Great Power Insecurity and anomalous alliances – Why Hillary Clinton cozens the Fat Lady of Tamil Nadu
Posted on July 27th, 2011
ƒÆ’‚¯ƒ”š‚»ƒ”š‚¿RƒÆ’‚¯ƒ”š‚»ƒ”š‚¿ Chandrasoma
It is an indubitable truth that the greater the power, the greater the fear of overthrow and dispossession. This is a characteristic feature of both individuals and nation-states. Following victories in the Second World War, the United States of America became a domineering super-power in a world that accepted its warrant as beyond challenge. The Soviet Union rose and fell but the might of the USA remained largely unfazed by the tumult in the world. Recently, this long-held suzerainty has been challenged in a novel way by the rise of commercial empires that seek to dominate the world not through the use of force but by the economic choking-off and consequent reduction of once-powerful nations.
The rise of China as a great power in the world is largely attributable to its success in diminishing the economic clout of the earlier rulers of the world ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Europe and the United States of America. In this contest between giants, open warfare is ruled out by the current perilous condition of the world. How, then, can a former global hegemonic power fight back to retain its clout and influence in aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ fast-changing world? Being bereft of the capacity to out-compete its rivals by bootstrapping its own declining capacity to perform effectively in a transformed world, the crafty option of destabilizing the enemy is eagerly seized. Today Europe is in economic tatters but its instinct to harm others as a means of shoring up its own terminal weaknesses is strong. In human conduct, the urge to drag others down when oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s own boat is sinking is a well-known frailty. The European powers are currently engaged in destabilizing and vastly increasing the misery of whole swathes of nations in Africa and the Middle-East. The record of the United States of America (in destabilizing the world) is too painfully evident to warrant discussion here. Viet-Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan and parts of South Amerca bear the horrendous scars of a programme that has no evident rationale than the need to bolster power in a nation that envies the well-being of others except when this well-being is subservient to its own national interests.
It is in this lugubrious context that we must find meaning and sense in that recent extraordinary encounter between the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the recently elected ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”BossƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ of Tamil Nadu ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the redoubtable Ms Jayalalitha. Clearly, it is not friendship that drives this anomalous tete-a-tete. The rise of China and its commercial predominance depends sensitively on trade links with Africa ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the next great source of raw materials for industrial empires. China is such an empire and it trade with Africa depends on a sea-route besraddled strategically by Sri Lanka. A strong and stable Sri Lanka coupled to the great nation of the East is a scenario that the ailing giant ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the USA ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” greatly fears. It is here that the hoary strategy of destabilization becomes attractive, It would not be an exaggeration to say that inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the decades to come, Tamil Nadu will be Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s principaL foe. Is not the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”gameƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ very clear now? Do we not see clear meaning inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the strange scenario we now witness ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” the anomalous palaver of the declining super.power and a rising Indian state that is the avowed foe of Sri Lanka? The idea is to destabilize Sri Lanka using the rising ill-feeling and animosity of the Tamils in South India vis-ƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚ -vis the recent salubrious developments in our Island nation. It is the old game that the Western Powers are deft at ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” when force is ruled out, it is expedient to use craft to diminish the enemy. Sri Lanka is not a direct enemy but the West sees this upstart as a friend of its principal rival and destabilizer – China. The spurious barrageƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of charges of war-crimes and other tirades directed at Si Lanka are part of this transparent game ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” be with us or suffer the consequences. Is it a wonderful coincidence that the plans of the Fat Lady and those of the former First Lady find serendipitous common ground?
July 27th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
“Tamils for Obama” would explain everything…………………..
July 28th, 2011 at 9:19 am
The writer is absolutely correct… The hidden agenda is to destabalize Sri Lanka, and the target is China – and its increasing influence in the region. They see TN is the perfect solution to their grandios plan. They also know that India will never agree to a seperate state – Eelam in SL. India knows that Eelam is a bigger security threat to them than a united SL.
But the West sees differently. They know that TN has always been different from the rest of the states in India. Historically, TN wanted to have a seperate state of their own, as they felt that Northern Hindus who control the power treat Tamils as second class. Even today, seperatism is very much alive in TN today, and they will keep pushing, even though India will never allow it to happen.
So why not help TN to achieve its agenda by pressuring Sri Lanka with the help of the TN politicians like the Fat woman… Once they establish Eelam in SL, why not help TN to seperate from India, which is the best way to control the rising economic power of India as well. Otherwise, why would Hilary Clinton visits TN to meet the Fat Lalitha to dicuss about SL..??? Why didn’t she visit other states like Kerala, Punjab, Banglore, etc, if she was concerned about the economic ties between US and India..?
The West sees that they can kill two birds with one stone… 1. Destabalize SL so that Chinese cannot dominate the shipping routes in the Indian Ocean. 2. Destabalize India by keeping TN seperated and friendly to the West, which can get a foothold in northern SL and in southern India by being friendly with the financially powerful Tamil Diaspora who is loyal to the West – not to India.
We can see this clearly the way the West is trying to crucify SL with the help of the LTTE rump, and other supporters like UN, HRW, AI, and the ICG. This is NO accident but a grandiose agenda by the west to destabalize the two giant rising powers in the region – China and India. They are threatned by these two Asian countries in the region which going to surpass the West – econmically, industrially and Militarely in the very near future.
We Sri Lankans must be fully aware of this scenario to protect our motherland from these evil forces and their supporters.
July 28th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
One mistress meeting another. We should not worry about it. Nothing happens, full stop.
Look at the background. JJ fat woman lectured Hilary on Tamil Elam. But what did Hilary tell her? She told INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS are needed, not old ones. Tamil Elam is a very old thing not an INNOVATIVE SOLUTION. It is a diplomatic way of telling we don’t need those old demands any more. We have to look for new solutions.
India allowed the two mistresses to meet. Do you think India was unaware of this? India knew very well and Hilary was careful not to offend India.
Wait and see nothing happens. All fart and no sh*t.
July 30th, 2011 at 6:26 am
Hillary C. has emphasised the “Innovative” part. Lanka should seize the moment. If Tamil Nadu leaders are wise, they will do the same.
We must remember that the Universal Laws are on our side and all lies, cheat & deceit will die and decay. Only what is True and wholesome will stand the test of time, and shine through for the whole world to witness.