Hatoyama Hijinks Causing Chilly Relations for Uncle Sam
watch on iPhone/iPod TouchSynopsis: The Plaid Avenger is alerting you to the small rift that is forming between Japan and the US….the two economic titans that have also been extremely tight security/military allies since World War 2. The new center-left Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is quietly been busy courting stronger Asian alliances at the expense of the historically US-centered Japanese foreign policy. This is done mainly to help fix the flailing Japanese economy by expanding Japanese economic ties to Asia…but this change in economic focus also affects the Japanese/US security relationship, which is currently melting down over the issue of the strategically crucial US military bases in Okinawa. The Avenger suggests we are witnessing the beginning of a new era of US/Japanese relations which has repercussions for the entire Pacific Rim.
Japan Unveils Plan for Growth, Emphasizing Free Trade in Asia
Japan's Hatoyama disappoints on US base delay, budget
Japan Promises India Infusion of Capital, Technology
Diplomatic retooling needed in face of China
Hatoyama, Xi Agree on Need to Deepen Japan-China Strategic Ties
Keywords: Hatoyama, Obama, Japan, US, Okinawa, Asia, China, Xi Jinping, India, Singh, ASEAN
Specifically Pacific President
watch on iPhone/iPod TouchSummary: US President Barack Obama had a busy month of Asian persuasion in November. He went on his first Asian tour since taking office, meeting with Japanese, Chinese, and Korean leaders, but also stopping off in Singapore to meet with APEC and ASEAN. As soon as he got home, he hosted the Prime Minister of India at the first official White House dinner. All of these moves reflect a serious attitude shift of Obama, the US, and the entire world to the overwhelming importance of Asia in this century….as an historic shift from the Europe/US/Atlantic-centered economy towards a Pacific-centered world is underway. And the US don’t want to get left behind!
President Obama's trip: Style over substance
US envoy hits out at media for Obama China visit
Obama's Asia trip: In Singapore, a focus on US staying power
The impact of Obama's Asia tour
Singh’s visit to ‘consolidate’ US-India ties
Keywords: Barack Obama, Pacific, Asia, ASEAN, APEC, Yukio Hatoyama, Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, Lee Myung-Bak, Manmohan Singh, US, China, Japan
Af-Pak Insanity: Borderline Chaos, Part 3: Problems (continued)
watch on iPhone/iPod TouchSynopsis: For the final installment of this three-part series on the calamity and chaos that is the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area, the Plaid Avenger talks about the particular problems of note that are causing the consternation for the world. The Pashtuns in this border region have been fired by the friction/hatred between Afghanistan and Pakistan, blowed up and and bombed by the Soviets, and further manipulated by the Pakistani ISI….all of which have helped spawn the birth of the Taliban, which is now the group fighting the US/NATO as well as the Afghan and Pakistani governments too. This Taliban monster is now out of control and split into two different factions which are separately challenging the existence of both Afghanistan and Pakistan itself. Learn the how, when and why is this angst-ridden Avenger rant!
Insurgents forced out of Pakistan's tribal havens form smaller cells in heart of nation
U.S. wants Pakistan to pursue Taliban-allied group
Pakistani Army’s Victories Fail to Halt Taliban’s Blows
Pakistan Resists Role Across the Border
Keywords: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Pashtun, Afghani Taliban, Pakistani Taliban
Af-Pak Insanity: Borderline Chaos, Part 3: Problems
watch on iPhone/iPod TouchSynopsis: For the final installment of this three-part series on the calamity and chaos that is the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area, the Plaid Avenger talks about the particular problems of note that are causing the consternation for the world. The Pashtuns in this border region have been fired by the friction/hatred between Afghanistan and Pakistan, blowed up and and bombed by the Soviets, and further manipulated by the Pakistani ISI….all of which have helped spawn the birth of the Taliban, which is now the group fighting the US/NATO as well as the Afghan and Pakistani governments too. This Taliban monster is now out of control and split into two different factions which are separately challenging the existence of both Afghanistan and Pakistan itself. Learn the how, when and why is this angst-ridden Avenger rant!
Insurgents forced out of Pakistan's tribal havens form smaller cells in heart of nation
U.S. wants Pakistan to pursue Taliban-allied group
Pakistani Army’s Victories Fail to Halt Taliban’s Blows
Pakistan Resists Role Across the Border
Keywords: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Pashtun, Afghani Taliban, Pakistani Taliban
Af-Pak Insanity: Borderline Chaos, Part 2: The People (continued)
watch on iPhone/iPod TouchSynopsis: For the second installment of this three-part series on the calamity and chaos that is the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area, the Plaid Avenger talks about the peoples and parties that inhabit this lethal stretch of planet earth. We mostly hear about the Taliban, al-Qaeda, Afghans, and Pakistanis, and the Avenger will sort out who these peoples are…or aren’t! However, nations and political parties are made up of peoples, which is the Plaid Avenger’s main focus here. Ethnic groups like the Balochis, the Uzbeks, the Tajiks, and the Uyghurs are located in this area, and all have different goals which motivate their behavior. However, it is the powerful Pashtun ethnic group that has been swelling the ranks of the terrorist groups of this region….let’s figure out why!
Keywords: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Pashtun, Balochis
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