Posted on 08/17/2005 6:51:30 AM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Despite America decrying measures that consistently deny the individual citizen's importance, Beijing, Moscow, Damascus and Tehran pointedly continue without abatement...
Furthermore, these countries participate in mutual economic treaties that strengthen each other's anti-democratic efforts. For instance, Russia has recently forgiven more than $9.8 billion of Syrian debt, accumulated largely from arms sales. China and Iran have signed a $100 billion energy deal guaranteeing close ties for at least the next 10 years.
These economic pacts have deeper implications than oil prices and trade deficits. Sociopolitical, economic and military factors are all connected to each other.
Not long after forgiving Syria's debt, Russia began selling Damascus SA-18 surface to air missiles. China is selling major conventional weapons systems to their new energy partners. All these countries seem to share their nuclear technology. Russia and China, and the rest of the SCO, have agreements to provide each other military support in event one is attacked by from the outside. These deals not only empower their political elite to suppress democratic movements domestically but to impose their will on vulnerable neighbors.
Finally, this antidemocratic agenda extends influence to susceptible regions. The turmoil in Iraq is a prime example as insurgents receive weapons, money, intelligence and logistical support from neighboring Syria and Iran. Many of these weapons and explosives are bought from Russia with money from the mutual trade deals and handed over to insurgents.
Once armed with the necessary resources, insurgents fight to destabilize the fledgling Iraqi government, at a cost of American lives and resources.
The United States must realize this bloc of countries is working to subvert democracy where America is working so hard to promote it. The growing ties among these anti-American, anti-Western and anti-democratic states are leading us directly into a more robust "Cold War II."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Central Asia = Iron Wall of China
ping
Why is this surprising? Second-rate nations always form coalitions to oppose whatever nation is currently top of the heap. Hasn't anyone read Rise and Fall of the Great Powers? It happened to Bonaparte, it happened to the Kaiser, it's happening to the Neo-Cons now.
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