The Ramifications of the U.S. Foreign Policy in Asia & the Middle East

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ali87 # 49

``exactly what goods and services can the US export in the future? To do that they have to either have unique technology or cost effective labor and services.``

US companies are still the world leaders in semiconductor equipment, biomedical equipment, microprocessors, civillian jetliners, military equipment, networking equipment and oil drilling equipment. I am not sure how much of the US lead in bio-sciences will pan out into dollars.

``Since technology is borne out of education, strong economic demnand and investments in research. If Japan is any indication this can be replicated by any socitey. ``

In theory yes but in practice why many societies have done it ? Socities will have to change. Change is painful for traditionalists in many societies.
Especially for Muslims ...........

``As far as the gold dinar issue is concerned when Mahatir Mohammed proposed it first there was swift reaction by the white house, world bank, IMF who threatned Malaysia with immediatly stoppign even ongoing loans and totally stopping future interaction with Malaysia. Saudis were called and severly threatned against joining this gold dinar.
This indicates that US did think that the gold dinar was a good Idea for the Malaysians.``

How exactly is the gold dinar a threat to the US dollar ? I can see Euro, Swiss francs be an alternative. But a malayasian dinar .......

faridi: touche. Maybe next time you can write something about your skydiving experiences (that you mention). Wont generate much discussion, but would be a nice change from the usual hot air generated by articles on global politics and regional politics.

arjun_m

http://www.atimes.com/global-econ/DD11Dj01.html

on the dollar myth.

#43 by arjun_m on May 13, 2003 10:44am PT


http://www.yellowtimes.org/article.php?sid=1114

these articles may be a bit dry, but give you insight on the mighty dollar

#37 by faridi on May 13, 2003 8:49am PT

Since we are discussing who landed in whose lap , this article by former Indian Intelliegence offical about Jamali is very illuminating.

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/may/12raman.htm

#42:

Slvenia
Per Capita Income: 9760 dollars
Infant mortality (per 1000 births): 4.0

Croatia
Per Capita Income: 4550 dollars
Infant mortality (per 1000 births): 7.0

Bosnia
Per Capita Income: 1240 dollars
Infant mortality (per 1000 births): 15.0

(Source: www.worldbank.org/data)

If this is not indication of backwardness/ poverty than what else for supposedly same people [With regards to being `backwards`, Bosnian Muslims are culturally almost completely indistinguishable from their Croat and Serb neighbours]?

They were not the smallest. Number of Bosnians is same as Slovenians.

ahmadzai #28

``Let me say again that it was a joint undertaking otherwise after 9/11, the USA would have totally subdued Pakistan. Also with rising Indian economy, Clinton would not have toured Pakistan and spoken directly to the Pakistanis, not to the Government of General Musharraf, and advised them to begin curtailing Talibans.``

After Sep-11 USA has a lot of reasons not to attack Pakistan - nukes, 5 times more people than Iraq, anti-American population etc. Even if USA and Pakistan decided to work on joint venture to import gas from Central Asia there is no evidence that USA prefers a group with idelology like Taliban. The selection of Taliban seems the work of the same establishment that has propped up Islamic parties in Pakistan against the secular parties.

``The agreement could have been that Americans would provide funds and all other resources and Pakistanis will arrange a stabilizing force. Since Mullah Umar was organizing anti-warlords forces at that time, Pakistanis must have seen him as the saviour. Americans would have agreed to it, since at that time the Islamic intentions of Talibans were really not known. The only unfortunate part would have been that the Islamic parties might have begun to run their own agenda with Talibans later. That was the making of the monster.``


Pakistanis began to realize this much before 9/11 on following accounts: (1) Embarrassment with China (2) Sectarian battles in Pakistan (3) Most wanted in Pakistan taking refuge in Afghanistan and Talibans refusing to hand them over (4) Talibanization of Pakistan in that Islamic parties began to run state within the state (5) Emabarrassment at Talibans` treatment of the minorities, etc.

``So are you counter-proposing that Talibans were running on their own? Or else, are you repeating a typical Indian line hare? See my above answer.``

You said in the earlier post that Taliban were out of control. That is not true. I am saying that Taliban did exactly what their Pakistani masters wanted them to do. I know one thing that their orders were not coming from a civillian prime minister.

``Remember that Sanat Jernail Singh Bhindranwaley was also an ally of Indra Gandhi. He was in fact creation of the Congress. Later, he became a monster for India, whereas his own people claimed him to be their hero``

I am not saying your proxies cannot go out of control. It should not take much effort to bring them in line. It took 30 days to mount Operation Bluestar and kill Bhrindanwale.

``Similarly, Al Qaeda was actually created by the USA. The name was different - it was ``Islamic Mujahids fighting the communist Soviets in Afghanistan``. The same ` Mujahideens` later became terrorists of Al Qaeda.``

That is like saying the British won the freedom for India because A. Hume founded the Indian National Congress in 1885.

``With its economy shattered, Pakistan neither had the funds nor the weapons to provide to the Talibans. They came from USA and its Muslim allies.``

Saudi Arabia and UAE were the source of funds. Most of the funds were channelled through Pakistan. I am sure that Pakistani army chief would have the clout to request the Arabs to cut off most of the funds.

Ref harimau #39

It really doesn`t seem to have taken long for my advice to be accepted! Only 3 hours!

From Teheran Times:

Iran, India Sign 25-Year LNG Contract

By Mohammad Ramin Khoshlessan
TEHRAN -- India signed a 25-year agreement with Iran Tuesday for the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Tehran and signed another document reinforcing a contract with Indian Oil Company for the import of a minimum of 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Iran.

Talking to the TEHRAN TIMES in an exclusive interview, the Indian Oil Minister Ram Naik on official visit to Tehran said that his country needs LNG and has decided to get it for the next 25 years from Iran. ``It is a major development in Indo-Iranian relations,`` he said, adding, ``We will both benefit from it.``

``We will have LNG supply which is needed for the country, and we will come here to explore and develop oil and gas also,`` he said, referring to Indian firms cooperation with Iran in all fields of the oil industry including compressed natural gas (CNG), exploration, production, transfer and refineries. Ram Naik assured that Indo-Iran cooperation on the project would go through and said, ``Iran and India have had close relations not only for the last ten years, but centuries together and we have always stood by each other and I am sure both of us will implement it.``

Also talking to the TEHRAN TIMES, the Indian Ambassador to Tehran Pripuran Singh Haer said that three leading Indian oil firms would participate in the activities of the Iranian oil industry, adding that both countries viewed each other on long-term strategic bases.

He termed the event as a very important step in Indo-Iranian relations yet noted that the details of the contract for the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in terms of value had to be worked out after the contract is signed.

Faridi:

But the whole point is that there should be consistency between the past and the present for something to be true.

How ccan you say that American foreign policy is responsible for high unemployment whn the same foreign policy had led to the exact opposite situation. Europe has a distinct foreign policy and yet suffers from endemic high unemployment.

What does this prove?

That your hypothesis which tries to establish a link between American foreign policy and high unemployment is void.

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#32 by arjun_m on May 13, 2003 6:13am PT

exactly what goods and services can the US export in the future? To do that they have to either have unique technology or cost effective labor and services.

Since technology is borne out of education, strong economic demnand and investments in research. If Japan is any indication this can be replicated by any socitey. In fact new products and technology will come up from where the need for solutions is there. for instance labour saving devices could not be thought of easily nor would there be a demand in a country where there is plenty of cheap labour. Similarly there may be demands for technology which will fulfil the need of asian socites which may arise out of local talent. This will give rise to manufacturing in which US will have no say and thus in a economy in which US will be of no consequence. At the same time its high labour costs will not give it the manufacturing edge either. This coupled with the lost of relevance of the Dollar may cause severe damage to US influence and economy(again this is relative).
Other alternative I see coming out is the US tries to bloster its market by taking in more cheap labor (simultaneouly increasing the market size again)via the route of Immigration. More immigartion will change the demograpic character of US and it may not be so influenced by Right wing agenda. On the other hand if it compromises on principles and takes in Immigration while not giving full political participation to the immigrants(on the pressure of right wing)then it potentially has a big problem at hands which will unravel at some time or the other.

As far as the gold dinar issue is concerned when Mahatir Mohammed proposed it first there was swift reaction by the white house, world bank, IMF who threatned Malaysia with immediatly stoppign even ongoing loans and totally stopping future interaction with Malaysia. Saudis were called and severly threatned against joining this gold dinar.
This indicates that US did think that the gold dinar was a good Idea for the Malaysians.
Unlike the printed currency which is printed by fiat(especially the US dollar which is not backed by gold at all) a gold standard will have some intrinsic value since gold has to be aquired. Barter and exchange is also widely adopted by many countries including India. Some thing that the US opposses vehemently.

on the value of currency in other countries and what it can buy every thing is subjective. If you want to spend it on drink in a five star hotel you can very well do that.
However private school fee for my maids son in India is Rs50 ($1)per month.
I can get a cup of chai or coffee in a good seat down resturant for 6 rupees(about 10 cents) a mini meal in one of the fast food resturants for 12 rupees (about 20 cents) In feb I was in India and had a great meal in a resturant for 3 people which included 2 mutton dishes, 1 chicken dish, rotis, rice and service for 150 rupees(3 dollars) For 20 thousand a month I can rent a better home than the what $1000 can get me in US.

Medicine for my allergy cost me 13 cents for 10 doses in tablet form in India(free market, patent expired, Produced by ASTRA) in united states it costs me 73 dollars. My father had a bypass surgery by a very component doctor in a private hospital with very good service for 1.2 lakhs ie less than $2500 with a 2 week stay in the hospital.

The books I buy in India (despite very high cost of paper) typically cost between Rs 150 to Rs 450 each(3-10 $).

You choose to spend 20 thousand drinking in a five star hotel it is your choice. 20 thousand would pay 50% of the cost of buying a Two wheeler (transportation)in India.

As you can see one can do many things in India with 20 thousand rupees apart from foolishly spending it in a five star hotel.

#43 by arjun_m on May 13, 2003 10:44am PT

What I said in [reply #15] is PRESENT.
What I said in [reply #35] is PAST (up until the mid 90`s).

This interaction is to generate some positive and constructive criticism. It`s not to prove how much of an anal retention you can cause by microscopically pointing out the typos and the likes.

We are all humans and we also make errors. In this case it is not an error. But it could have been one. Grow up and learn to respect the spirit of the discussion. Thank you.

#34 by tahmed32 on May 13, 2003 8:49am PT

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So, even the world`s frail economic state can be fixed by fixing US foreign policy according to the author!!
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In case you are unaware of the fact that the state of US economy has a big impact on the world`s economy. And that is what is being reffered to here.


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... guaranteed way of making your mere presence drive women mad with desire.
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Scientist say that Pheromones are supposed to get this job done. Being a smart Alec doesn`t.

sameerjb #12

``In former Yugoslavia, Bosnian Muslims paid the highest price in blood, Protestant Slovenians least and Catholic Croats in the middle. This is directly proportional to backwardness and infatuation with backwardness.``

So you`re saying the Bosnians deserved what the Serbs did to them, you low life piece of sh*t? How do you know they`re `backward`? Know any? Ever been there?

I thought not.

FYI, wankstain, they suffered the most because they were the smallest and hence the weakest and most vulnerable of the communities seeking independence from Yugoslavia.

With regards to being `backwards`, Bosnian Muslims are culturally almost completely indistinguishable from their Croat and Serb neighbours.

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