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Due to a holiday, Asia Times Online will not upload again
until Tuesday, September 4.
Vietnam, China lurch towards crisis
As China and Vietnam move closer to an economic crisis, jingoism and an urge
for confrontation are rising in both countries, with provocateurs foreseeing a
shooting war between Beijing and a US-backed Hanoi over South China Sea
resources. Moves by Premier Wen Jiabao and Vietnam's leadership to respond
independently to economic difficulties raise hopes that political and
nationalistic mischief will be trumped by a shared desire to keep economies on
track. - Peter Lee (Aug 30, '12)
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Egypt navigates non-aligned
currents
A need for hard cash has helped to drive Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi's
efforts to make his country's presence felt on the international stage.
However, his new assertiveness, on display at the Non-Aligned Movement summit,
may force Cairo to play a larger military role in conflicts such as the Syrian
civil war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. - Victor Kotsev
(Aug 31, '12)
COMMENT
Cairo and Tehran, new twin
pillars
Disagreement between Iran and Egypt over the Syrian crisis at the Non-Aligned
summit was overshadowed by positive chemistry that raises the prospects of the
Middle East's two biggest states pooling resources to reshape the region's
political landscape. As President Mohammed Morsi charts a "turn to the east",
Tehran and Cairo's overlapping interests will increasingly come to the fore.
- Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Aug 31, '12)
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A middle-way solution for Syria
All players in the Syrian crisis have maximalist scenarios for its resolution,
and all clash, thus prolonging the civil war.What is needed is a solution that
satisfies the most important concerns of all, while coming short of their
dreams. The first step in such a solution would be the resignation of President
Bashar al-Assad while keeping the regime in place.
- Kayhan Barzegar (Aug 31, '12)
Delhi police fumble 'Iran' bomb
probe
The Delhi Police Special Cell's past reliance on planted evidence and false
confessions appears again evident in its efforts to implicate an Iranian state
agency in the February bombing of an Israeli embassy car. The irregularities
are so blantant that the court has admonished the public prosecutor over
Special Cell leaks designed to generate a trial by media.
- Gareth Porter (Aug 31, '12)
 BOOK
REVIEW
The nudists and the diplomat's
daughter
Midnight in Peking
by Paul French
Written in a racy style that occasionally veers too close to parody, this is a
fascinating look at the brutal slaying of a young Englishwoman in Beijing
during the run-up to World War II. The victim herself now lies under the modern
city's Second Ring Road, but the author has told her tragic story, and that of
her bereaved father who never accepted the official investigation into the
murder, vividly and expertly.
- Michael Rank (Aug 31, '12)
SPEAKING FREELY
Much ado about nothing in
Tehran
Iran's efforts to paint its hosting of this week's Non-Aligned Movement summit
as proof that it is not internationally isolated will garner limited political
and economic gains. Despite NAM's supposed focus on redressing inequalities in
the international political order, its prominent members share no long-term and
reliable solidarity with Iran on its security and strategic concerns. - H Aghaie
(Aug 31, '12)
 To submit to
Speaking Freely click
here
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 ROVING
EYE
Morsi delivers
his calling card
First call Beijing, then Tehran - it's clear that Egyptian President Mohammed
Morsi has taken to the world stage determined to restore Cairo, historically
the intellectual hub of the Arab world, to its leadership position, too long
usurped by the oil-rich House of Saud. Next up for discussion - Camp David? - Pepe
Escobar (Aug 30, '12)
Egypt joins China club
President Mohammed Morsi's state visit to Beijing has sent Washington a
double-edged message: Cairo can no longer be taken for granted, and China is
ready and able to take advantage of stronger ties with Egypt. The US, blind to
the fact the basis of the "Arab Spring" is economic, is seeing newly
democratized nations turning east, where cash-rich China is hungry for
resources and markets.
- Brendan O'Reilly (Aug 30, '12)
INTERVIEW
The remapping of the Middle
East
The Sykes-Picot treaty of 1916, which set out the geostrategic parameters of
the modern Middle East, no longer works, essentially being torn up and reworked
to suit Western and Israeli interests. The outcome of the struggle for Syria,
Jeremy Salt tells Claudio Gallo, will shape the future of the Middle
East, with the local actors still mere pawns in this game.
(Aug 30, '12)
Old allies, new dynamics in
US pivot
United States efforts to reinvigorate Southeast Asian security alliances as
part of its "pivot" to Asia are feeling the influence of domestic politics in
the Philippines and Thailand. Manila is open to military cooperation that
strengthens its public face against China's maritime assertiveness; Bangkok
resists Washington's overtures in order to preserve blossoming ties with
Beijing.
- Julius Cesar I Trajano (Aug 30, '12)
Indonesia short of naval
muscle
Jakarta's diplomatic role in shoring up Southeast Asian unity against China's
assertiveness in the South China Sea must be backed up by defensive
capabilities if Indonesia is to fulfill the potential for regional leadership
created by its size and strategic location. The Indonesian navy has been
expanding, but remains short of what is needed to project power.
- Vignesh Ram (Aug 30, '12)
Mitt's secret weapon may
keep bombing
 Ann
Romney's disappointing speech may not be the last disappointment she delivers.
Even if she had delivered her words with perfect execution, the decision to
feature Mitt Romney's spouse underscores parts of the presidential candidate's
story and platform that may harm the campaign.
- Muhammad Cohen (Aug 30, '12)
SPEAKING FREELY
Tehran jumps to Assad's rescue
This week's Non-Aligned Movement summit provides Iran with an opportunity to
give its ally in Damascus diplomatic breathing space as the Syrian regime loses
support in Arab countries and suffers high-profile defections. While Tehran
will pursue all politico-diplomatic means to support the key member of its
"axis of resistance", military involvement is a step too far. - Richard Javad
Heydarian (Aug 30, '12)
How quickly will the US leave
Afghanistan?
Whether its a 15-year-old tea boy or 70-year-old volunteer turning their guns
on US Army trainers in Afghanistan, the message to US leaders is emphatic:
attempt a lengthy Iraq-style drawdown and you'll pay dearly in blood and
treasure. Yet instead of trying to fathom the underlying anti-colonial instinct
behind "green-on-blue" attacks, Washington sees them as a surmountable obstacle
to occupation. - Tom Engelhardt (Aug 30, '12)
China's cash: Take it or
lose it
China's foreign direct investment in North America and Europe is unrelenting
even as the United States maintains roadblocks against this trend. Washington
cites national security concerns, but it and its Western allies must take
advantage of the economic opportunities China's interest presents. - Ting Xu
(Aug 30, '12)
 SPENGLER
North Korea on the Nile
The recent advances of President Mohammed Morsi signal a changed, albeit
increasingly impoverished, Egypt. As the Muslim Brotherhood turns the country
into a North Korea on the Nile, Washington is confronting an unwelcome set of
new alliances in the Middle East. China will feel at home with the new regime -
although an Israeli strike on Iran would change all that.
(Aug 27, '12)
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Wanxiang
purchase upsets US legislators
The purchase of US-based battery maker A123 Systems by China's Wanxiang would
normally pass unnoticed, but this is election year in Washington and A123's
earlier receipt of taxpayers' cash makes the deal an easy target for Republican
politicians. - Benjamin A Shobert
Who's afraid of China Inc?
Concerns by Canadians over an increased Chinese corporate presence in their
country is best addressed through domestic regulations that apply to all
companies rather than by discriminating against state-owned enterprises. - Yuen
Pau Woo
Pay day for Apple
The number of US consumers who have parted with good money for a mobile phone
unaware of whether they bought an Apple or a Samsung model is tough to
quantify. The US$1 billion in damages awarded by a US court to the
California-based company suggests more than one would imagine.
Martin J Young surveys the week's developments in computing, science,
gaming and gizmos.
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CREDIT BUBBLE BULLETIN
Do whatever it takes
Bombing of civilians during World War II escalated from something to be avoided
to a commonplace slaughter, culminating in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That "do
whatever it takes" mentality is only too evident in central bankers' disastrous
expansion of credit, with innocent civilians again the victims.
Doug Noland looks at the previous week's events each Monday.
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TONY ALLISON (1953-2012)
Asia Times Online's Editor-in-Chief Anthony Allison died on June 20 after a
short illness. We extend our sympathy to Tony's family for their tragic and
premature loss.
Obituary
Tributes
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Obama
returns to Afghan war
The "green-on-blue incidents" in Afghanistan will henceforth be called "insider
attacks" by the Pentagon commanders. It is a bold decision to call a spade a
spade...
- M K Bhadrakumar
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[Re: The
Iran-India-Afghanistan Riddle, 28 Aug, '12] Instead of continuing to
invite and provoke the very Pakistani retaliation it so deeply resents and
fears, Afghanistan can rid itself of its worries by recognizing the Durand Line
and forever renouncing all claims to Pakistani territory.
Shayne Wilson
Dubai, UAE
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