BOG POST: Article posted in LBN re "pivot" to Asia. I think Obama has something up his sleeve on TPP

[Hekate]

With thanks to Purveyor, whose OP it was.

I thought this was very interesting, but it didn't get much traction (only 2 Recs; one of them mine). I commented, and wonder what you all think? I'm obviously reading the text differently from others. My reply is after the quote from the article; maybe I didn't express it as well as I should have because it was so late at night... I think Obama has something up his sleeve re the TPP, in the same way as he is sending strong signals about the Keystone Pipeline turning out to be useless and counterproductive both. Anyway, recommended to visit the original thread from last night, or just comment here.

~H~

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014944891
U.S. Muscle, Money, Influence Pivoting To Asia, Obama Says At G20
Source: CNN

(CNN) -- U.S. President Obama opened his appearance at the G20 summit of world leaders in Australia with a speech that had to make Beijing think.

The United States is a big part of the power balance in Asia and plans to throw more of its weight onto the scale, the president told a crowd at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

"We will continue to deepen our engagement using every element of American power -- diplomacy, military, economic, development, the power of our values and ideals," he said.

And the United States will band together with nations in the region. It will work toward giving them more heft -- so that big nations do not "bully the small," Obama said.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/15/world/asia/g20-summit-start/

My post:

The fascinating thing about having a POTUS born in Hawai'i and partly raised in Indonesia....

....is that unlike previous presidents, he really SEES Pacific and Asia. He gets their importance in a layered and nuanced fashion. The world is no longer just Europe/Russia and the USA, as it was in prior centuries. And Asia is no longer a bunch of undeveloped nations looking to manufacture our goods for us. Obama gets this -- as I say, in a nuanced way. He doesn't demonize China as the Yellow Peril, nor denigrate it, nor does he ignore its genuine ongoing threat to the region. He's really trying to bring them in, from what I can see. Look what he got in relation to climate change -- amazing.

DUers have really been fearing the TPP, they've expended a lot of anger over what they think it might mean to Americans. But I think there will be real depth to what he's trying to achieve with it.

Incidentally, reading the entire linked article: I had no idea Putin had decided to fly jets into the Gulf of Mexico on military maneuvers. Yikes. That's really a lot worse than "rearing his head over Alaska" -- that's genuine Cold War provocation from the little bastard.

We've definitely been born in interesting times.

[Cha]

1. Yes, very interesting, indeed, Hekate! Thank you for reposting your reply to the OP in LBN..

and mahalo for reminding of President Obama's understanding of Asia, Indonesia and Hawaii and the controversial TPP.

Putin's at it again, eh? It's hard to keep up with what Putin is sticking his nose into next.

I made a BOG post earlier today on the President's Speech in Brisbane at the University of Queensland/Vid.. and the Student's Reactions.. Clue.. they thought it was brilliant!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110226804

[BumRushDaShow]

2. "POTUS born in Hawai'i and partly raised in Indonesia...."

And other than a few nonsensical and incorrect utterances of the term "madrasa" by RW loons in the media in relation to the POTUS, the general M$M completely disconnects from the fact that he was born and raised in an Asian-influenced culture, had an Asian stepfather, and has a Euro-Asian half-sister. I.e., he understands... and moreso about those who live in the Pacific. In fact, his African-descendent side was not really addressed until he got to college, and his thought processes actually reflect the 3 cultures when it comes to his decision-making.

[MattSh]

3. Oh, I'm sure many nations will listen politely...

but there's a lot of nations in Asia that do not trust the USA and have no reason to trust it either. The American Century is over and the rest of the world is moving on.

The future for Asia is BRICS and SCO.

BRICS - Current members - Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa. Soon to be members - Indonesia and Turkey have been mentioned as candidates for full membership of the BRICS, while Egypt , Argentina, Iran, Nigeria, Syria and most recently Bangladesh have expressed interest in joining BRICS.

SCO - Shanghai Cooperation Organization - Current Members - China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Soon to be members - India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan.

Frankly, most of these nations have been fooled by the USA a number of times already. The question is will they be fooled again?

And as for the "little bastard" comment. Putin is only reacting to others being the "little bastard" first.

[Cha]

5. Oh, look.. an apologist for the rwinger, homophobic, internet/journalist suppressing, asshole, putin

[Hekate]

7. Which of our past presidents have actually lived in Asia, growing up , as a civilian?

Or in Hawaii, where the culture is Pacific but heavily influenced by Asia?

Oh, right -- exactly none, before Obama.

Also, I stand by my comment about the KGB man.

[IrishAyes]

9. Good for you.

[sheshe2]

4. Just this for now..

Will read when I get home, thanks hekate.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

6. From discussions on Charlie Rose since 2008 he has wanted to pivot to Asia. Hillary

... was sent there as SoS to open the conversation. Obama must have had people working on this from the get-go and continuously ever since. And he's no doubt been in conversation with leaders in Asia since November 5, 2008.

And now it will help him with the new knuckle dragging congress to be the one out there working on the future.

[freshwest]

8. Thanks for referring me to that thread. I rec'd it and posted there.

[IrishAyes]

10. As usual for some months now, I'm late getting to the BOG threads;

try to read most, comment on a few. Yours being one of the most interesting this visit.

If anyone but President Obama were leading the TPP push, I'd be screaming hysterically. It DOES scare me to death. But I can't believe he's spent all this time doing such brave, hard work only to turn around and trick us into something stupid. It wouldn't fit his character or track record. ONLY because of him, I'm anxious to learn more and hopefully come to understand what's going on in that brilliant mind. I don't mind saying he's smarter than me - partly because I know he's smarter than just about everyone else too! Please let me know when and where and if you find a particularly good article on the subject somewhere, because I need and want to know more.

[great white snark]

11. Your reasonable cautiousness is refreshing IrishAyes.

I wish the constantly expecting the worst crowd had your rationality.

[Jamaal510]

12. Some of them

might not want to be rational, and may be here to intentionally wreak havoc. The walls have eyes and ears on DU and other LW forums.

[IrishAyes]

13. You're very kind.