Far East Cynic

This magazine cover says it all.

I just got my copy of the March 11-17th Economist in the mail. There on the front cover is GWB looking and sounding just like Slim Pickens:

I,like many others find it odd that the man who invaded Iraq because of fear of WMD’s, is threatenting Iran because of their excursions into nuclear technology, has North Korea to worry about, would decide to help a potential enemy-one that has a first class air force, a rapidly expanding Navy and a large ground army- help improve the quality of its nuclear weapons. It makes no sense. As the editors point out, ” it is not the first time that [Bush] seemed readier to favor a friend than to stick to a principle.” After all its how he does domestic politics, why not have it be in his foreign policy?

Read here and here about why Congress should scuttle the deal and vote No on changes to anti-proliferation laws. Bush makes a serious mistake when he views India as a “friend”. Its not and never will be. Its an economic competitor that aims to continue to make inroads into American markets and steal American business and jobs. It also aims to be the dominant power in the Indian Ocean, something the US cannot countenance as long as it is going to maintain a large military in the Gulf region. And despite Bush’s rosy rhetoric about :

And that’s how you deal in a global economy. You don’t retrench and pull back. You welcome competition and you understand globalization provides great opportunities. And the class opportunity for our American farmers and entrepreneurs and small businesses to understand, there’s a 300-million-person market of middle-class citizens here in India, and that if we can make a product they want, then it becomes — at a reasonable price — and then all of a sudden, people will be able to have a market here. And so — and people in America should, I hope, maintain their confidence about the future.

Confidence about the future of India, who will enrich those 300 million at the expense of 700 million more that it will keep as a permanent underclass so they are able to work cheaply and undercut US costs every time………..wishing that nation states had the same goal of economic justice for all does not make it so.

While you were in India Mr President, maybe you should have had a look at this:

Two more under construction!

And maybe a side look at this:


A few more of these coming too!

Maybe it was the fluoridated water in Texas:

Major T. J. “King” Kong: Well, boys, I reckon this is it – nuclear combat toe to toe with the Roosskies. Now look, boys, I ain’t much of a hand at makin’ speeches, but I got a pretty fair idea that something doggone important is goin’ on back there. And I got a fair idea the kinda personal emotions that some of you fellas may be thinkin’. Heck, I reckon you wouldn’t even be human bein’s if you didn’t have some pretty strong personal feelin’s about nuclear combat. I want you to remember one thing, the folks back home is a-countin’ on you and by golly, we ain’t about to let ’em down. I tell you something else, if this thing turns out to be half as important as I figure it just just might be, I’d say that you’re all in line for some important promotions and personal citations when this thing’s over with. That goes for ever’ last one of you regardless of your race, color or your creed. Now let’s get this thing on the hump – we got some flyin’ to do.

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General Jack D. Ripper: Have you ever seen a Indian Commie drink a glass of water?
Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Well, I can’t say I have.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Do I look all rancid and clotted? You look at me, Jack. Eh? Look, eh? And I drink a lot of water, you know. I’m what you might call a water man, Jack – that’s what I am. And I can swear to you, my boy, swear to you, that there’s nothing wrong with my bodily fluids. Not a thing, Jackie.