As far as the "Bond bomb" goes my guess is that in general China would prefer a slow steady grind in letting thier economy beat up on our economy. I assume you and Laird know a lot more about the bond market than me. I assume like the POG at some point the bond market will go nuts and neither China nor the U.S. and Japan will be able to stop it, but I don't think CHina will be the one to push the action unless we really are pushing mighty hard on them in another arena.
Why Putin went overboard in ingratiating Bush. He disliked Holbrooke worse than Bush. This is part of it but as for what deals are involved we can only watch. You are right, though, they are there.
Concerns have been voiced in Moscow that relations with the US could decline under the Democrats. Russian media have speculated that Kerry, if elected next month, might put extra pressure on Moscow - and even include Russia in a new "axis of evil", along with Iran and North Korea.
Indeed, Democrats have voiced stronger criticism of Russia. "We're concerned that Putin is getting a blank check," said Richard C Holbrooke, a former US ambassador to the United Nations who is advising Kerry. "We need good relations with Russia, but we ought to have some standards here," he said.
Richard Holbrooke's makes crystal clear his dislike of Serbs and sympathies for Muslims. #msg-3667050
Russia and China have been marked as major prizes on the chess board and they know it. Thus the very real grievances of the Chechens, Uighurs, Muslims and such have taken a backseat to the Grand Game.
While deception is the norm it seems ‘balance’, the checking of another countries influence, is the fuel of the game.
Here is something that might be surfacing and up your alley.
Somewhat dated but you’ll get the idea.
The incursions from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan into the three Central Asian republics of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan by Islamic militants from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) are part of a wider strategic co-ordination with the Taliban and their offensive against the opposition Northern Alliance. Although the IMU has strategic aims to mobilize a Central Asian-Caucasus force of Islamic rebels and tactically to set up bases in the Ferghana Valley for a prolonged guerrilla war against President Islam Karimov, the IMU actions are also providing direct assistance to the Taliban offensive inside Afghanistan. http://www.omaid.com/english_section/in_the_press/uzbekRebelsTalib_aRashid_Sep13.htm
He said groups like the IMU, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Uighur separatists, and Tajik and Kyrgyz Islamists are uniting, calling themselves the Islamic Movement of Central Asia. #msg-6351646
I don’t know how vast the differences are between these factions or if they reach the magnitude of the Shia/Sunni divergences but they apparently have united.
Now go over to Laird’s post and the following passage:
The subject of civil war is broached, and Mohammed, a Shia driver from Sadr City blurts out, “The occupiers are creating these problems between the Shia and Sunni, but they will not divide us! All occupations only mean destruction and suffering!” #msg-6351428
Are we seeing a world wide effort for Muslim unity???
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