German Marshall Fund: Americans say Asia more important than Europe

[Skybird]

And right they are.

http://www.gmfus.org/news_analysis/news_article_view?newsarticle.id=2496

While there is a difference between younger and older Americans, a majoirty of Americans consider Asia and ties with china as more important than relations with Europe. It is the first time the yearly questioning they do finds a result of Asia surpassing Europe.

Not good for us europeans. But to be expected. We Europeans should not complain, we are where we deserve to be. We allow the EU to be what it is, and so: there we are. Nobody forced us into this madness, we allowed it taking place by our own laziness and carelessness and surreal interpretation of realities.

Turkey also has shifted its focus away from Europe (where a majority of people would not welcome a EU membership anyway) and towards the oriental region, where it tries to become the dominant power now. No EU-membership translates into one problem less for us, at least. The irritations in Europe about Turkey's increasingly aggressive extravaganzas may not be officially admitted by our EU operetta stars, but it is real. A EU-membership, in the light of Erdoghan's political course of the past 2-3 yaears, has become very unlikely, which is good for Europe, even better when considering how strong and aggressive Turkey has become. An orient more and more dominated by Turkey, however, is not so good. On the other hand, the orient never has been good for Europe anyway. Just meaning problems, problems, and then: more problems.

All in all the report is like a reflection of the real inner weakness and still growing meaninglessness of the EU operetta. In some time, I assume even the BRISC states will have left Europe'S increasing lightweight in the dust.

[Diopos]

...
On the other hand, the orient never has been good for Europe anyway. Just meaning problems, problems, and then: more problems.
...


Wow, that's a very "central european" point of view. The "orient" as you call it is one of the most profound "shapers" of Europe. Let's put Byzantium aside which was the "oriental" part of the christianized Roman Empire and survived for ~1000 years and look at Russia and the territory it controls and its zone of influence in Asia. Is Russia less "european"? Ok. Remember that the Spanish and Portugese expantion to the west was in their attempt to find alternative routes to the "orient". Not enough? How about the British Empire actually becoming an empire when it consolidated its position in the East and controlled all relative shiping lanes. And you must admit that UK was, in essence, the first "modern" western state (in a ... british "queen, tea and crumpets" sorta way :DL).


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[Skybird]

My choice of words lacked precision. My fault. I had the orient of the last couple of decades on my mind when writing. Persia, Irak, Palestine, ME conflict in modern understanding.

However: historically, one could go back to the threat by the Osman empire, though. In fact one could go back to the time of the Islamic expansion one millenia and earlier ago, when parts of Europe up to the heart of France were under occupation by Arabs and North Africans who were "heavily influenced" by the ideology of Muhammad, to put it that way.

In the end, even the first crusade was a reaction to capture back territory that was considered worthy and that was to be get back from Islamic aggression, a territory that before was Christian-Jewish dominated, and was a Roman province.

The history of Europe and the orient of the past 1400 years is a history of war and attempts to conquer Europe - until today, though by different means nowadays.

Russia - is Russia, due to its mere size. It'S neither Europe nor Orient to me. It's Russia, showing very different faces in various parts of it'S territory.

But let'S not turn this into another Islam-thread. The Marshall Fund's release is about something different: USA -EUR-Asia, and touches upon Turkey only on a sideline.

[Tribesman]

The history of Europe and the orient of the past 1400 years is a history of war and attempts to conquer Europe - until today, though by different means nowadays.
Errrr......the history of europe is a history of war and attempts to conquer europe:doh:
skysphobia is in action as usual:rotfl2:

[Herr-Berbunch]

Take a look at the follow list of major TV (and parts of) manufacturers -

Albacomp (Hungary)
Bang & Olufsen (Denmark)
Beko Elektronik (Turkey)
BenQ (Taiwan)
Capetronic (Hong Kong)
Changhong (China)
Daewoo Electronics (South Korea)
Decktron (South Korea)
Digital Device Inc (South Korea)
First International Computer (FIC) (Taiwan)
Funai Electric (Japan)
Gorizont (Belarus)
Hitachi (Japan)
Hisense (China)
Humax (South Korea)
Hyundai Display (South Korea)
Hyundai IT (South Korea)
Imper (Turkey)
Indtek Co Ltd (South Korea)
Innolux Display Corp (Taiwan)
Jabil Circuit (US)
JSC Banga Electronics (Lithuania)
JVC (Japan)
Keymat Industrie SpA (Italy)
Kolin (Taiwan)
Konka (China)
Lava Electronics (Sweden)
LG Electronics (South Korea)
Loewe (Germany)
Matsu****a Electric Industrial (Japan) - not intentional swearing, please don't brig me, please, please!
Metz-Werke GmbH (Germany)
Mivar di Carlo Vichi SpA (Italy)
Nexgen Mediatech (Taiwan)
Orion Electric (Japan)
OVP Orava Ltd (Slovakia)
Philips Consumer Electronics (Netherlands)
Pioneer (Japan)
Profilo Telra Elektronik (Turkey)
Pronox Technology (Poland)
Pro-Trade SA (France)
Proview (Taiwan)
Quanta Computer (Taiwan)
Sampo Corp (Taiwan)
Samsung Electronics (South Korea)
Sanyo Electric (Japan)
Sharp (Japan)
Shenzhen Yongdefu Electronic Industry Co Ltd (YDF) (China)
Siauliu Tauro Televizoriai AB (Lithuania)
Skyworth Group (China)
Sony (Japan)
SVA Information Industry Co Ltd (China)
Tatung (Taiwan)
Teco Electric Machinery Co Ltd (Taiwan)
Toshiba (Japan)
TPV Technology (Hong Kong)
TTE Corp (TCL Multimedia Technology Holdings) (China/Hong Kong)
Vestel (Turkey)
Videocon Industries (India)
Videoton (Hungary)
Wistron (Taiwan)
Woosung Nextier (South Korea)
Xiamen Overseas China Electronic Co Ltd (XOCECO) (China)


Less that a third are in Europe, and that is including the four from Turkey! No wonder the US are drifting that way.


Or am I being too cynical? :hmmm:

[Diopos]

Take a look at the follow list of major TV (and parts of) manufacturers -

Albacomp (Hungary)
Bang & Olufsen (Denmark)
Beko Elektronik (Turkey)
BenQ (Taiwan)
...
...
...
Vestel (Turkey)
Videocon Industries (India)
Videoton (Hungary)
Wistron (Taiwan)
Woosung Nextier (South Korea)
Xiamen Overseas China Electronic Co Ltd (XOCECO) (China)


Less that a third are in Europe, and that is including the four from Turkey! No wonder the US are drifting that way.


Or am I being too cynical? :hmmm:


Cynical? Yes! You forgot Ubisoft :D.

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[Sailor Steve]

Less that a third are in Europe, and that is including the four from Turkey! No wonder the US are drifting that way.


Or am I being too cynical? :hmmm:

Actually you may not be cynical enough. I was in a store and saw some electronic doodad from Philips (Netherlands) and at the bottom of the box it said "Made In China". Playstation? "May be manufactured in Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia or China".

Everybody outsources somewhat.