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Archiver > VARNDEAN > 2003-01 > 1042943814


From: Phil Allsopp <>
Subject: Re: Jobs for the boys
Date: Sat, 18 Jan 2003 20:36:54 -0600
In-Reply-To: <004001c2bf40$d9dd3400$966bfd3e@albert>


Bert:
You must have been in a different chat room to this
Phil

On 1/18/03 4:27 PM, "Bert's Varndean Stuff"
<> wrote:

> I was enjoying this forum, but now that it appears to be being taken over,
> like most chatrooms on the net, by the aggressive advocates of Bush's
> imperialist war plans, I think I will give it a miss.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Phil Allsopp" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Saturday, January 18, 2003 6:17 PM
> Subject: Re: Jobs for the boys
>
>
>> Jerry, I think you are right about China itching to be able to step up to
>> the plate.
>>
>> This role of "world policeman" is not a mantle that most Americans are at
>> all comfortable wearing. I've heard some countries speak of how weak we
> are
>> because we are afraid of body bags. Personally I don't think that fear,
>> worry or concern is at all bad. In the end I think most Americans would
>> prefer to get on with their lives with as little interference as possible
>> from our own government or overseas events - insular though this may
> appear.
>> Unfortunately, it might be this reluctance to be ruthless that could open
> up
>> a gap that China would be more than happy to fill. And that is indeed a
>> troubling prospect.
>>
>> I think it would be a big challenge for Europe to take on the role because
>> I'm not sure that there is a sense of purpose or unity yet - looking at
>> Europe from afar. Today it seems as if Britain is really taking the lead
>> role on the world stage with the US. I can imagine that it must be
>> difficult for Britons to determine whether they are in fact Europeans or
>> whether they are something else based on history, language, culture,
>> economic ties and so on. While not discounting the roles that European
>> and other countries play, when push comes to shove, it always seems as if
>> the US and Commonwealth players (Britain, NZ, Australia, Canada etc.) are
>> the the first ones to step up the plate and bear the brunt of the policing
>> role.
>>
>> Phil Allsopp
>> Dallas, TX
>>
>>
>>> Following the European civil war which lasted from 1914 to 1945 the
> world
>>> lacked a leader. America took on the role, probably reluctantly, because
> of
>>> the feeling that Communism was not the answer to world peace. It now
> finds
>>> itself in the role of world policeman which means attracting criticism
> from
>>> everyone it tells not to do something. I cannot help feeling that if it
>>> relinquishes this role and Europe is not in a position to take it on
> again
>>> then China will. They have the capacity to be very ruthless in enforcing
>>> rules. The next 20 years should be very interesting. My main reason for
>>> staying alive is to see what happens next.
>>> Best wishes,
>>> Jerry Stokes
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>
>>>
>>
>>
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