Why should China pay homage to US?
The Americans are whingeing that China is not playing by the rules, or to be more precise, by their rules. If China wants to be accepted by the international community (that’s short-hand for the United States of America and those who agree with them or are cajoled into doing so), then China should adhere to our conventions, the argument goes.
In reality, Americans are sulking that China’s power is on the rise whilst American power is on the wane. This is a classical case of “Do as I say, not as I do.” Why should the Chinese comply with such demands instead of following the rules of empire? After Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, who are the Americans to lecture the Chinese on human rights?
The United States has opted for unilateralism and is slowly getting its due desserts. America only ever invokes international law when it coincides with her own interests. Be it politics or in trade, America wants her cake and eat it. They want everybody to abide by the rules but to be exempt themselves. They refuse to be signatories to, for example, the nuclear non-proliferation treat, but want Iran to be punished for allegedly not sticking to it.
America has taught the world that international legality is only a smoke-screen and that in international relations might is right. China has no need to be lectured on international legality by a country regularly flouting all the rules all the time. China is leveraging its new-found economic, military and political power. This may be uncomfortable for Americans, but they are only getting a taste of their own medicine.
posted by Mustaqim @ 14:18
22 comments
22 Comments:
I forgot. How many times have you been to the states? How much time have you spent in Iraq and the middle east? I love hearing people throwing insults out as if they are petals from a flower. Especially when all they know is what they see and hear from the media. For someone living in relative freedom, able to worship your religion as you please, you seem to be awfully critical of the countries who are giving you that right and trying to provide it to others who have been oppressed for many years. This whole Abu Ghurayb and Guantanamo Bay incident is disturbing on many levels. Yes, torture is not permissible in any invironment. But let's think about this from another angle. During the two World Wars POW's didn't have access to lawyers and they were considered just that..POW's. They did not have any rights, other than to receive proper nourishment and to not be tortured. They sure didn't have lawyers defending them. It's war for crying out loud. Tell that to all the contractors and Iraqi civilians who have had their heads cut off. Tell that to their families. The world is protecting the very people who are doing the torturing. The U.S. can't even properly interrogate anyone any more. It's rediculous. War's a bad thing. POW's are part of war. They are not part of the legal system. It's funny how no one had a problem with the two World Wars and Korea. But when the media became entrenched with troops during Vietnam it all changed. Since everyone is such experts on what has happened in Iraq, why don't you guys tell us how to handle the POW's properly. I mean, since you've been there. I find it quite disturbing that the rest of the world sits and watches as brainwashed young people blow themselves up while killing innocent civilians, and the U.S. are the bad guys. If trying to give people the right to worship and live without being forced to do it the way some Imam or dictator wants them too is wrong, the world is in sad shape. You sure are awfully critical of the very countries providing you with your freedom. If you want real oppression, take yourself down to Iraq or Iran and see for yourself. Otherwise you are what I consider a moocher....someone who lives off the good fortune of others while giving nothing back in return....just criticism.
Good morning Mr. Moocher! That may not be your real name, but that's your fault. Part of a democratic debate is that you don't hide your face when you step out to offer an opinion. But then you lack that courage, I guess - and if you want to write lengthy diatribe, then why not use your own blog instead of piggy-backing on somebody else's? Ah well. You seem to know a lot about me without ever reading my profile. I suppose literacy is in decline in the "free" world. [by the way, if you take the "e" out of "rediculous" and swap it with the "i" in "invironment" in your comment, it's just about right - sorry I'm just substantiating my point about the decline of literary standards; they sure haven't taught you well]
I've been to the United States several times, I'm German, I don't need a green card. Lovely country, lovely people, I pity them for their government. Of course, you could say, people get the government they deserve, especially if they don't speak out when things go wrong.
Criticism, although you don't like it, is an important part of a functioning democracy. And who says, I don't contribute? I live in one of the most expensive economies of Europe (Britain) and pay tax at the higher rate. I think that gives me the right to an opinion. Of course, you have the right to disagree and reminisce about the good old times when POWs were mistreated with impunity. But that is exactly my point. If you want to turn the clock back and don't want to live up to the standards humanity has since come to expect, then don't lecture others on how to do so. My posting, after all, was about China, remember.
Oh, sorry, you missed that altogether, you didn't read any of it, you just went off on your usual tangent, infuriated that somebody can be critical of your beloved homeland. I bet you never set foot outside America. You certainly don't sound like you've got any first-hand experience of the Middle East, Mr/Mrs Anonymous. So why on earth should anyone listen to your faceless opinion?
As a United States Marine who has fought proudly for my country, I think I know plenty about the middle east. I've seen this so called Jihad at its best. Until you've been there, done that, you will continue to be a moocher....because you have no clue. Continue to use the media and their fabrications. Use your Islamic beliefs to continue to say the U.S. is on a Crusade....though only for freedom, not for Christianity as extremists want you to think. I have been amongst the Iraqi people. They are good honest people who want the right to vote and move on with their lives. Thanks to Muslim extremists, they can't do it. Once again blaming the U.S., the UK, and the forces of freedom for the conscious decision of brainwashed extremists who believe God is pleased with their decision to blow themselves up and kill innocent people in the process. Look at the big picture for once, and stop looking at the narrow minded left winged media who only wants America and its allies to fail. I don't mind criticism. There are many things about America that need to change. But not trying to give people their God-given freedom of life. If you are so critical of your homeland and the land you live in now, why do you stay? By the way, my name is Matt. I'm from North Carolina. I have proudly served my country for four years now, and I will do it as many times as necessary. The only cowards I know are the ones who love criticizing but really do nothing to help....not to mention the ones who believe suicide with the destruction of innocent people in the process. Extremism at its best.
Hi Matt, nice to put a name to it; it makes the debate more civilised. I'm no stranger to North Carolina either, I did some flight training at K5W5,lovely little airfield.
Still, we'll have to agree to differ as the saying goes here in the UK. I'm not one for extremism and I agree that the Iraqis are getting a rough deal. But it's not all leftist media brain-washing that results in criticising the US actions in the Middle East. Having been in the firing line you can't afford not to believe in fighting for the right cause, but I would say the army is quite good at brain-washing its soldiers, too.
If it's democracy we're after, why continue to prop up Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or Uzbekistan, none of them are democracies. And why did the US have to install and arm Saddam in the first place if they knew he was bad news for his own people? Why first create the demon and then fight it? It may be hard to swallow if one's own government is dishonest. Just today the German intelligence services disclosed that Bush manipulated intelligence to justify the war. You can't accuse the German intelligence services of being naive and leftist and fooled by the media.
Nice to meet you too. Understand that I am naturally going to be very defensive of my nation, not just because of my military service, but because of my love for my country and what it stands for. I was in boot camp when 9/11 happened. Needless to say, we were all ready to go do what had to be done immediately. But I have always been very patriotic and very supportive of my country. Believe me, I know our country has issues. I know there is corruption in every government in the world. I understand politics and how it leaves a bad taste in most Americans' mouths. I will someday be running for office in my own hometown. I see what goes on here and I don't like a lot of it. But once again I get back to the media. If Germany is just now coming out with this, then obviously they have been reading and watching our news and media. This has been going on since the war started. Let me add this though. Joe Leiberman, a democratic senator from Connecticut spoke in front of senate one day last week. I watched it on CSPAN. The fact is, we did have credible reporting that Sadaam was harboring WMD. Don't you find it strange that he went against 21 UN resolutions by not allowing inspectors in to see his sites and not allowing the media into his country at all? After he had used WMD against the Kurds in 88, we knew he had the capability. Was the rest of the world naive enough to think that that was all that he had? Lieberman, who's party has slaughtered Bush and the republicans now for three years because of the way the war is being ran, came out and told his own democratic party to stop being hypocrits. They had voted for the war and saw the exact same evidence Bush had seen. In fact, just Friday night, congress unanimously voted, once again, to leave teh troops there until the mission was completed. Now that Bush is in the final three years of his term, the democrats and the left wing media are going to do everything in their power to discredit him and the republican party. Funny thing is, they unanimously voted in favor of the war. They saw the same things Bush saw. Everyone wants to make this a war about WMD. And yes, at first that's what it was about, along with freeing these people from a tyrant dictator. We sit here in freedom, wallowing in our wealth and power...complaining about our petty rights, ie..gay rights, abortion rights, the right to sue anyone for anything, that we forget about people halfway across the world who can't even walk the streets without feeling threatened for the way they are dressed. They have no say-so in their governments at all. They are powerless. I understand what you are saying about Saudi, Kuwait, etc.. But they also don't live under tyrant dictators, who to the eyes of millions of people, are not purposely trying to keep inspectors out of their country for fear of being caught with something illegal. Believe me when I say, I have not been brainwashed by the Marine Corps. I had these beliefs long before I joined the service. However, we are all brainwashed to a certain point. I grew up a Christian. So I totally understand Muslims not wanting to hear "the Christian side of the story" so to speak. We are all brainwashed to believe what we believe to a certain extent. But this isn't about religion. This is about the basic freedoms of life, religion, and the right to vote. The Iraqi people are not our enemies. Islam is not our enemy. Extremism on any level is our enemy. And for the rest of the world to sit by and watch the U.S. and the U.K. take on the terrorism network alone is mind boggling to me. How we are the bad guys in this situation is mind boggling to me. Yes, our government has issues just like every other government in the world. In fact our constitution really gives Americans too much freedom. In the end it's not going to be our enemies who bring us down. It's going to be our own people abusing the rights of our constitution. And the media is number one on the list!! I don't have issues with criticism. But I do have issues with those who criticize but really don't know anything about what they are criticizing. I do like our debates. I learn from these debates. I honestly believe it makes me more well-rounded. I don't take what you say and toss it to the side at all. I want to know what the world thinks. I like looking at the U.K. "NEWSNOW" website. You get a chance to see what the media from around the world is writing. That's how I found your blog. I hope you are learning also. Keep it coming.
Matt
Thought this might help you see why I feel the way I do about my country.
Matt
Subject: Fw: Fw: To Kill an American
To Kill an American
You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was
actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a
newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any
American.
So an Australian dentist wrote the following to let everyone know what
an American is ... so they would know when they found one. (Good on
ya, mate!!!!)
An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish,
Polish, Russian or Greek.
An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani,
or Afghan.
An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot,
Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as
native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim.
In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The
only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of
them chooses.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will
answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming
to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.
The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of
Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to
the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every
other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing
in return.
When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet arm! y 20 years ago,
Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back
their country!
As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any
other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.
Americans welcome the best of everything ? the best products, the best
books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also
welcome the least.
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your
tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the
homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built
America.
Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September
11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It?s been told that
the World Trade! Center victims were from at least 30 different
countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided
and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must.
Hitler did.
So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other
blood-thirsty tyrants in the world.
But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans
are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the
embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that
spirit, everywhere, is an American.
Author unknown
I don't want to carry on with a letter exchange between the two of us over this forum, but I sure like that piece you quoted. The writer forgets, of course, that the American government is also killing Americans when it sends them to war on a false premise. I totally agree, however, that nothing is gained by stereotyping people, be it Muslims are be it Americans. When I write disapprovingly about "America" I am referring to the current administration, not the individuals.
American and a Marine ! I can't think of anyone more ignorant, brainwashed, and belligerent or with more blood on their hands.
He says he is a MARINE AS IF IT IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
Have a good life chum but remember what goes around comes around. Stop playing the victim as it doesn’t work no more. Americans are the number one least trusted of all people, hmnn I wonder why..
American Marine starts his rubbish with this line..
" I am an American and I proudly fought for my country. I think I know plenty about the Middle East"
WHAT A JOKER
All you know about Mr is how to invade countries destroy infrastructure and mass murder whilst sympathetically keeping a body count of your own.
Very interesting. So you support terrorism. So you're saying you are rooting for the terrorists, who just yesterday blew himself up, killing children who were gathered near American soldiers that were handing out toys to the children. So who's brainwashed here. Each time we go into an Iraqi city to fight the insurgents we give the people of the city several warnings that we are coming. We set up refugee camps for them. We give them plenty of time to either stay and risk their lives or get out before the fighting starts. The fact is the people are intimidated by the brainwashed insurgents and will not help the Coalition and the Iraqi soldiers find them. So we give them the chance to leave so we can go in and fight the ones who are causing the problems. That's the difference in how the Americans fight and how the terrorists fight. We tell you where we're coming and when we're coming. There are no suprises. If you think that is somehow the same as a terrorist driving his car into a crowded street full of innocent civilians, blowing himself up in order to kill one person or an American Troop, then I don't think I'm the chump here. This makes you no better than them. In fact, it makes you a sympathetic supporter of terrorism. Do your research buddy. Get past your fog of hatred for the administration and see things for how they really are. Otherwise I would say you can go join the terrorists and take on the Marines yourself. Sounds to me like that's what you want to do. I invite you to try.
Huh what on earth it MARINE BOY harping on about now?
Anything about China ? NOOOOOOO
He is soo boring blah blah blah I give out toys to kids like father xmas whilst I steal thier country and destroy everything but oil stations. Anyone who dont agree with marine boy is either an insurgent , terrorist or extremist. Anyone who likes being occupied is an Iraqi civilian. Man his blinkered opinion is soo anoying perhaps he shuld call himself anoy mouse instead.
The Chineese and Indian economies will take the Marines on, no problem matey.
I'll tell you what. Since you're so anti-American, go to one of those countries you just mentioned, and even to the middle east and stay for a while. We'll see how you feel then. Since you hate free societies so badly, I suggest you try the closed ones. You have an awful lot to say, throwing insults, calling names, etc... But what have you really done?! Nothing but throw out insults at something you are uneducated about. You're hating the very societies that have given you this very right to throw out your insults. You're like a disease. Just like the American media. It's people like you that keep this war going....American and British soldiers dying, innocent Iraqi civilians dying. Since you're so smart, why don't you give us a solution instead of throwing out insults!!! Or, as I suggested before, come on over to the middle east and take on the "Marine boys" and the "anoy mouse"!!!
Hey guys, easy now - maybe I should open a separate chat room for you?
Still nowt about China. Marine boy invites us to Iraq and Afghanistan as it were his back garden. I think I will let him harp on because the more he does the more ignorance he reveals. He says it all for me. He reads nothing and types a lot mostly total shite I may add. Such a waste of energy communicating with one so holy. If you are so concerned about Inocent Iraqi civilians dying then tell me action man how many Iraqi civilians have died?? NOOO you cant do that because it isn't important or too embarrasing. Oh but you sure can tell me how many brave marineboys have perished.
Strange thing is you know nothing about me, where I am where I have been what I have seen and and mainly what I have done. The asumption that if you have not been a Marine you know nothing is plain ignorant. Hey ! aint that what most Americans are known for ?
Remember Colin Powell standing up in the UN conference holding a test tube, how pathetic was that.
Hi
I am an American Christian living in England. I just want to say the Marine person does not speak for me and I distance myself from his misguided views.
He is why our popularity is sliding
First of all, I too am an American Christian. I know that many thousands of innocent Iraqis have died. I know that the majority of them have died at the hands of the terrorists, not the Americans. Sure, you will blame the actions of the insurgents there on the presense of the Americans. I know the whole story. I do find it interesting that you write all these things, and you're right. I don't know who you are. Why conceal your identity. The good Dr. finally brought it out of me. Now it's your turn, since you have so much to say. Let's think about this for a moment. America, Britain, Europe for the most part...all open societies where you are free to worship whatever God you please. China, Iraq, Iran, etc... closed societies where Bibles or any other form of religious rhetoric is written..is forbidden. These societies have closed themselves off to the rest of the world. The people who have lived there have had no choices. they are forced to worship and believe in only one religion. These closed societies are breeding grounds for fanatics and their teachiings. There is no one there to monitor anything whatsoever. The people live under oppression and they have no choices. Women are taught that it is an honor for their children to kill themselves so long as they do it for Allah. It's okay to kill themselves and other innocent MUSLIM civilians as long as they are doing it in support of the love of Allah. They are taught that if they do that, that they will have all the desires they have desired here on earth, but has been forbidden. It's like God saying, "thank you my child for blowing yourself up and killing 100 innocent civilians in the process..you are now worthy of my love and will be rewarded for it." How rediculous is that. Do you no think that the Iraqi people deserve to be able to make choices on their own? That they deserve to know something other than oppression and death? Do you not think they deserve the very freedoms that you have in your country? I understand that there is a distinct line between Islam and its true teachings and the teachings of the fanatics. I know that Muslims are a peaceful people. But so long as there are closed societies, there will be extremism and fanatics teaching hate, death, and destruction. I find it horrifying that the rest of the world does not see that and that everyone sits and watches as America and England attempt to give these people the opportunity to have a choice and to make conscious decisions on their own without being dictated by fanatics. Now how can we sit and continue to watch these people suffer, as we sit here in the states and Europe wallowing in our own wealth and petty rediculous issues on our petty rights. I ask you again...have you been there? Do you know what it is like there? Have you actually talked with the Iraqi people? Have you asked them what they want? I'm awfully sorry you don't want to help people who can't help themselves. And I'm really sorry you are ashamed of the very ones who are trying to provide that very freedom...the freedoms you have. If that's wrong, then I am really sorry for the world and where it is going.
Hmnn I see what you mean about Marine Boy reading litle and preeching lots. Sad thing he really belives it all. Selective memory or what. The Military have done a good job on him.I guess they have to in order for him to do the dirty for them. Trying to defend a corrupt American foreign policy is political suicide. British politians no longer try but just shy away in shame. It is not as simple as
AMERICA V TERRORIST when most of the globe views America as the terrorists.
You guys can continue this elsewhere. You are nothing but moochers who live off the good fortune of others while shoving insults down their throats. Yet you have no solutions to anything and are afraid to come out and say who you are. And you can thank the media for the world's view of America. Just like you they use and abuse our constitution in order to keep the world in chaos. It's awfully hard to win a war your own media and the people they are influencing want you to lose. As I said, when you've been there and seen this thing for what it really is, then you can talk. Otherwise just continue to mooch!!
Who is mooching about others being afraid to come out and say who they are when he himself goes anonymous ???
Sounds like Marine boy, such an expert on everything.
If I rob a bank does that make me a finacial expert???
No
Marine boy is no Middle East expert niether. Just shut it now and be ashamed of your murderous actions. The Yankee installed President of Iraq openly states there is more brutul violence and torture now than there was in Sadams time. Great liberation , wow what democracy, cheers Marine boy and god bless America.
If you will read the rest of the comments above it plainly states who I am and where I'm from. So now who's not doing the reading? And still no solutions...just insults! I rest my case.
Why don't you educated us Confucious, on the Middle East? Why don't you inform us from your vast experience and education? Or is your only education from reading articles such as these? Do you actually have an education? Have you ever even been to the middle east? Or are your insults empty, just as your true knowledge appears to be. You have told nobody anything. You have done nothing but insult and, as Dr. Mustaqim said about me, piggyback on others who you feel may actually know what is going on. I don't mind being criticized. When you only have insults but nothing real to say, your critical insults remain empty. If you can prove to me otherwise, I will gladly apologize and eat my words. But my arguments come from true experiences and true knowledge of the situation. Yes, I may mispell some words, due to my own typos, or I may not put question marks where they should be, commas where they should be, and I may even overstep my bounds and throw accusations out there that are not true. But I challenge you prove me wrong about you. I like hearing opinions. But insults get you nowhere. And if you will read every comment that has been made either way, I challenge you to prove me wrong about anything I have said. If I'm wrong, and you can prove me wrong, I will gladly apologize and bow to your majesty's greatness. You see, I'm in the business of trying to help people who can't help themselves. I'm in the business of trying to provide a better life for people who have had no choices in their lives. The only people who have blood on their hands are those who idelly stand by and watch as other people suffer, or those who cause the suffering through sensless killings for a sensless cause. You can ask the suicide bombers and those they have killed about that one. Oh yeah. You can't do that. They're dead along with those they have killed all for the love of Allah. You sit there and enjoy your freedoms these people don't have. Yet you do nothing about it but insult those who try to give them those freedoms. This is not about politics. It's about giving people their basic civil rights to make choices on their own. In the end, the only one we will answer to is God himself. Not sensless thugs with guns pointed at our heads. That's what those people live with. That's who they answer too. Is that who you answer too? I didn't think so. Now tell me what you have done to better the situation. What are your suggestions? Or are you only going to sit and throw out more insults at those who risk their lives to give these people that freedom. What have you done with your freedom and for your country? Looks to me like an awfully lot of insulting and criticizing, but nothing to make things better....only better for you.
By the way. My name is Matt. I live in North Carolina. I am 32 years old and have a Master's Degree in Religion. I did not join the Marines until after I got my degree. I was in boot camp when 911 occurred. I have been to Iraq. My unit has been mortared while handing out MRE's to refugees just before we went into Fallujah last year. My unit has had hand grenades chunked at us as we were conversing with an Imam just outside his mosque. We were funding him so he could refurbish his Mosque. I have been amongst the Iraqi people. I have been to Africa....Kenya, Ethiopia, etc. The people of Iraq and Africa are peaceful. They are the ones we are trying to protect and provide a better life for. I guess, in your eyes, that makes us the bad guys. Why not talk to the ones who were lobbing mortars and chunking grenades at us, without regard to anyone but themselves. There were no warnings, and they did not provide people a place of refuge with food and water. These are the ones our own media and the rest of the world are protecting. So there it is. That's who I am. Now it's your turn.
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