Comments on: The dark frontier http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/ Just another Pajamasmedia.com weblog Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:40:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: neo http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-5388 neo Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:51:54 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-5388 * <i>"is the world becoming a better place?"</i> i guess it depends on <a href="http://hallsofmacadamia.blogspot.com/2008/08/another-glorious-victory.html" rel="nofollow"><i><b>who you're talking to</i></b></a>. * *
“is the world becoming a better place?”

i guess it depends on who you’re talking to.

*

]]> By: neolex http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-5090 neolex Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:36:41 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-5090 Why are the Georgian threads closed? Database issues? Why are the Georgian threads closed? Database issues?

]]> By: Joshua http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-4186 Joshua Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:40:55 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-4186 Things are moving too quickly on too many fronts - military, diplomatic, geopolitical, economic, technological, cultural, demographic - for us to have anything more than a very faint idea of what the next chapter of world history will look like. Very faint, as in "it probably won't be very pleasant". Things are moving too quickly on too many fronts – military, diplomatic, geopolitical, economic, technological, cultural, demographic – for us to have anything more than a very faint idea of what the next chapter of world history will look like. Very faint, as in “it probably won’t be very pleasant”.

]]> By: Dave http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-4180 Dave Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:17:27 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-4180 whiskey: I'll drink to that---pun intended. Done Been Pooten is sitting on top of a kleptocracy. He thinks he is the big, tough s.o.b. in charge. But in truth he is running short of ways and means to provide the instant gratification his gang requires. His internal position is flaky, that is why he has embarked on a foreign gamble. If somebody will fight a way to hand him his head on a platter, both he and the kleptocracy will collapse. whiskey: I’ll drink to that—pun intended.

Done Been Pooten is sitting on top of a kleptocracy. He thinks he is the big, tough s.o.b. in charge. But in truth he is running short of ways and means to provide the
instant gratification his gang requires.

His internal position is flaky, that is why he has embarked on a foreign gamble. If somebody will fight a way to hand him his head on a platter, both he and the kleptocracy will collapse.

]]> By: Charles http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-4090 Charles Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:31:46 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-4090 imho russia's current problems in the caucasus are a cautionary tale of what can happen to the USA in not a few decades if the current american elites persist in thinking of themselves as world citizens rather than american citizens. there are real policy consequences when the most powerful constituencies in a republic no longer believe in the republic. the foolishness of obama in saying that he was a world citizen in berlin was only that he said it. many american political and monetary elites in the USA think of themselves as world citizens but they are not such fools as to say so. imho russia’s current problems in the caucasus are a cautionary tale of what can happen to the USA in not a few decades if the current american elites persist in thinking of themselves as world citizens rather than american citizens.

there are real policy consequences when the most powerful constituencies in a republic no longer believe in the republic.

the foolishness of obama in saying that he was a world citizen in berlin was only that he said it.

many american political and monetary elites in the USA think of themselves as world citizens but they are not such fools as to say so.

]]> By: whiskey http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-4056 whiskey Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:27:43 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-4056 It's important to recognize what's Putin's motive. Putin is in power because he runs a patronage network of thugs. To stay in power, like Saddam or Ahmadinejad, he needs to deliver lots of cash to the thugs. Simple as that. For the cash to keep flowing, the world price of oil has to be north of $140 a barrel. None of these thug states can produce oil profitably at low(er) prices because it would require suppressing the thug network that keeps these Big Men in power. Which means, broadly speaking, there will be war between Russia and Iran on the one hand, with their need to jack up world oil prices and keep their thugs paid, and the US, China, and other powers on the other hand, who need cheaper oil to keep THEIR economies going. China needs cheap oil to keep their manufacturing base going and prevent a gigantic revolution from spreading all over their country. Already I'll note that Uighur and Hui Muslim terrorism is spreading all over the country. The US needs cheap oil to keep the Welfare State going, keep payments to corporate and social-ethnic-racial groups that keep the peace. This pretty much guarantees war in some form or another. And Obama? He's like Carter reacting to the USSR's invasion of Afghanistan. His Berlin speech looks like the stupidest bet ever, in the aftermath of what is sure to be Russian invasion and occupation, a brutal one at that, of Georgia. Russia has to occupy and control Georgia, to keep the pipeline dead. They can't afford cheap gas and oil going to Europe outside their control. They must keep their thugs paid after all to keep Putin in power. It’s important to recognize what’s Putin’s motive.

Putin is in power because he runs a patronage network of thugs. To stay in power, like Saddam or Ahmadinejad, he needs to deliver lots of cash to the thugs. Simple as that.

For the cash to keep flowing, the world price of oil has to be north of $140 a barrel. None of these thug states can produce oil profitably at low(er) prices because it would require suppressing the thug network that keeps these Big Men in power.

Which means, broadly speaking, there will be war between Russia and Iran on the one hand, with their need to jack up world oil prices and keep their thugs paid, and the US, China, and other powers on the other hand, who need cheaper oil to keep THEIR economies going.

China needs cheap oil to keep their manufacturing base going and prevent a gigantic revolution from spreading all over their country. Already I’ll note that Uighur and Hui Muslim terrorism is spreading all over the country. The US needs cheap oil to keep the Welfare State going, keep payments to corporate and social-ethnic-racial groups that keep the peace.

This pretty much guarantees war in some form or another.

And Obama? He’s like Carter reacting to the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan. His Berlin speech looks like the stupidest bet ever, in the aftermath of what is sure to be Russian invasion and occupation, a brutal one at that, of Georgia.

Russia has to occupy and control Georgia, to keep the pipeline dead. They can’t afford cheap gas and oil going to Europe outside their control. They must keep their thugs paid after all to keep Putin in power.

]]> By: Mike Sylwester http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-4015 Mike Sylwester Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:06:51 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-4015 E. Nigma: "For example, to dismantle the caste system in India would also mean a direct assault on Hinduism. Which is more breakable; Hinduism or the democratic idea, in India? I don’t know the answer, but it might be a clue as to the limits of “liberal democracy”." ------------- Traditional religious teaching is one impediment that liberal democracy has had to overcome. In order to dismantle the rule of kings in Europe, Europeans had to reform or overcome Christian teachings that upheld the divine rights of kings. In retrospect we look back at European history and recognize that the political victory of liberal democracy over the divine right of kings was historically inevitable because of many social factors, not that Europeans were "different" and eternally committed to rule by kings because they were ruled by kings for many centuries. What is the historical trend in India? Is it the historical trend that the caste system is being reinforced and appears to be the wave of the future? Or it is the historical trend that the caste system is being eliminated and that liberal democracy is the wave of the future? E. Nigma:
“For example, to dismantle the caste system in India would also mean a direct assault on Hinduism. Which is more breakable; Hinduism or the democratic idea, in India? I don’t know the answer, but it might be a clue as to the limits of “liberal democracy”.”
————-

Traditional religious teaching is one impediment that liberal democracy has had to overcome. In order to dismantle the rule of kings in Europe, Europeans had to reform or overcome Christian teachings that upheld the divine rights of kings. In retrospect we look back at European history and recognize that the political victory of liberal democracy over the divine right of kings was historically inevitable because of many social factors, not that Europeans were “different” and eternally committed to rule by kings because they were ruled by kings for many centuries.

What is the historical trend in India? Is it the historical trend that the caste system is being reinforced and appears to be the wave of the future? Or it is the historical trend that the caste system is being eliminated and that liberal democracy is the wave of the future?

]]> By: cjm http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-3998 cjm Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:16:23 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-3998 the muslim immigrants in europe are converting to chritianity in substantial numbers. once the conversion process is completed, there will not be any muslims left in, or allowed into, europe. the current native populations are on the etruscan express, and good bye to them. russia has the worst demographic collapse of all. they are toast and no one will help them when china comes calling. maybe russia shouldn't have armed the prc. islam will not survive contact with modern communications. in at least one SOTU speech bush made ellipitcal references to revolutionary changes in energy production -- is there some new technology nearing fruition? the muslim immigrants in europe are converting to chritianity in substantial numbers. once the conversion process is completed, there will not be any muslims left in, or allowed into, europe. the current native populations are on the etruscan express, and good bye to them.

russia has the worst demographic collapse of all. they are toast and no one will help them when china comes calling. maybe russia shouldn’t have armed the prc.

islam will not survive contact with modern communications.

in at least one SOTU speech bush made ellipitcal references to revolutionary changes in energy production — is there some new technology nearing fruition?

]]> By: fred http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-3973 fred Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:51:09 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-3973 Thirty years ago when I was in college and becoming infatuated with Marxism, I was intrigued by Hegel and his theories about human history. And from a naive standpoint, it is hard to refute the observed general trends away from barbarism towards more advanced cultures and states. But, three decades later and having absorbed MORE of the details of history, past and current, I am not sure about Hegel anymore. Liberal democracy, however advanced and successful (and desirable from my standpoint) does not always win the day. It can be argued that the score is roughly even, between liberal democracy and thuggery/barbarism/totalitarianism. As a Catholic Christian I am supposed to be optimistic about the victory of the Alpha and the Omega, but sometimes during times like these what I observe of human stupidity, evil, and sloth makes me wonder... We cannot carry this burden alone. Great as our nation is, there are just too many threats. What has definitely emerged is an Axis of Moscow-Tehran-Beijing that would appear to have some degree of coordination. And clearly, the Russians and the Chinese believe that Iran and the Islamic world are manageable, directing the Ummah's violent aggression against the United States and the West. The E.U. seems to be some version of the old Soviet Politiburo, and so their sympathies are not generally inclined in our direction. But, we will see how Europe reacts now that Russia has shown its fangs. Thirty years ago when I was in college and becoming infatuated with Marxism, I was intrigued by Hegel and his theories about human history. And from a naive standpoint, it is hard to refute the observed general trends away from barbarism towards more advanced cultures and states. But, three decades later and having absorbed MORE of the details of history, past and current, I am not sure about Hegel anymore. Liberal democracy, however advanced and successful (and desirable from my standpoint) does not always win the day. It can be argued that the score is roughly even, between liberal democracy and thuggery/barbarism/totalitarianism. As a Catholic Christian I am supposed to be optimistic about the victory of the Alpha and the Omega, but sometimes during times like these what I observe of human stupidity, evil, and sloth makes me wonder…

We cannot carry this burden alone. Great as our nation is, there are just too many threats. What has definitely emerged is an Axis of Moscow-Tehran-Beijing that would appear to have some degree of coordination. And clearly, the Russians and the Chinese believe that Iran and the Islamic world are manageable, directing the Ummah’s violent aggression against the United States and the West.

The E.U. seems to be some version of the old Soviet Politiburo, and so their sympathies are not generally inclined in our direction. But, we will see how Europe reacts now that Russia has shown its fangs.

]]> By: E. Nigma http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-3970 E. Nigma Sun, 10 Aug 2008 15:34:42 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2008/08/09/the-dark-frontier/#comment-3970 There is a notion that cultural or social anthropologists sometimes struggle against in the writing for their science. Teleology. It can be a false notion to think that all societies and cultures are gradually moving in the same direction with the same general end. This is Fukuyama's great conceit, in my opinion. Huntington's "Clash of Civilization", while not without it's flaws and glib generalizations, at least recognizes the reality that people are different, and they WANT to be different. For example, to dismantle the caste system in India would also mean a direct assault on Hinduism. Which is more breakable; Hinduism or the democratic idea, in India? I don't know the answer, but it might be a clue as to the limits of "liberal democracy". I, frankly would prefer progress toward "constitutional republic", and a strict definition of that. Isn't there a country called "The Democratic Republic of Congo", which, in reality, is none of that? There is a notion that cultural or social anthropologists sometimes struggle against in the writing for their science.
Teleology.
It can be a false notion to think that all societies and cultures are gradually moving in the same direction with the same general end. This is Fukuyama’s great conceit, in my opinion. Huntington’s “Clash of Civilization”, while not without it’s flaws and glib generalizations, at least recognizes the reality that people are different, and they WANT to be different.
For example, to dismantle the caste system in India would also mean a direct assault on Hinduism. Which is more breakable; Hinduism or the democratic idea, in India? I don’t know the answer, but it might be a clue as to the limits of “liberal democracy”.
I, frankly would prefer progress toward “constitutional republic”, and a strict definition of that. Isn’t there a country called “The Democratic Republic of Congo”, which, in reality, is none of that?

]]>