US Unsinkability Undermined

The worldwide fears and mounting tension triggered by the threatened collapse of financial markets globally is a pivotal moment, and perhaps a critical turning point, in the history of America and its relationship with the community of nations. There is keen anticipation of the coping solutions initiated by its leaders - solutions which are temporary in nature and where success is hinged on calculated guesswork compounded by several degrees of uncertainty. Regardless of its success or failure, the armor of America's invincibility has been damaged, and its unsinkability as a Superpower has been undermined.

Images were quite revealing. The US President, supposedly occupying the most powerful office on earth looking dazed and confused in a period of great crisis - as he always is - alone and practically begging Congress to pass the bailout bill. Yet he was rebuked, ignored even by Congressmen of his own party. He has become a liability worse than a lameduck for the Republicans running for reelection; and any contact or agreement reached with him is considered the kiss of death. His own misdeeds have tarnished America's image in the eyes of most countries in the world, and he has greatly diminished the power of the position by his own doing. His plea to the Senators came at a great price, having to agree to concessions and earmarks to pass the bailout bill in the Senate.

The US economy is showing signs of crumbling. The extreme swings of its stock markets are evidence of this weakness and lack of confidence. It will hardly be credible for America to push its free market ideas when its own has collapsed. Militarily, it is overstretched in 2 wars, and the combined financial woes and military costs will weaken its armed forces. The perception that America is on the decline has grown exponentially, especially during the last 2 years of the Bush Administration. The costly wars and financial crisis can be attributed squarely on the Republicans under George Bush. The rise of new and powerful nations, wealth abundance based on oil, and the accumulation of financial reserves in other countries has continuously and effectively redistributed the power formerly held solely by America. However, it is premature to say that there exists a shift in the balance of power, or that it is being altered irrevocably.

America has enormous economic toughness that can make it overcome this crisis and get itself on the right footing. But it has to do much in education; and in its infrastructure which have become decaying and crumbling assets that can no longer satisfy current requirements and demands. It has also abandoned sectors of its economy, surrendering its manufacturing efforts in favor of embracing the cheaper goods from China. It has to rise up to this present challenge since its military capacity is linked to its former economic superiority - which has been overtaken by emerging and powerful Asian economies.

But there are things that stand out for its certainty: George Bush and his cabal of Republicans, his wars, and the current financial crisis, has removed the biggest advantage of America as the only Superpower after the collapse of Communism. To believe that the US will continue to march on this leadership role alone is not only unrealistic but illusory. Power sharing among the world's equally strong economies that have come abreast with, or have overtaken America, will become necessary; and it will have to take a more rational and generous view of its interests than it ever did throughout its history. This is the inevitable consequence of greed. Its unbridled application sow the seeds of its own destruction, but only after taking the world with it.

Haaaaarrrrrwwwwwwk...Twooooooooph...Ting!

China's "Containted" Cows

A non-objective view of China may readily conclude that Communism as a system of government does not satisfy anyone in the country, not even its cows. The failure to produce "contented cows" that would enhance its dairy industry has produced only "containted" cows - those that possess melamine whose milk would poison the human body and eventually kill consumers with prolonged, continuous use. But the problem here is that any calamity in China would always be measured in gigantic proportions because of the sheer volume of its 1.3 billion people who would eventually bear the brunt of its disastrous effects. The blame is not on the four legged mammals that support the people, but on the two-legged monsters who breed on chicancery and whose castration would be the most humane punishment for their misdeed. These are the Chinese COWS - Corporate Operators Without Souls.

These are Chinese businessmen tainted by greed and subterfuge, who would lace their products with poisonous chemicals to project high protein content for their insidious output. It's bad enough that this tainted milk was sold to producers of candies, biscuits, buns and chocolate - but to put in on infant milk is the most thoughtless and sinister act of all. Children and infants need to take several glasses or bottles of milk daily where the resulting effect is deadly for their young bodies. The awesome panic and fear it has brought to parents who are compelled to follow a one-child policy is immeasurable, and the cruel and inhuman blow it has dealt to at least 54,000 households is beyond criminal.

Furthermore, the tainted product was sold worldwide where its lower price would naturally attract the less fortunate and underprivileged citizens of those countries, adding more misery to the already deplorable condition of their existence. Global reaction has been swift, with countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americans removing the milk and allied products from China that contain milk from the shelves. This calamity has placed China's ability to monitor and regulate its food industries in serious doubt, and rightly so. Contamination of toothpaste, seafood and even pet food resulting in death to a considerable number of animals in the US have transpired in recent years up to last year. This no longer appears accidental, but a deliberate and manipulative attempt to gain advantage at the expense of the ultimate consumer, in China and the rest of the world.

China's grand march to the level of the elite countries of the world has been stymied by the pea brained actions of some of its officials and favored citizen-businessmen. All the efforts and sacrifice of its brilliantly industrious and wholesomely generous citizens will be ruined by these men without souls who cannot be expected to burn in hell. Unfortunately for China, it had wanted to follow up its successful hosting of the Olympics with its scheduled space walk that would set it apart from, and ahead of, other emerging powers. But even the glory of its Olympic preparation was somehow diminished by protests linked to Tibet, and nearly overshadowed by the massive earthquake that ripped the country. The manned space flight and momentous space walk had also been reduced in stature because of the tainted milk caper. A disappointment for the people who took part, and for those who loved to see their country's astonishing development.

China's space ventures could project its capabilities in advanced technologies, achieving what no other Chinese government has ever done - which may legitimize their regime in the eyes of its population. There is also the military component which shows their capability to launch several warheads on a single rocket, and the precision capabilities which could be used for commercial purposes. Diplomacy too could be greatly improved as it signals China's entry into the powerful elite nations club. But its human tragedies have to find closure. The earthquake initiated investigations on the total collapse of school buildings as against other structures, that killed more children than adults. Now, milk that affects children.

China can project all its wealth in terms of having the largest capital reserves, its enviable economic growth, and its arrival on the elite club through space exploration; but it cannot rest easy for as long as it is haunted by skeletons of mistreatment and/or neglect of its people, and the protection of the clandestine criminals lurking within its corridors of power. They will not get the respect they deserve for their accomplishments, but the sneer of disdain when their backs are turned. And as always, their people will end up the losers as their efforts will be for naught in the perception of the international community.

Harrrrrwwwwwk...Twoooooooph...Ting!