Quote Originally Posted by honeybee View Post
I have never really understood the zen philosophy, so I didn't understand the analogy either.
Of course you do - it's the whole point of this thread.

Perception.

Quote Originally Posted by honeybee View Post
...Over the years, the tone of criticism from the US to the China has certainly mellowed down a lot.
Tone on China three decades ago was "foreign affairs" BS when the biggest problems we had was their redder neighbor to the northwest and their silly bully cousins to the southeast. As the surrounding situation changed we decided to play ping-pong because no one gets hurt or sweats too much in that game...

...picking its wars based on convenience and gains to be made, not on the basis of some idealistic principles. Which doesn't surprise me, of course.
Again - of course - why would it surprise you? State and local laws are "crafted and considered" against their cost and benefit all the time. We are considering laxing the laws on certain recreational drugs in some states here because the "cost of prosecuting" these offenders is too prohibitive.

It's always been about return on investment.

Quote Originally Posted by honeybee View Post
...If it's not really between the US and Libya, why is Obama making such statements? These should come from either the NATO or the UN. And arming the rebels is not really part of the UN resolutions, is it?
Actually "arming" anyone in Libya was disallowed in the prior resolution and this latest resolution for air space control specifically "re-allowed" arming for support of the resistance. Hillary spuns that point very well on CBS-radio in NYC a few days ago - although her delivery and sly laughs on the situation show her to be absolulely no statesman.

And Obama - he's 14 months into hoping he can finally say something in advance of a situation unfolding so that it appears that he is actually commanding something.

Foreign affairs was so much easier before we allowed the world to communicate so effortlessly.

Now we all see the world for what it is (flag moving? wind moving? no just some packets on the net...) and it ain't pretty.

At least it's all in the mind...