian Flu, Human Rights abuses, and please don’t forget their cultural taste in foods, environmental neglect, one child policy . These and several other petty political, social, and economic issues are daily thrown in the face of the Chinese.
I am not sure if this ploy is working against China the new economic and political power horse on the block. They obviously are not planning to disappear anytime soon, and could care less about what the world thinks about them. Social capitalism -as defined by China and its billion and more growing population-is the new model that is ready for export. War mongering is a thing of the past, and so is the influence of Russia or that of any other possible Cold- War Super Power victor.
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