Exploiting divisions for politics

A country that was divided because it is a country of immigrants, with people from all parts of the world, different cultures, different traditions, different languages. But somehow, one ideal that binds them together as a nation.

But that division seems to have been exploited for political ends.

A good leader gets things done in spite of divisions within the ranks.
A great leader unites people in spite of divisions within the ranks.

I don't know what others think, but I think we should really do some research on how this division can and is being exploited. Because we should not be exploited. And knowing how it can be done is the first step toward preventing it from happening again.

One Road One Belt, old idea in a modern form

China premier urges Japan to join 'Silk Road' infrastructure project

The Silk Road of old was for vassal states to bring tribute to the Middle Kingdom. The Middle Kingdom had a vested interest to ensure safety and security along the Silk Road back then. Of course, the side effect was that countries along the Silk Road also prospered due to the traffic flowing through.

The new Silk Road? I would say the key beneficiary is still China. Why else are they doing this? They may be pouring out money to try and help countries along the routes, but the bottom line is that this benefits China.

"Pay tribute to us, and we will help you."
Old idea in a modern form.

I smell a rat...

If my father-in-law were to suddenly become the defense minister (not that he would; he was an architect, he was never a politician, and is now happily retired), and Mitsubishi and Kawasaki and IHI start to pay me millions of yen as a consultant just because of my ex-military background, having done ZERO military consulting work so far, people will smell a rat.

So when a lawyer, who hasn't been practising much law except for a very selected handful of clients, is paid thousands and thousands of dollars for advice... 😕

Anyone wants to hire me for military consulting?

Undoing Obama deals

Trump abandons 'defective' Iran nuclear deal, to revive sanctions

Great.
Just great.

He had until 2025 to renegotiate whatever he didn't like with the deal, but he decided to just throw it out of the window. That's not negotiation; that's giving up. That's what a loser does. Losers give up.

Undoing everything Obama did may be politically beneficial, but that does not mean it is the right thing to do.

Nations continue to stay in the Paris Accord. Nations continue to go ahead with TPP. It seems Iran intends to continue with JCPOA, and since there is no replacement anyway, other signatories are likely to stick with it too.

All it does is show that the U.S. can do what it wants, but the world no longer is at the beck and call of the U.S. It is no longer the Cold War, when you were either with or against the U.S. I just hope Trump will eventually realize this, before the U.S. gets left even further behind from the global community.