Looks like we may not be the only 'super power' anymore!

[Paradise]

"Central Asia

Shanghai group aims to keep US in check
By Sergei Blagov

MOSCOW - While refraining from overt criticism of the United States, an emerging organization that embraces Russia, China, and Central Asian states has indicated its concern over American unilateralism in the region.

When the presidents of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) - a six-member group that comprises Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - met in Tashkent on Thursday, they pledged to address regional security concerns. The SCO also vowed to become a full-fledged international organization. In fact, its efforts can be seen as aimed at countering US clout in the region."
(Snip)

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/FF19Ag01.html

Add to that, the emergence of the EU!

Wonder if * ever contemplated this, when he started throwing his weight around?

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. It could be. Still scared of the old communist bloc?

[Paradise]

18. well, if not, maybe he will be, now.

although he's so obnoxious, he probably thinks this is great.
super-power, and super-power alliances at war!
*, the really BIG war pResident! :grr:

[rooboy]

2. Please don't use "Bush" and "contemplate" in the same sentence... n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. What about

"Bush contemplates his navel"? Can we say that?

[rooboy]

6. I don't think he even does that. n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Well, he probably doesn't know the difference

between navel and naval. Perhaps this is why, when he means to peruse the former home of his umbilical cord, he instead sends out the 6th Fleet??

[Paradise]

38. we can say anything we want!

right?????? :shrug:

[Paradise]

16. lol my thoughts exactly, but i knew you would know better lol nt

[bobthedrummer]

4. I thought The War President claimed Uzbekistan was a coalition of the

willing great ally-or was that a demonstration of power and influence involving Afghanistan's Gen. Dostrum, who is an ethnic Uzbek?

[Paradise]

17. that's what i thought but * has turned everyone against us. nt

[Oggy]

5. "1984"

It looks like "1984" more and more very day. I don't want to be on Airstrip one. Help.

[htuttle]

9. Just slam another shot of Victory Gin...

...and get back to work! I heard that they might be increasing the choco-ration again soon!

[rooboy]

11. This war is different...it's all O'Reilly merchandise this time...n/t

[Paradise]

32. but, not to worry,

we've got 'rice'! :silly:

[Paradise]

19. the new and unimproved 'manifest destiny'! nt

[cheezus]

8. don't worry, if you pay the $699, they won't sue

bonus points for anyone who explains my little joke

[rooboy]

12. Shot in the dark - anything to do with Unix? n/t

[cheezus]

15. yes, good guess

hint: the name of the organization

[Paradise]

20. wish i was that smart, but i'm not.

:shrug:

[BeHereNow]

10. This formation of this coalition

was only a matter of time...
and a natural repsonse to the empire and hegemonic
reaching of the Cabal.
What is scary to think of is how the nut cases
in charge plan to deal with them.
You can bet they knew it was coming and
have discussed what lengths they might have to
go to in a confrontation with these countries...

:nuke:

BHN:scared:

[Paradise]

24. you're reminding me, now, about

north korea's atomic bomb manufacturing, and iran's nuclear buildup.
i'm sure every country is thinking twice about 'homeland security' but 'not to worry', we've got 'ridge'! :silly:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. "Super Power" has become meaningless.

Our "super power" status is fast becoming a huge burden that is dooming this country.

As evidence, just look at current events. Our over vaunted military is now bogged down in a 3rd world country fighting a bunch of ragtag rebels armed with light weapons and homemade explosives. All the fancy technology is virtually useless. The PNAC plotters are busily trying to enlist what amounts to mercenaries to do the fighting such as bribing such mighty military powers as Uzbekistan to send a platoon of troops and farming out duties to "private enterprise.

Virtually every country in the middle east is jampacked with nascent rebels just waiting to take a shot at Americans. BushCorp is forced to fortify unpopular governments there against their own people.

"Terrorists" are threatening the stability of "friendly" governments around the world. Indonesia, The Phillipines, Columbia, Peru, Nepal, Suadi Arabia, Pakistan, to name just a few.

Just to protect "our vital interests" (corporations) we are being forced to expend more and more on the military at the cost of our domestic needs. There's a reason that the "richest nation in world" can't afford to provide health care for it's own citizens, or guarantee that Social Security will be there in 10 years.

Being a "Super Power" is causing this nation to rot from the inside as our wealth is squandered to protect the rich.

It's kind of like a "Super Power" tarantula being attacked by ants. Or, trying to swat mosquitoes with a tire iron.

[Paradise]

25. Quite an analogy...

"It's kind of like a "Super Power" tarantula being attacked by ants. Or, trying to swat mosquitoes with a tire iron."

but, not to worry, we've got 'rumsfeld'! :silly:

[Hubert Flottz]

14. I'll bet you they are connected to Bin Laden's Gang!

Just like Saddam was! And they have oil too!

[Paradise]

29. anything's possible. nt

[Skidmore]

21. You just wait till the east

decides to call in our debt to them. We can kiss the "greatest nation on earth" goodbye.

[Paradise]

27. that would be a big bomb, wouldn't it. nt

[geek tragedy]

22. The US needs to stop throwing its weight around.

However, I would suspect that many in the region would be equally nervous about having Russia and China playing the bully game as well. In particular I think India and the Southeast Asian countries can't be pleased.

[Paradise]

26. You're probably right.

Just think of the possibilities! but, not to worry, we've got 'powell'! :silly:

[TrogL]

23. Between them they've got quite a bit of launch capability

I guess Raygun lived in vain.

[Paradise]

28. what a mess! nt

[kirkm76]

30. Would be nice...but

The EU seems to be sort of fading a little. In the last round of Euro elections the anti-EU types gained a lot of steam. As for those other countries...I think 10 percent of your population needs to have placed a phone call to be a superpower.

[Paradise]

33. lol!

i'm sure that's what all the ex-super-powers thought.
btw, what would be nice? :shrug:

[kirkm76]

35. Another Superpower

It would be nice for the EU to get the clout to hold rogue administrations that come to power in the U.S. in check until we can give em' the boot, but I don't see it yet. I agree we are probably in a decline as a superpower though, but like Rome, it'll be a long, slow one.

[Paradise]

36. thanks for your patience in explaining.

what you've said makes sense but, oh god, that long, slow, torturous decline. :(

[Paradise]

31. so this is how empires disappear!

threaten enough peoples, and, from far and wide, they'll band together against you! but, not to worry, we've got 'cheney'! :silly:

[Gloria]

34. Indonesia just told the US to forget about a military base that we

"suggested" could help them with the Malacca Straits.

Said that the country had it's dignity....

Will do intelligence sharing, but no US base there.

Nations in SE Asia also have their own group.......


Article is posted to the new World Media Watch (link in sig below) from Asia Times Online


4//Tempo Interactive, Indonesia Friday, 18 June, 2004 | 07:19 WIB

http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2004/06/18/brk,20040618-03,uk.html



TNI NAVY CHIEF: US PRESENCE IN MALACCA STRAITS NOT NEEDED

Yandhrie Arvian



Jakarta--Indonesian Military (TNI) Navy chief, Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh, has stated that the establishment of a US-military base would not be required in the efforts to secure Malacca Straits.

“We need no support from other countries aside than those nearby the Straits to secure the Malacca Straits,” said Sondakh at the Tanjung Priok Military Maritime Cross Command harbor in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, on Thursday (17/06).

(SNIP)



Moreover, he said, Indonesia is still a sovereign country and its people have their dignity.

“Tell all those people who want to send their help to us that I only need to share intelligence information and training facilities with them,” Sondakh stated.

Sondakh said that he rejected the US’s intention to help securing the Malacca Straits as Indonesia has already been involved in an organization, called West Pacific Nation Symposium, which members, consisting of 26 countries, which conducted joint-military training in Singapore sometime ago.

(MORE)

[Paradise]

37. when ever they don't get something they want,

they just say 'we don't need it'!


"We need no support from other countries aside than those nearby the Straits to secure the Malacca Straits,” said Sondakh at the Tanjung Priok Military Maritime Cross Command harbor in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, on Thursday (17/06)."

but, not to worry, we have 'tenet'!
oh, wait, we don't have tenet, do we?
oh, well, not to worry, we have 'interim-mclaughlin'! :silly: