Syria

Fooling all the people all the time no longer works. Sooner of later, the truth will come out. If George Bush and gang of the U.S. and Tony Blair of the U.K. did not invade Iraq, which was an illegal war, there would  be no ISIS today.

The name of the game is to fight ISIS and the terrorists, but the real objective of Uncle Sam is to get rid of Assad in Syria. Putin is more open. Russia and Syria are long-time allies. The U.S. looks at Assad of Syria as an evil dictator, but Russia looks at the Assad regime as the legitimate government of Syria. The U.S. has been arming the so-called moderate rebels, but the reality is that terrorists are terrorists, and there are very few such so-called moderate rebels. Why do you think so many American weapons and military gear ended up with ISIS?

Can you see the name of the game is fighting ISIS, but the real objective of the U.S. is  using the moderate rebels, severe terrorists, or whatever you call them, to fight Assad? On the other hand, the army of Assad is supported by Russia as the legitimate soldiers and defenders of Syria.

Anyway, it all boils down to a competition of control and influence in Syria and the Middle East between the U.S. and Russia. Obama and Putin just can't see eye-to-eye, and it is very sad. The Syrian civil war is sort of like a proxy war between the U.S. and Russia, while fighting ISIS is only a side show though still important. Uncle Sam wants to get rid of Assad, but Putin says no, so it is like a stalemate.

Why did it take Russia's military action on ISIS in order to wake up Obama, that there is no military solution to the Syrian civil war, I mean for the U.S. to play a military chess game with Putin? Did Obama pretend that he was sleeping? So now John Kerry, Secretary of State, has begun to talk peace and take a diplomatic route, hoping to reach a political solution with Russia. It was a bit laughable that he said having a military alliance with Syria is a wrong strategy. Who was he talking to? Obviously Russia! Putin could  easily say to the U.S. that Russia's having a military alliance with Assad is all legitimate, but Uncle Sam's having a military alliance with the rebels including ISIS is the wrong strategy and illegitimate. Can you see that ISIS is both an enemy and ally of the U.S.? It is like Uncle Sam saying "I want you, ISIS, to help me kill Assad, but that doesn't mean I won't kill you!" Isn't that crazy or what?!      

Military confrontation between two major powers like the U.S. and Russia can only be a problem, not a solution. Obama, Putin, World Leaders: please don't let a war between the U.S. and Russia happen! The Middle East is all a mess. Not sure when PEACE would finally come !!!

Happy Halloween

Happy Hello Win to you all. Don't be afraid. Have fun !!!

Problems In The World

I think most problems in this world are caused by 3 kinds of people: stupid, crazy and bad. It is most dangerous and worrisome to see these people in power. A friend gave me the 4th kind: smart people with shallow mindset and / or unadaptable mindset. What do you think?

NGO Spying

In the news, the Pentagon allegedly used a Christian Non Governmental Organization (NGO) as a front to spy on North Korea. 

My thoughts and comments:

It is nothing new that the U.S. would use Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) to spy on other countries. When it comes to spying, no country (especially the big powers) is ever a pure angel. They are all spying devils. Today, the governments spy on both friends and foes, and everyone, even their own citizens. So this is the world we are living in today !!!

Sino-British Golden Age

Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting the U.K. China and the U.K. are entering a Golden Age of bilateral ties. I felt hopeful in watching and listening to President Xi addressing the British Parliament.These days, when it comes to economic growth, peace and development, which country would you think of first? It's got to be China.

Being a Canadian who grew up in Hong Kong, I am very interested in seeing a good China-U.K. relation. Being a Pacifist, I would like to see the world stop fighting and killing one another.

Canada Election 2015

On March 29, 2015, I wrote about Stephen Harper's Canada. I said " I love Canada, but not Harper's Canada. As said earlier, I don't belong to any political party, but I am hoping that Stephen Harper will not be re-elected in the upcoming election. But there is a good chance that I will be disappointed. He may win again!".

The election yesterday did not disappoint me and many others. The Liberals won a crushing victory. Out of the 338 seats in parliament, they won a majority of 184 seats. On records, these are the numbers of seats won by the other political parties:  Conservatives (99), NDP (44), Parti Quebecois (10) and Green (1). Sorry Tom Mulcair, leader of the NDP, your loss does not prove that you are not good enough to be the Prime Minister of Canada, so please still hold your head high. Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, I'm glad that you haven't lost your seat. You need to keep growing your Green Party. And Good Bye, Stephen Harper. The Canadians have spoken. 'Stop Harper' finally has happened.

Justin Trudeau's win is not only a big win for the Liberal Party across Canada, it is also his special win on a personal level. It would be so much fun for Justin and his family to move back to 24 Sussex Drive where he grew up. However, fun with family is not fun with work. Work is work, not just fun. Let's hope that Justin Trudeau, our next Prime Minister, will do a great job for Canada and its people. Peace !!!  

Xi Will See The Queen

Chinese President Xi Jinping will be visiting the U.K. for 5 days next week from October 19 (Mon), 2015 at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth The Second. Wonder what kind of food will be served at the state dinner in Buckingham Palace?! I have no idea of any famous British dish. Certainly, it won't be Fish and Chips.

Ken Taylor

Ken Taylor, former ambassador to Iran, and famous for his role in the 'Canadian Caper' during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, has died. He was 81 years old. RIP Ken Taylor !!!  

Donald Tsang and Prince Charles

In the news, former Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang is charged over corruption allegations.

Here are my thoughts and comments:

Whether Donald Tsang is guilty or not would not change my view that corrupted politicians can be found everywhere, not just in Hong Kong.

It is a political comedy (or tragedy if you insist), that Donald Tsang was made a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his long-time service to Hong Kong. He was knighted by Prince Charles at the Government House just hours before the handover of Hong Kong back to Chinese rule on July 1, 1997.

Being a British knight, Donald Tsang then became the second Chief Executive of Hong Kong (2005 to 2012). Does anybody know if he gave up his KBE or OBE (Order of British Empire), before he took office as the Chief Executive of Hong Kong? I heard rumor that he refused to give it up. It would be so awkward, politically incorrect, and legally confusing for a British Knight to rule over Chinese Hong Kong.

I also heard that Prince Charles was really upset (in private), that Queen Elizabeth had to hand over Hong Kong to the Communist Chinese in Beijing. Some reporter overheard his private complaint and leaked out the news.

Trans Pacific Partnership (2)

On August 1, 2015, I wrote about the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which failed to reach an agreement then. Now in the news, the U.S., Canada, in total 12 countries, have signed the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal.

As I said before, and now again, this is not just about business, trade and economics, but also politics. If not for politics and counter-balancing the growing might of China, it just doesn't make sense that China being the biggest country in Asia Pacific was left out in the TPP deal. However, there may be a TPP2 coming, that China may eventually join later. 

Uncle Sam just doesn't want China to set the rules in international business, trading and economic games, especially with the Asia Pacific countries. The creation of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) was China's win. The TPP deal is the U.S.' win. China's rise is a certainty, but the US decline is not, so the game goes on. 

In any economic policy or trade deal, there will be winners and losers. Instead of arguing too much about whether the TPP is a good deal or not for your country, please focus more on your own situation and see if it is something good or bad for you, and make all the necessary adaptations and adjustments to face the new reality. Take care.