Fact Checking the Debates

[Rlh04d]

I am not a source, but I have had direct conversations with someone who could be considered one.

I have a friend who now lives in Ethiopia. I can personally vouch for her honesty having known her through college. She went through the nursing program at WSU and has worked in hospitals in multiple African countries.

Recently she was back in the states for a visit. My wife and I hosted her and her husband (an African native) for a meal. We discussed all sorts of topics related to the local culture, regional stability, etc. I have to admit that I had never heard anything about connections between China and Africa until she mentioned the horrible things China is doing all across Africa and the Middle East. They are taking advantage of wide spread corruption throughout these various governments for financial gain and political influence.

One specific story. Many Chinese criminals are offered a choice. Prison in China, or get shipped to Ethiopia to work construction on projects of Chinese influence. Hospitals have been built by these folks, and the end result is a very poorly built hospital of little benefit to the people of Ethiopia, but the Ethiopian government gets to pretend that it is building infrastructure for its people, and the Chinese get paid handsomely for virtual "slave labor" all the while reducing their prison expenditures within China. She said this was not rumor, but well known fact to those living in that country. I can only imagine how many different types of shady deals China does with corrupt governments throughout the region.

I admit that I do not know much about this issue beyond what my friend told me. I have not researched Carson’s comments specifically, and I still consider myself fairly naïve about the whole issue. However, I simply wanted to share this story for those who might think there is no evidence of Chinese involvement in Africa or the Middle East. I do not have all the information, but I believe my friend when she says that this is a significant problem, and that it is very real.

Please don't mistake Carson's implication that Chinese military are involved in Syria with the fact that the Chinese government is successfully using a lack of ethical standards tied to foreign aid to dominate Africa as part of their sphere of influence. These are very, very different subjects.

The Chinese military is not in Syria.

China is very, very, very involved in Africa.

Carson's statement about Africa (and yours), 100% true. Carson's statement about Syria, 100% false. The key difference here is that the Chinese MILITARY is not active in the Middle East, and that was clearly Carson's implication about Syria. China is having tremendous success in Africa and elsewhere by investing in countries that the Western world will only invest in with heavy requirements regarding political and economic reforms. The US and the rest of the western world (World Bank, etc.) see our investment in African infrastructure as a method of forcing reform and modernization on that part of the world. China views it only as a money making venture, and soft-power generator.

[Rlh04d]

Also, because I feel like very few people actually understand China, and think of them the same way we think of Russia:

China is not Russia. Fearing China's military is silly, because China is not a militant civilization. China is an egotistical civilization that believes strengthening their country will allow them to take their natural place as the greatest civilization on earth, with all other countries professing their obsequiousness to them. Russia is an egotistical civilization as well, but they are simultaneously egotistical and insecure. Russia feels they should be on top of the world, but yet also feel like they have to force everyone to accept that fact, either through military force or spy games. China already KNOWS they're on the top of the world, and the rest of the world just hasn't caught up to realizing it yet. Russia WANTS to be better than the US; China is already CONVINCED that they are.

Historically Russia's power has always been from using military force. China's power has always been their culture and economy. Russia invaded all of their neighbors to create their sphere of influence; China just made all of their neighbors worship them. They are very different civilizations psychologically.

[MoValley John]

Also, because I feel like very few people actually understand China, and think of them the same way we think of Russia:

China is not Russia. Fearing China's military is silly, because China is not a militant civilization. China is an egotistical civilization that believes strengthening their country will allow them to take their natural place as the greatest civilization on earth, with all other countries professing their obsequiousness to them. Russia is an egotistical civilization as well, but they are simultaneously egotistical and insecure. Russia feels they should be on top of the world, but yet also feel like they have to force everyone to accept that fact, either through military force or spy games. China already KNOWS they're on the top of the world, and the rest of the world just hasn't caught up to realizing it yet. Russia WANTS to be better than the US; China is already CONVINCED that they are.

Historically Russia's power has always been from using military force. China's power has always been their culture and economy. Russia invaded all of their neighbors to create their sphere of influence; China just made all of their neighbors worship them. They are very different civilizations psychologically.

Plus, Chinese food rocks, Russian food sucks.

[Rlh04d]

Plus, Chinese food rocks, Russian food sucks.

Pierogis, sir.

Not Russian, but I have a friend from Kazakhstan who makes amazing food.

[MoValley John]

Pierogis, sir.

Not Russian, but I have a friend from Kazakhstan who makes amazing food.

There are only so many ways to boil beef/yak/goat.

https://mobile.twitter.com/robertlusetich/status/431381814402621440

[MoValley John]

Top five Russian undeniable facts:
1. Russian food sucks.
2. Women's Olympic team sports both large Adams apples and testicles.
3. All professional wrestlers are heels.
4. They make the best vodka.
5. Yakov Smirnoff.

[Rlh04d]

Top five Russian undeniable facts:
1. Russian food sucks.
2. Women's Olympic team sports both large Adams apples and testicles.
3. All professional wrestlers are heels.
4. They make the best vodka.
5. Yakov Smirnoff.

I still maintain pierogis, stragonoff, and pelmeni are all awesome. Also, Kazakh and Uzbek food, both delicious.

And how dare you call the Hulkster a heel.

[MoValley John]

I still maintain pierogis, stragonoff, and pelmeni are all awesome. Also, Kazakh and Uzbek food, both delicious.

And how dare you call the Hulkster a heel.

a-a-a-wrestlemania-3.jpg

[Rlh04d]

That's Hollywood Hogan. Totally different guy.

Right?!

[MoValley John]

That's Hollywood Hogan. Totally different guy.

Right?!

As an old school, pro wrestling purist, I totally respect that post!

[Rlh04d]

As an old school, pro wrestling purist, I totally respect that post!

I was one of only two people to recognize Hogan's "Real American" theme at a bar trivia a week or two ago. The 80's live.

[Jamar Howard 4 President]

Please don't mistake Carson's implication that Chinese military are involved in Syria with the fact that the Chinese government is successfully using a lack of ethical standards tied to foreign aid to dominate Africa as part of their sphere of influence. These are very, very different subjects.

The Chinese military is not in Syria.

China is very, very, very involved in Africa.

Carson's statement about Africa (and yours), 100% true. Carson's statement about Syria, 100% false. The key difference here is that the Chinese MILITARY is not active in the Middle East, and that was clearly Carson's implication about Syria. China is having tremendous success in Africa and elsewhere by investing in countries that the Western world will only invest in with heavy requirements regarding political and economic reforms. The US and the rest of the western world (World Bank, etc.) see our investment in African infrastructure as a method of forcing reform and modernization on that part of the world. China views it only as a money making venture, and soft-power generator.

Good points. I'm probably going to have to look deeper into Carson's statements. Personally, I have only skimmed the surface of this issue so far.

[Rlh04d]

Good points. I'm probably going to have to look deeper into Carson's statements. Personally, I have only skimmed the surface of this issue so far.

I would begin with this New York Times article, as it seems to explain without question where Carson's answer on China/Syria came from:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/us/politics/ben-carson-is-struggling-to-grasp-foreign-policy-advisers-say.html?_r=0

Long story short, Carson's primary foreign policy adviser is an elderly man named Duane R. Clarridge. Clarridge has a long and sometimes shady history in US intel circles, particularly tied to his role in the Iran-Contra Affair. The New York Times has also highlighted him in the past: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/wo...clarridge.html

Clarridge essentially takes the blame for feeding this incorrect information to Carson, via one of his private intel sources:

The operative in Iraq had “overleaped” in suggesting that Chinese troops are in Syria, Mr. Clarridge said, adding of the operative, “You know how it goes when people are desperate for some headline.”

Another quote from Clarridge on Carson:

Mr. Clarridge, who contacted Mr. Carson nearly two years ago to offer his services without pay, has helped the candidate prepare for debates. But the briefings do not always seem to sink in, Mr. Clarridge said. After Mr. Carson struggled on “Fox News Sunday” to say whom he would call first to form a coalition against the Islamic State, Mr. Clarridge called Mr. Williams in frustration. “We need to have a conference call once a week where his guys roll out the subjects they think will be out there, and we can make him smart,” Mr. Clarridge said he told Mr. Williams.

I'm ... a bit concerned about what Carson is being fed by an 83 year old man operating a private intel network, who hasn't had an active role in actual intel services in around 30 years. I don't blame Carson for the China/Syria statement after seeing that, but it does seriously concern me about what other incorrect or biased info Clarridge might be feeding him. Carson clearly does not have the foreign policy background to filter out BS and wishful thinking.

[MoValley John]

I would begin with this New York Times article, as it seems to explain without question where Carson's answer on China/Syria came from:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/us/politics/ben-carson-is-struggling-to-grasp-foreign-policy-advisers-say.html?_r=0

Long story short, Carson's primary foreign policy adviser is an elderly man named Duane R. Clarridge. Clarridge has a long and sometimes shady history in US intel circles, particularly tied to his role in the Iran-Contra Affair. The New York Times has also highlighted him in the past: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/wo...clarridge.html

Carson clearly does not have the foreign policy background to filter out BS and wishful thinking.

Who does? Other than Hillary, whom I can't support, do you see as having any foriegn policy background? Not Bernie, not Donald, not Cruz or Forina. Obama had zero foreign policy experience, neither did W. You can add Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Ford and Nixon to the list. Johnson didn't have any, either. So, since the end of WW2, we have Ike, maybe a little experience in Kennedy, but that's a stretch, and then George, HW Bush. The rest came with little to no foreign policy experience, none.

[Kung Wu]

Who fed Hillary intel about "the video tape" that caused Benghazi?