“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Living through the tough times of string of crises a few years ago created a desire for to once again have those older relatives who lived through the depression and World War II back in my life. They projected calmness and initiated actions to restabilize life into a new pattern. Then I realized my chronological age was now similar to theirs when I was a youth. Their best qualities should be reflected in my actions and thoughts. So a new way to interact within the world was created.

One of those beliefs - The pen is mightier than the sword. Keep writing, talking and communicating with those far and near. Educating for better understanding is more effective than argumentative confrontation.

A relaxing video on creating the Scholar's Four Jewels of China ink, paper, brush and ink stone. Fortunately it does not take me as long to prep for writing on the computer. (11.40 min)

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qza1Jz2g8FQ]

The world is getting another lesson on the method of war conducted by United States led troops in a new documentary. Psychological damage of the trauma of war is often simply suppressed and not spoken about by those caught up in the dynamics of causing the destruction or receiving the horrors. I have often wondered if it is not part of our culture's spontaneous outbursts of violence periodically towards self, other individuals and society. Simply deflecting responsibility to "I was following orders", "I was doing God's work" or "I was protecting our way of life for you" seems to perpetuate the cycle. We can see those arguments used in justifying today's conflicts.

US Air Force takes flak in new Korean War film Asia Times Oct 14, 2022

The horrors of US bombing are grimly captured in the latest work to challenge the ‘good vs evil’ narrative of the Korean War

The feature Scorched Earth, which premiered last week at the Busan International Film Festival, was shown on Thursday to foreign correspondents in Seoul. The 90-minute work covers the US tactical air campaign in South Korea, and its strategic bombing of North Korea, during the 1950-53 Korean War.

It is grim and wrenching – but arguably necessary – viewing.
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Scorched Earth is the latest in a line of English-language works that have, since the 1980s, shifted the historiographical terrain of the war. What was once a simplistic “defense against Communist invasion” narrative has become increasingly nuanced.

And a chunk of the nuance – North Korea’s virtual helplessness under the US bomb storm – is germane today. While it does not excuse the relentless dictatorship of the Kims, it does explain their paranoia, and their focus on the endless acquisition of ever more powerful arms, at ruinous cost to their nation.
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The film places special focus on two dynamics. The first is the plight of refugees fleeing the fighting.

In the early days of the war, the infiltration of US lines by Communist partisans and disguised North Korean troops generated horrifically disproportionate results. Subsequently, US and later other allied contingents in the UN Command would use fire to disperse approaching refugees.
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The second dynamic is the “scorched earth” retreat of winter 1950-51. Then, Chinese forces, in a shock counteroffensive, drove UN Command forces from North Korea.

As they withdrew, UN troops laid waste the land, to leave nothing for the enemy. One veteran, speaking to this writer, compared it to the climax of a 007 film: As the hero escapes, amid gunfire and explosions, the sets collapse around him.
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The film’s director is activist South Korean auteur Lee Mi-young, whose previous works focused on the plights of miners. She had always wondered about the war – specifically about the traumas her grandmother experienced, which were never discussed.

Peace and cooperation is an ongoing active process. Each generation needs to continue the work against the challenges of their times. No one event is going to achieve perpetual peace for all times. There are a couple of examples of positive outcomes of cooperation and understanding being actively worked on in Asia.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined in 1984, followed by Viet Nam in 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999.

Long live ASEAN! Asia Times Oct 14, 2014

By staying true to its founding principles, the association has not only survived for 55 years but grown stronger

It is not unusual for pundits to say the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is doomed to fail, or the end of ASEAN is coming. In fact, it has been said since its creation.

After all, with nations that are so colorful as those in ASEAN, everyone can question how the organization will stick together. But the organization has survived for 55 years. More than that, ASEAN has expanded from five to 10 members, and is making steps toward 11.

There are three rationales, conscious or unconscious. behind the naysayers’ arguments.

First is the misperception that new members add burdens for ASEAN. Second is the misperception that the older members are always united and aligned. And third is a sense of hopelessness over ASEAN’s slow action on divisive international and regional issues.
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ASEAN principles and working methods were designed to accommodate differences and cherish “unity in diversity.” The founding fathers were inclined to enhance consultation, cooperation, harmony and integration, and not confrontation, alienation, exceptionalism and disintegration.

ASEAN principles are to accommodate differences not just among member states but also with external partners.

At the height of the Cold War, ASEAN was created not to serve or propagate any specific ideology or to build alliances or blocs. ASEAN was created to save its members from the heat of superpower rivalries. Instead of taking sides with a specific superpower, ASEAN has excelled in providing institutional platforms for rival superpowers to meet and talk, and in certain moments, to ease tensions among themselves.

This approach of consultation and consensus-building takes time, and that explains the frustrations of those who are skeptical of ASEAN. But the assessment of institutional development should not be made just by looking at the agenda of the day, or based on popularity of current topics.

Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA)

The idea of convening CICA was first proposed by the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, on 5 October 1992, at the 47th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The moving spirit behind this initiative was the aspiration to set up an efficient and acceptable structure for ensuring peace and security in Asia. Unlike other regions in the world, Asia did not have such a structure at the time and earlier attempts to create a suitable structure had not been very successful. This initiative was supported by a number of Asian countries who felt that such a structure was the need of the time.

CICA just held one of their conferences which are on a 4 year cycle. Pepe Ecobar summarized his thoughts on the event.
Russia courts Muslim countries as strategic Eurasian partners The Saker Oct 14, 2022

The roll call was a Eurasian thing of beauty – featuring the leaders of Russia and Belarus (EAEU), West Asia (Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Palestine) and Central Asia (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan).

China and Vietnam (East and Southeast Asia) attended at the level of vice presidents.

CICA is a multinational forum focused on cooperation toward peace, security, and stability across Asia.,Kazakh President Tokayev revealed that CICA has just adopted a declaration to turn the forum into an international organization.

CICA has already established a partnership with the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU). So in practice, it will soon be working together side-by-side with the SCO, the EAEU and certainly BRICS+.
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Putin called for “compensation for the damage caused to the Afghans during the years of occupation” (we all know the Empire of Chaos, Lies and Plunder will refuse it), and emphasized the key role of the SCO to develop Afghanistan.

He stated that Asia, “where new centers of power are growing stronger, plays a big role in the transition to a multipolar world order”.

He warned, “there is a real threat of famine and large-scale shocks against the backdrop of volatility in energy and food prices in the world.”

Hefurther called for the end of a financial system that benefits the “Golden billion” – who “live at the expense of others” (there’s nothing “golden” about this “billion”: at best such definition of wealth applies to 10 million.)

And he stressed that Russia is doing everything to “form a system of equal and indivisible security”. Exactly what drives the hegemonic imperial elites completely berserk.

One of my main sources for the Saturday's diaries has been Asia Times. I have read it over the years to gain insight on international affairs. Followed my two favorite opinion writers to new sites after their articles quite appearing on the siteat Asia Times Pepe Escobar, who has been writing on Asian oil pipelines politics for some time and M.K. Bhadrakumar, a retired Indian diplomat .

Overall Asia Times has been increasing its coverage of weapon systems. Is reminiscent of posturing and flexing muscles between a couple of potential fighters. Several authors seem to be pushing a military agenda to contain China using Taiwan and the South China Sea as pressure points. First place read how Ukraine conflict is a warning to China regarding Taiwan. In fact a number of propaganda themes regarding the Ukraine conflict appear to show up a day or two before spreading to other news sources.

Many of those articles written by fellows and directors reflect the ideology of the Yorktown Institute. The lone advisor with past political office is prior vice president candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman.

Crucial as ideological concerns are, it is military and naval power that will determine Eurasia’s fate. As in all historical confrontations, when leaders and peoples demand recognition, warfare remains the final arbiter of nations.

Maritime power is key to military power in this new era of Eurasian competition. It undergirds all other elements of national power. Projecting land and air power, ensuring economic access, and safeguarding free trade all require control of the seas. Moreover, given the geography of Eurasian competition – that is, Chinese maritime interests, Iranian ambitions toward the Middle East’s maritime littorals, and Russian power-projection in the Arctic, Baltic, Mediterranean, and Black Sea – naval combat will be the determinate medium of kinetic conflict.

The article which prompted the extra research. Title Tiawan, but Ukrain primary subject.

Brace for the Impact: the coming war over Taiwan Asia Times by Seth Cropsey October 14, 2022

Unlike Ukraine, Taiwan’s prospects under military pressure are highly problematic. The US must stand up an equivalent command for Taiwan, one that expedites arms transfers and facilitates joint training and planning between Taiwan and American Indo-Pacific allies.

The planning done before a conflict will be essential to Taiwan’s survival and America’s strategic interests.
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By early April, the contours of the current war were in place: Ukrainian forces pushed Russia back from around Kiev and settled into a long-term attritional struggle in the Donbas and throughout the south. Ukrainian planning leveraged the country’s geography, social resilience, and population to delay and then overturn the Russian advance.

These conditions gave the West five months, from April to August, to transfer high-end weapons systems to Ukraine, ranging from long-range rocket artillery and modern guided barrel artillery to tanks, armored vehicles, air defenses, and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs, or combat drones).

It also allowed the West to stand up various training initiatives for Ukrainian soldiers, and to interface at an increasingly robust level with Ukrainian planners, staff systems, and military intelligence. Almost all this work occurred after February 24, and indeed, after early April.

The first month of the war gave the West the breathing space it needed to put all the long-term support systems in place required for an extended confrontation. Perhaps this time could have been used more efficiently, but the formalization of support mechanisms through this new American-led command is a success.
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The solution is not only to prioritize Taiwan in foreign military deliveries – alongside Ukraine, of course – but to do so under a coherent command system. The US Indo-Pacific Command should stand up a Taiwan assistance center, perhaps named a Taipei Military Coordination Command for political purposes.
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Last day of water then time to take down the irrigation system and finish winter prep. Still need to finish getting the additional 2000 feet of used lines purchased in August modified and in place for next season. Will be back to responding to comments in a two or three weeks.

What is on your mind today?