Synopsis: US-Chinese relations suddenly seem to be at a recent all-time low. The US arms sale to Taiwan, US President meeting with the Dalai Lama, Google China getting hacked, and US Secretary of State Clinton commenting on human rights in China, have collectively caused the Sino-Giant to super-size its rage against the US machine. But the Plaid Avenger tells you why there’s nothing really to fear from this…it is really just business as usual…and it won’t result in any big changes to the relationship between these two world titans. However, China’s fury will be causing impacts on the international agenda of the US and Team West, namely in regard to Iran, North Korea, and even global warming. Check it out!

Other Plaidcasts mentioned:
02.05.10 - Taiwan’s Tricky Sticky Status

10.06.09 - Diplomatic Dali Diss to Save 6-Party

03.11.09 - Chi Slamma’ Lama

U.S.-China growing pains

Testing Time for U.S.-China Relations

US-China tensions continue over Google

China Renews Opposition to Iran Sanctions

Keywords: US, China, Taiwan, Tibet, Iran, North Korea, Obama, Dalai Lama, Hilary Clinton, global warming, human rights, Google

Summary: Holy crap! The US is selling $6.4 billion bucks worth of arms to Taiwan….and China is pissed! This must be the beginning of WW3 and the end of the world! NOT. This arms deal, and China’s reaction to it, is a regular occurrence that has been happening for 60 years. The bigger story is why it is happening, and for that we need to understand the Taiwanese/Chinese relationship, and how the US got in the middle of the mess in the first place. The Avenger outlines how Taiwan got into this strange ‘non-state’ status, and how that relates to US/Chinese relations. Time for a Taiwanese tango!

US arms deal helps deter

US slates China's Taiwan response

China versus Taiwan: How the political standoff may end

Ma Ying-jeou: Creating closer ties (VIDEO!!!)

Keywords: Taiwan, US, China, Ma Ying-jeou, Chen Shui-bian, Chiang Kai-shek, Mao Zedong, Henry Kissinger, Richard Nixon, Taiwan Relations Act

Synopsis: There is talk in France of a nation-wide ban on the wearing of the Islamic full-body covering burka…a proposition supported by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Many have viewed this move as anti-Islamic or Islam-o-phobic, but hold on! This ban, along with a Swiss ban on minarets and anti-immigrant violence in Italy, is indicative of a major shift underway across all of Europe: a move to the conservative right, both socially and politically. The Avenger discusses these issues and the reasons why they have arisen….and what you can expect in European politics and cultural frictions of the future.

France moves toward burqa ban amid concern over Muslim integration

Race Riots Grip Italian Town, and Mafia Is Suspected

The population crash

Fixing Europe's Immigration Problem

Keywords: France, Sarkozy, Switzerland, Italy, Berlusconi, Germany, Merkel, birth rates, immigration, culture, Islam

Synopsis: The catastrophic earthquake which hit Haiti on January 12th has killed perhaps a quarter of a million people and economically ravaged the entire state. More importantly, it has laid bare to the world a totally impoverished country that is ill-equipped to take care of itself even in good times, much less when disaster strikes. How is it that Haiti got to this point of sucking so bad?

In this final installment Part 3, the Avenger sums up how the negative aspects of Haiti’s bloody birth and internal people problems have played out over the last 200 years to produce this heavily indebted and desperately poor state which has seen more than its fair share of international intrigue, destructive dictatorships, and political chaos….right on up to the modern earthquake event which has flattened these fatigued folks. But there is hope for the future!!!

A legacy of oppression in Haiti

Where is Haiti's government?

Imagining a Stronger Haiti Past the Pain

Keywords: Haiti, François Duvalier, Papa Doc, Baby Doc, Jean-Claide Duvalier, Tonton Macoute, Voodoo, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Mugabe

Synopsis: The catastrophic earthquake which hit Haiti on January 12th has killed perhaps a quarter of a million people and economically ravaged the entire state. More importantly, it has laid bare to the world a totally impoverished country that is ill-equipped to take care of itself even in good times, much less when disaster strikes. How is it that Haiti got to this point of sucking so bad? In this three-part plaidcast, the Plaid Avenger gives you some of the background and chronic problems which have plagued this state since its inception. Part 2 describes contentious issues among the ‘classes’ of color of Haitian citizenry and how this is a core cause of the calamity, within the country and across the Caribbean island of Hispaniola as a whole…

Haiti's History: Revolution, Subjugation

Haiti, Dominican Republic are troubled neighbours

Color Complex: Sammy Sosa's Changing Face

Haiti's history as first black republic creates a special bond with many African-Americans

Keywords: Haiti, mulatto, Dominican Republic, Haitian Revolution, Hispaniola, Carribean, Rafael Trujillo, Jean-Pierre Boyer

Synopsis: The catastrophic earthquake which hit Haiti on January 12th has killed perhaps a quarter of a million people and economically ravaged the entire state. More importantly, it has laid bare to the world a totally impoverished country that is ill-equipped to take care of itself even in good times, much less when disaster strikes. How is it that Haiti got to this point of sucking so bad? In this three-part plaidcast, the Plaid Avenger gives you some of the background and chronic problems which have plagued this state since its inception. Part 1 chronicles the bloody birth of Haiti and how it set the stage for future problems of the state.

Towards the saving of Haiti

Haiti's History Is One of Pain and Perseverance

Too Hard for the White Folks? Americans and the Haitian Revolution

Keywords: Haiti, Haitian Revolution, France, US, pirates

Synopsis: 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

Summary: 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

Synopsis: 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

Synopsis: 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