whomever got elected to the white house doesn't make any massive difference to the wee isle. as long as there's some form of american presence, 'em native's would do anything to make 'em chuffed.
and i mean anything.
as enscribed by the letter b @ November 4, 2004 03:29 PMyes, only if the USSR were still around. china not just the sole superpower, but as another checking state putting the US in their place.
knowing that everyone outside their borders is depending on them, the US become this overbearing arrogant monster who think their brand of democracy can and should be replicated in just each and every sovereign country on this planet. without taking into account there exists several different cultural mindsets.
i feel it's hypocritical of the singapore government to be so zealous in chasing the brits and later the ANZAC forces out of this island enmasse. YET welcoming the US military so chuffedly like some massive pimp. immediately after the philippines kicked them out of clark and subic.
just because they are the only one around with a mighty impressive military hardware to scare those "terrorists", isn't it? whereas the commonwealth forces were but a remnant of the colonial powers, so they had to be rid of pronto.
as blahed by the letter b @ November 8, 2004 07:30 AMNo choice I guess. They are the only superpower left and face it, even the likes of Europe will not be able to wield as much influence even if they somehow decide to agree with each other (impossible given its diversity). Thus, everyone has to depend on the US economy and state of affairs. That the way things are, unless there's a way we can go back in time. Or would you rather China be the other superpower? I think not.
as blahed by La Idler @ November 8, 2004 07:07 AMindeed but at what price? i'd rather they put their own house in order first before engaging asia. it's a tad too coincidental that with their invasions of afghanistan and iraq that terrorism spread rather rapidly throughout this region. before it was just within the philippines, engaging in kidnapping their own kind and the odd american missionary or two. and some other places that weren't exactly in the news.
but of course one can argue that 9/11 started it all. innit?
i've nothing against american presence or influence per se but to singapore, whichever the administration is elected, the US remains their #1 partner - and major armtwister as evidenced not too long ago - in just everything you could name.
as blahed by the letter b @ November 5, 2004 08:32 AMIt does make a difference business-wise as Bush Kerry would likely pursue a protectionist policy than Bush, who have been very open to free trade in his first term as president. Moreover, Bush is more likely than Kerry to be engaged in Asia, especially in terms of countering terrorism.
as blahed by La Idler @ November 5, 2004 07:00 AM