Robert Kagan's article: Ideology's Rude Return

Published by the Washington Post,May 2,2008 page A21:

The writer used the word Autocracy to describe Russia and China as a "challenge" to the liberal West. Such approach appears to be antagonistic for readers as I would perceive the gist of the article. My humble comments are as follows:

1. Russia and China are two sovereign nations and two nations have different tradition and culture. They should not be put into the same catagory.

2. CIA Chief cited China not as a threat as published by the Washington Post.

3. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,Navy Admiral Mike Mullen used the word "vulnerability" as published by the WashPost,May 1,08 on page A4. Query: Should we cultivate friendship with Russia and China instead of being negative to use the word "challenge" to the United States. Nations must tolerate values in the nuclear age for coexistence.

4. The writer is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. I would also stress peace and economic development for USA to deal with Russia and China rather than thinking about cooperations as the dream. His latest book entitled "The Return of History and the End of Dreams" may be reconsidered in light of the progress in the 21st century re not returning to history and One World,One Dream for Beijing 2008 Olympics. The good dream of working together of all nations.

5. He cited Russian foreign minister Lavrov to welcome the return of ideological competition but no mention of any citation from Chinese foreign minister as a matter of equal citation. Such conclusion would not dovetail with the citation of Russia and China as the same entity in other paragraphs.

6. I would hope that the writer be informed about US-China economic relations or Sino-American Economics to see the real difference of the relationships among USA,Russia and China in proper light from empirical evidence.

Francis Shieh,a student to watch the events for USA and China with interest in Russia as well in terms of economics of globalization. May 2, 2008