Comments on: Global Swarm: Explaining GWOT through Thomas Barnett, Huntington, Global Guerillas

By: IJ

IJ — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 21:02:48 +0000

You helpfully comment that “the West will be at some point forced to concede some power in the IMF and elsewhere. Otherwise, things will get very difficult.”

Last year, John Hopkins University held a forerunner to the present seminar series. One speaker was Zbigniew Brzezinski who spent some time addressing “things will get difficult”.

The former National Security Adviser was very critical of the leadership’s failure to explain the seemingly aggressive foreign policy - essential if the actions are to enjoy enough support to allow the draft to be reinstituted.

By: StrategyUnit

StrategyUnit — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:43:18 +0000

John: thanks for the pointer.
————–
IJ: Good point. There’s a lot issues flying around here. But, here my short answer:

Assuming China, India and other states continue their raise, the West will be at some point forced to concede some power in the IMF and elsewhere. Otherwise, things will get very difficult.

The long answer would warrant its own long post, rather than a comment. I am short on time this Xmas season, but I may touch back on this.

By: IJ

IJ — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 17:01:13 +0000

The paper starts off by saying that the causes of instability include the lack of “global connectivity” throughout the world.

In the posting on ‘East Asia Summit: A Future without America’, you commented: “IJ: Issues with the IMF and the US/Europe’s over representation has been a continueing grievence. I dont think the US and Europe are ready to let go of their control over Bretton Woods institutions. And, I can understand why not, given the history and importance of these institutions.”

Instability therefore seems assured - global connectivity is being denied.

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 15:53:36 +0000

You might be interested in taking a look at Message to the World, a compilation of the various speeches, interviews, releases by Osama bin Laden. He certainly shores up your point that the individual indignities suffered by Muslims in local matters have been conflated into a perceived overall “War against Islam.”