America’s Strategic Pivot Toward the Asia-Pacific
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-11-21/america%E2%80%99s-strategic-pivot-toward-asia-pacific
A surprise meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao capped off President Obama’s nine-day Asia-Pacific trip. The leaders discussed economic concerns and disputes over the South China Sea. During the week, the president fleshed out america’s strategic shift toward the Pacific Rim as it winds down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Australia, he announced an agreement to deploy marines, naval ships and aircraft to Darwin. He also announced plans to create a new regional trade pact and reopen diplomacy with Myanmar. What’s at stake for U.S. engagement in the Asia Pacific
Guests
David Lampton
professor of China studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
Satu Limaye
director of the East-West Center in Washington
Graham Fletcher
deputy head of mission in the U.S., Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Comments
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I believe Maritime boundaries in the Timor Sea are still not fixed.
So who is in control of the off shore oil off of E Timor?
Control of shipping ports and soon shipping lanes are the issue. China has control of dozens of ports in the area already and basically have control of ports surrounding India. Building a massive port on the cost of Sri Lanka (as a quid pro quo for arms to defeat tamal tigers), finalized negotiations for massive deep water port in Pakistan (what was the quid pro quo here?). China's control of the majority of the ports in the area represents serious security issues for the entire area. China will be able to choke off trade for countries with the amount of control they will have but they will also have control of how scarce resources are distributed (rare earth metals, oil, etc.). Leah from Grass Lake, Michigan
Your phone screener (new and male) needs to allow more women through. Even before this screener when it comes to foreign policy issues there were a disproportionate amount of male callers who would get through. Now this gender discrimination is over the cliff.
Women have thoughts and questions about foreign policy issues and know they are trying to get through. I would say your ratio right now is about 10 men getting through to every woman
It would seem there are certain similarities between current events and the events leading to the Pacific war in World War 2. Does it seem possible to today's guests that attempts to control shipping lanes in the Pacific by BOTH the west and China is setting the stage for a second Pacific war and does that play into China's strategy? My understanding is that China has been enhancing its sea warfare capability over the past few decades.
Most of the rest of the world that's paying any attention will surely be looking at "America's Strategic Pivot Toward the Asia-Pacific" with a mixture of extreme skepticism and dread. After all, given the Middle East US military interventions since 1990 (to the shame of the US -- mostly under totally false pretenses) have resulted in ongoing turmoil, death, destruction and disaster for the region. And for what, exactly? "Security" (??) of "US Interests" (?? whose interests, exactly ??).
Even now, the comments here indicate that we in the US consider mostly think nothing of treating the world like a huge game of "Risk!". Isn't it about time we throw off this infernal (19th Century) concept of "American Exceptionalism"? This is surely a recipe for infinite war in the world (i.e. how would we like it if other nations acted on their own versions of this?).
So instead of perpetual competition, perhaps we need to be thinking outside of the idiotic "Beltway Thinking Box" most of us seem to be confined to. What about a bit of international cooperation instead of arm-twisting, bullying, and violent subjugation of other nations by Washington? Yes, there are risks -- but for the vast majority of Americans (99%?), the risks of continuing the current policies of military intervention by stealth and deceit are certain to fail.
And before I'm shouted down as "naive" by right wingers, let's remember that an approach of sincere cooperation between nations hasn't been tried in the past. Theoretically, the US is in a position to take the lead here.
We need a paradigm shift. We need to take new types of risks. Unfortunately, the current US power structure is incapable of comprehending such requirements, let alone implementing them. This Thanksgiving, we can all be Thankful for the Occupy Movement that is providing time and space to question "business as usual".
where did you get the photo of the board of Ear- American Soylent Green Industry members?
Happy hollow daze shopping- buy only American produced Soylent Green- none of that nasty foreignor made stuff.
Maybe a dingo ate our peace dividend?