...completely off-topic or at least tenuously related?
China appeals to Washington to safeguard assets
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2205693/posts
U.S. Federal Reserve to buy up to US$300B long-term Treasury bonds
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2209403/posts
I don't think your links are off-topic at all. The economic meltdown has definite, definable sources, but it's affecting every economy on the planet. It's all inter-related, and every story on it is a part of the puzzle.