BS: Pakistan and Kenya

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: Goose Gander
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 12:42 AM

That was a joke, CarolC - admittedly not a good one.

Yes, I am quite aware of the PNAC. I just don't think their mesopotamian adventure has turned out the way they planned.

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 10:54 AM

By the way, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is being used as a textbook in the political science department of at least one university in the US.

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: autolycus
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 04:30 PM

I have heard it said (so that's a rotten source) on the BBC, that the trouble in Kenya is not a tribal thing, but a haves and have-nots thing. apparently, nalopkt

Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 06:01 PM

at least one university- must be the munchausen seminar.

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 06:05 PM

University of Pittsburgh.

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 06:11 PM

I used to have some respect for your ability to intelligently discuss things, Q. Lately it seems that you only have petty sniping, but nothing of substance to offer a discussion.

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 07:03 PM

Heh.

It's in the course reading requirements of these schools...

http://www.semesteratsea.com/voyages/fall2005/PS1511-CC.pdfUniversity of Pittsburgh

Spriingfield College

DeSales University (MBA Program)

University of Minnesota (Political Science)

Appalachian State University

New York University (Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service)

University of Denver (Graduate School of International Studies)

Saddleback College (Economics)

Unity College

San Deigo State University

Springfield College

University of Pennsylvania (Political Science)


Recommended or optional reading...

George Mason University

Regis University

University of Washington

University of Memphis (possible reading)

There's lots of others, but that's all I have time for right now.


Come join us in the 21st century, Q.

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 08:41 PM

Corrected link for Desales University...

Desals

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 11:03 PM

Without knowing the purpose of the assignment of the book by Perkins at these schools, I wouldn't be able to comment.

I am trying to absorb "The Debt Threat..." by Hertz, which seems to be a reasonable assessment of the loan and loan repayment programs, which are not functioning as they were designed to do; the debts destabilizing poorly governed developing countries.
Poorly thought out programs loaded with money are subject to mis-direction unless carefully monitored. Obviously this requires that attempts to mis-direct the loan money into private or corporate pockets must be foreseen and controls imposed. There are many examples of failure, not just at the present time. Hertz suggests some remedies. This is a worthwhile study, and Hertz has followed it up with several articles. She has excellent credentials and teaches at both Cambridge and Utrecht.

On the other hand, Perkins seems to have helped his companies scam money that should have gone into specific projects or into debt repayment, and spun his little tale of thievery into the large problem of loans to small countries and loan repayments.
I cannot credit his material.

Globalization of industry is something that governments have yet to deal with. Large multinationals take on some of the trappings of omnipotence, but it is up to governments to control them. That sounds simplistic, but major governments and combinations thereof (European Union, etc.) are not used to the new world of business and have not developed viable controls. An uninformed public (that includes me) shares the blame. Venal governmental administrators and companies of course will lap up money made by their country's resources if controls are lacking.
Large loans have accrued to small governments that could have been repaid if their governments were honest or had been monitored by the lenders but means of doing so do not exist or were not installed; slowly these debts are being forgiven or repayment delayed, but reluctance to act means the problem will remain for some time to come.

I hope that some of the solutions suggested by Ms Hertz can be implemented; I don't know if they are possible or suitable.
I am not able to prescribe any solution, it is a complex subject.

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: CarolC
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 11:50 PM

If you want to find out what the book was being used for in each of the courses I posted links to, you have only to look in the links. I put a link to the syllabus for each course.

Perkins was recruited for the job of Economic Hit Man by the NSA. On his resume, under "Clients Served" is listed "US Treasury Department/Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". This is because the US government is as much a part of the activities that Perkins writes about as the corporations.

The goal is to absorb the developing countries of the world into the empire currently being built by the US and some other Western governments and certain large and very powerful corporations, using economic enslavement as the primary tool. The goal is not, and has never been to actually help the people of the developing world. For this reason, unless or until this agenda is changed, I tend to doubt that any recommendations by Ms. Hertz will ever be considered.

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Jan 08 - 12:31 PM

No point in arguing with fantasy.

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Jan 08 - 12:39 PM

Carol
Your research was quick and easy but excelent none the less.

I listened to a guest on NPR who argued that Kenya has no real majority of one tribe over another. Nor is tribalism the main issue.

I will try to get a live link to the this interview which seemed far more truthful than the typical party line of an Imperial think tank pundit.

Subject: RE: BS: Pakistan and Kenya
From: CarolC
Date: 07 Jan 08 - 01:18 PM

No point in arguing with fantasy.

LOL. Thanks for the advice. I guess I should stop arguing with you now, seeing as how your world view is a fantasy (although I'm sure a very pleasing one for you).


Thanks, Donuel.