[SirLinksalot]

Here is theoretical scenario that the article mentions which is entirely possible :

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Suppose China, with its $1.2 trillion in reserves steadily rising from its soaring trade surpluses, begins to invest, through its SWF, in Boeing, Microsoft, IBM, GE and U.S. companies that build our strategic submarines, stealth bombers, satellites and missiles. Will the United States rope off the industries that build the weapons of our national defense from any ownership by SWFs?

If foreign investors can buy stock in these companies, why not foreign countries through SWFs?

[FortWorthPatriot]

I thought they were talking about Single White Females...

[weegee]

Corporate America abandoned American interests long ago. Whether it be outsourcing, trade imbalances, illegal immigrant labor, or promoting hard liberal social issues like homosexuality and abortion.

[weegee]

Foreign nations have piled up huge cash reserves.

Billions in cash leave the US to the homelands of illegal immigrant labor through wire transfers.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

“The Middle American revolt that killed amnesty for the 12 million illegal aliens has buried the idea of open-borders immigration.”

“buried”???

Is Patrick trying to fool us or is he just stupid and uninformed?

[rfp1234]

[AdamSelene235]

Suppose China, with its $1.2 trillion in reserves steadily rising from its soaring trade surpluses, begins to invest, through its SWF, in Boeing, Microsoft, IBM, GE and U.S. companies

This is the natural consequence of using the Chinese to finance the massive growth of American debt both public and private. If Americans want bigger government and bigger houses without actually paying for it, then we will continue to mortgage our future to them eevil furriners.

[willgolfforfood]

Don't you have to report to the SEC in a handful of days if you acquire more than a 5% stake in a publicly traded company? There was a law along these lines in the 1980's, and I don't think it's been repealed.

I don't see how they acquire a controlling interest in American defense companies without it being known far and wide.

In addition, at least these guys are interested in maintaining their cash flow and assets, evil as they are. Why would they invest cumulatively trillions of $$$ in US companies, and then start WW III and blow up their own wealth and investments?

[AdamSelene235]

Interesting angle. A controlling stake in Lockheed Martin works out to about 1 month of the Chinese trade deficit.

[Clam Digger]

Chely Wright, SWF.

[snowsislander]

Suppose China, with its $1.2 trillion in reserves steadily rising from its soaring trade surpluses, begins to invest, through its SWF, in Boeing, Microsoft, IBM, GE and U.S. companies that build our strategic submarines, stealth bombers, satellites and missiles. Will the United States rope off the industries that build the weapons of our national defense from any ownership by SWFs?

Red China has already brought a significant stake in the Blackstone Group, which I think will be one of their vehicles for investing in other companies.

You can see some of Blackstone's real estate portfolio here.

You can see some of Blackstone's equity investments here. (I noticed TRW on that list, but apparently it's only the automotive side of TRW.)

[HockeyPop]

http://www.amazon.com/Revolt-Elites-Betrayal-Democracy/dp/0393313719

[Sudetenland]

People, look at the author. Patrick Buchanan, Mr. "withdraw from the world and everything will be wonderful."

Isolationism died with WW2. Only an fool would embrace the world vision of Pat Buchanan, you know like Ron Paul. He has gone the way of Goldwater the "Latter."

Pat has been preaching doom and gloom for years now. He will be preaching doom and gloom till he dies. He has gone so far off the reservation that he will never find his way back.

Anybody who looks for a reason to foretell the end of the world will find evidence somewhere to support their claims, no matter how absurd.

25 years ago it was the Japanese who were going to take over our nation. Michael Crichton even made a movie/book about it. Before that it was "the Arabs," with all their oil money.

Oooh! the Boogey man is coming...I'm soooo scared. blah, blah, blah...

[Nathan Zachary]

"Will the United States rope off the industries that build the weapons of our national defense from any ownership by SWFs?"

Of course, or at least they should. We have to ensure they do. Sovereignty and national security is not for sale.(Besides, Democrats and some Republicans give that away for free) I know some like to think that just because someone has a lot of money, that the nations laws and national security interests do not apply. This isn't true, even though it seems that way at times. All they have is lots of paper with nice designs on it, and it will buy them goods that we would sell to everyone.

Heck, they can spend it on a generic space program if they want to, complete with generic space shuttles, which are soon to be obsolete anyways. Better to sell it for a few hundred billion than scrap it, stripped of any secret technology of course.

[humint]

Interesting article...

What are SWFs? They are Sovereign Wealth Funds – huge capital funds controlled by regimes that are the big new boys on the block in the world of global finance.

Wouldn't it be great if all of the "regimes" Pat refers to governed by the consent of their citizenry? That way, the will of the American people could influence the investment trajectory of any "sovereign wealth fund". We (the American people) would be able to prevent such nightmares by cooperating with the citizens of nations with enormous SWFs. In that scenario, SWF are exciting. SWFs are probably the best way mankind has to create new "tides that will raise all boats". On the other hand, dictators and oligarchs do not represent their people, so their people cannot influence their own gross national product [GNP/capita]. Pat B. may disagree with Richard Perle and those with similar opinions on Iraq and Afghanistan, nevertheless, he just articulated the prime reason why the United States must succeed in the Middle East. SWFs in the hands diabolical dictators inevitably start wars... they start wars that will repeatedly bite us in the ass (like 911!). Remember why Saddam invaded Kuwait? He had a bad case of SWF envy...

Pat, it looks like you've found 1 and 1. Go ahead and add-em up.

[Marine_Uncle]

Interesting, but not new nor unique. Just a new acronym being introduced. Yes benevolent nations can use such investment means to float a lot of boats, or shaddy bastards can attempt to sink them all. But the SEC keeps a carefull watch on just who is buying what. And I don't think most nations or individuals are willing to lose trillions of dollars on their investments to attempt to sink some given defense oriented American industry.
As for China. They got enough problems with their banking institutions and the liquidity of their money supplies.
They are gambling a lot on building up a modernized industrial complex that can compete with America and Europe, as well as many nitch markets elsewhere where labor costs are allowed to be keep to a minimum.
But who knows in this brave new world what can conspire under the right conditions.

[VOA]

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