Foreign Agenda

We’re part of the 5% of the world population being held responsible for the remaining 95% of the world. We are members of the United Nations, North American Treaty Organization (NATO) and other partnering associations. I think before going to war or assisting another country, whether or not it’s an endeavor sanctioned by a group (UN, NATO), we should get a contract stating our participation and/or reimbursement. Said treaties and contracts should contain punishments for violations. I do know that as a member of a partnering organization we have obligations that are not reimbursable. However, Donald Trump said we should be reimbursed for our costs of someone else’s war – take Libyan oil fields. I don’t agree with his solution but maybe he’s onto something. Perhaps when assisting a country we should make long term agreements like – oil to the US would be a dollar per barrel cheaper than that sold to others who did not help them. We have embassies around the world which makes me think that at the time they were built we were friendly with each other. Recently the US embassy in Syria was destroyed. If we originally paid for it to be built then Syria should reimburse us the cost. We have many embassies here in the US – first, I wonder who paid to build them and second, if they were to be destroyed by Americans who would be responsible for replacing them. I just think things should be fair. On a good note, South Korea did lift its block on donating medicine to North Korea on November 8^th.

 China said it would strain our relationship further if President Obama met with the Dali Lama. I don’t understand why a peaceful person meeting with another would cause a problem unless they’re afraid some secret would come out. Of course I’m not aware of what our relationship with China is but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t include an acceptance of criminal behavior. A Chicago Sheriff working with Customs in 6 months confiscated over 1700 fake identification that our children bought over the internet from China. The fakes (look real because they’re complete with water marks and holograms) are hidden in playing cards and games. Vice President Biden was in China, I guess to improve our relationship with the Chinese when there was the basketball game between China and Georgetown that ended badly. Washington Post sports reporter, Gene Wang reported that the experienced Chinese team didn’t like getting beat by a college team they couldn’t beat squarely by playing basketball so they stepped it by getting physical and crossed the line of good sportsmanship. For the fighting to stop, the Georgetown coach took his team off the court with 9 minutes left to play; they asked for and didn’t receive a police escort back to the hotel. And, China’s confiscating of our secret aircraft information from Pakistan and the manufacturing problems didn’t give us leverage in the talks. On October 24, 2011 it was reported that they did urge North Korea to improve its ties with the US. However, on November 1^st, we heard that cyber attacks tracked back to China targeted at least 48 chemical and military related companies. On November 8^th, it was reported that the US is going to investigate the accusation that China is dumping counterfeit electronic parts into the Pentagon’s supply chain, putting US troops at risk. As the world tries to drive out the terrorists that hinder world peace, I think China is sitting back, waiting for us all to falter.

The internet is a world-wide enterprise. If there isn’t one already, I think there needs to be an organization that regulates internet behavior of all sorts (hackers stealing information and identities, the selling of products that are illegal in a country, cyber-bullying causing kids to run away or commit suicide, predators and human traffickers). The organization would notify the country of origin of a breach so they can punish the internet abusers. On October 29, 2011 NASA admits that one of its satellites was hacked twice in 2008. You know, Disney says – it’s a small world after all and that’s very true with the internet.    

President Bongo of Gabon met with President Obama. Bongo is said to be worth 100s of millions of dollars and critics say it’s because of corruption. Although Gabon has oil wells, it is said that Bongo is buying up expensive properties while a third of his people live in poverty. President Obama meets with this man while we exile other leaders behaving in the same manner. Apparently, the difference is Bongo has some new reform programs going on and he votes with the US at the United Nations (UN). I don’t understand how a country with such a leader is part of the UN since I thought the organization was to encourage world peace and civil rights. I really don’t want to see this relationship be like Egypt or Iran and cause us to be on the wrong side when the people revolt. I think we need to start being a little more particular about who we say are friends.