Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog

Interesting how most of Tom's articles on this page (regarding the Iraq War, Transformed UN, Russian Bombers, Russian Think Tank, Africa) seem to relate to the overall trend of:

a. The rise of the previously defeated, repressed and mistreated majority (the New Core and the Gap); who may be inclined to join forces and seek revenge, and

b. The corrresponding decline of the current minority rulers (the Old Core); who must be concerned with and react to this trend and potential.

In this scenerio, and from the standpoint of all concerned, some form of enhanced Federalism (rather than Partition) may, indeed, be considered essential.

Bill C.,

That would be some kind of coalition you're talking about there: BRICS and Gap? Before they come and get us maybe they should get their hinterlands on a grid and feed the children, feed the children. How long are we supposed to feel guilty about colonialism? Is there anybody out there who avoided some sort of colonization? Not that there's anything right with that.

Iraq has already been partitioned; maybe a federal state will emerge in our lifetimes, maybe not. The fact remains though that we are losing too many lives and too much money there.

2k solution to prevent iraq from becoming somalia? will sadr regime go khmer rouge? who's our best option at qb? I say Obama. You?

A correction and clarification to my comment above -- last sentence:

"...... some form of enhanced International Federalism (transformed UN/other Sys Admin, etc) ......"

This to deal with the potential for conflict that could arise from the stated dynamics of: (1) rise of the New Core and the Gap -- who may see common cause and common grievance and (2) the corresponding decline and vunerability of the Old Core (maybe, just the US).