AMERICA GOT LUCKY..

[Interesting ah!]

Seems unlikely the "Americans" are going to see benefit from the mineral wealth.  More likely the Chinese will be in there - they don't mind paying bribes, they are much closer geographically, they're willing to sacrifice more lives than most other countries for the advantage, they have little political involvement in Afghanistan, and they don't mind dealing with the Taliban.  My money would be on the "communists" in China to benefit from this.

The chinese are moving in on everything now.   The property market in Dubai is steady now with the chinese investors buying up everything.  I have just come back from dubai and the chinese are propping the whole place up now.

I follow Dubai property quite closely, I'd like to see some more of this, can you point me in the direction of any news/info on this happening?

Most commentators see Dubai property prices decreasing further (gasp!) as the foreclosure process is still ongoing, with virtually zero buyers until that process is close to reaching its end. Sales volume in 2010 has been virtually non-existent for that very reason, chinese (not seen any) or otherwise.

[Pauper]

What is the 1 trillion mineral wealth In Afghanistan compared
to the debt of 200 trillion of America compared to 50 trillion
in circulation on planet Earth. America should have been
declared bankrupt a long time ago. 

[Washup]

How do they still live through despite the 200 trillion deficit!!!
Simple. Divert the attention of the populace by creating problems
elsewhere and use and test their seemingly inexhaustible
armament stockpile to generate employment and revenue
and continuing production. Dupe the world with their financial
schemes coming up with ever newer and craftier and crooked
strategies. SWFs of the world beware. You are no match
against their wiles and their mastery of this game.
How do you then explain that by and large they are still
enjoying better-than-others lifestyles despite being a
"poor" indebted minus 200 trillion country all this while.

[Greater fools]

Simple, because if we stop loaning them even more money it's game over for everyone.

[living off others]

How do they still live through despite the 200 trillion deficit!!!

Simple - the whole world is financing them. The greenback is the de facto world currency and the US can print any amount of it without worrying about inflation. China held trillions of its reserves in USD. And so do many of the cash rich countries. For want of an alternative global currency, they are all stuck with the US. Any attempt to move large amounts out of USD will mean huge depreciation and huge losses. Looks like being wedged between a rock and a hard place.

[scarbowl]

How do they still live through despite the 200 trillion deficit!!!

Simple - the whole world is financing them. The greenback is the de facto world currency and the US can print any amount of it without worrying about inflation. China held trillions of its reserves in USD. And so do many of the cash rich countries. For want of an alternative global currency, they are all stuck with the US. Any attempt to move large amounts out of USD will mean huge depreciation and huge losses. Looks like being wedged between a rock and a hard place.

  But they haven't defaulted, either, now have they?  Unlike Argentina, Russia, and Latin America during the crisis in the 60s.   Do you have a better alternative?  The Chinese fix their exchange rate and don't have a free currency.  There's no other economy large enough to take the place of the USA in this regard. 

[Aderefet]

How do they still live through despite the 200 trillion deficit!!!

Simple - the whole world is financing them. The greenback is the de facto world currency and the US can print any amount of it without worrying about inflation. China held trillions of its reserves in USD. And so do many of the cash rich countries. For want of an alternative global currency, they are all stuck with the US. Any attempt to move large amounts out of USD will mean huge depreciation and huge losses. Looks like being wedged between a rock and a hard place.

  But they haven't defaulted, either, now have they?  Unlike Argentina, Russia, and Latin America during the crisis in the 60s.   Do you have a better alternative?  The Chinese fix their exchange rate and don't have a free currency.  There's no other economy large enough to take the place of the USA in this regard. 

They haven't defaulted only because of the peculiar circumstances that allowed US dollar to be the defacto reserve currency. The Fed can simply print money. No other country can do that without suffering a ruinous depreciation of their currency. Zimbabwe is a good example.

[Dr. Phil]

I don't see how USA can whinge about China's increasing influence across the globe, when the renminbi owns the US @ss.  

I do feel the pace of US deterioration is increasing with recent unemployment figures now firmly and unequivocally increasing and property prices falling in double digits each MONTH in parts of USA.

And US Corporate grip on Free Trade Agreements, prohibiting trade caps and import tariffs is inexplicably as strong as ever. It appears the whole of US population is looking for answers in the wrong direction.

The only natural mechanism to slow the pace of China's exports is a floating remninbi, which will strengthen with China's export prowess and increasing prosperity, thereby making US domestic manufactured goods (and jobs) more competitive. But it is pegged.  

But I for one am tired of listening and watching USA fall apart; a nation comprising so many diverse, separate interests.  

The age of a United European Union is dawning.  
We need only a single language.
Of course, there will be richer and poorer EU states, but so too are there in USA.
However the EURO will prevail and its supremacy is increasingly inevitable and apparent now we have rediscovered common sense, simple economics... living within one's means.

Meanwhile, USA is still snorting China's hard-earned money: stimulus spending, whilst introducing free healthcare with open borders, fighting battles overseas which history has taught us, rightly, can not be won. Nor should they, because the failure to subdue another nation is a blow for freedom and democracy worldwide.

Not even boasting about being "a nation of immigrants" can excuse such overseas adventures; however it may explain its phoenix-like decline into obscurity.  

[Vulcanl]

"... The Fed can simply print money. No other country can do that without suffering a ruinous depreciation of their currency..."

Correction: NO COUNTRY AT ALL can do that (not even the US).  The Fed can't 'simply print more money' indefinitely.  The chickens all come home to roost eventually.  Always 

[what if]

"... The Fed can simply print money. No other country can do that without suffering a ruinous depreciation of their currency..."

Correction: NO COUNTRY AT ALL can do that (not even the US).  The Fed can't 'simply print more money' indefinitely.  The chickens all come home to roost eventually.  Always 

the US decides to 'default'? What can the rest of the world do? Honestly, I can't see how US will be able to repay all its debt.

[Vulcanl]

what if,

I agree with you...tis why I am so bearish (and have been for years) on the USD