Re: UK & VN

[Tuan V Nguyen <t.nguyen@garvan.unsw.edu.au>]

Hello anh Huy and folkd,

	Thank you for your comments on UK and VN.

	I have the feeling that the UK's influence is on the 
decline. France has argued that the UK is no longer 
relevant in the international politics, particularly in 
Europe and Asia. There is a certain truth in that 
assessment. 


>Dear anh Tuan,
>
>I think Britain can't be bothered to have its own aims
>in SEA; when it can be bothered to have any aim at all,
>it uses the American ones. The most assertive act of British 
>politics that involved VN since WWII is Margaret Thacher's 
>staunch support for the Cambodian resistance coalition that 
>included the Khmer Rouge. And the most inovative one is the 
>first repatriation of Vietnamese refugees.

        In contrast to many people, I found Thatcher a 
politically bully woman. In the 80s, she had been aligned 
closely with Reagan and some other political hawks, who 
were very hostile toward Vietnam. She sent money, weapons & 
military experts to train the Khmer Rouge to fight against 
Vietnam. She denied this, but was later exposed by John 
Pilger. She was also very vocal (albeit lonely) in 
supporting the Apartheid South Africa. Many years ago, a 
prominent commentator here in Australia commented that her 
views were found to be in agreement with racists' views, 
which I think, was quite reasonable given her credential in 
far-right politics.


>It is hard to know what a Labour government will be like; it is
>hard to detect any principle in Tony Blair's campaigning.

	Sound like you are not impressed with Blair. However, 
he seems to be a smooth operator, i.e. good talker!

>
>The polls predict a Labour victory, but polls traditionally
>underestimate the Conservatives' chances. 
>
>If Labour wins, it's because people are fed up with the Conservatives,
>not because of Labour's manifesto.

	Sound like you are on the Conservative side :)

	Anyway, we have been talking too much about British 
politics. I wish you a great trip to VN. Please let me know 
some of your contacts there when you come back. I always 
have an aspiration of setting up a twin registry in VN. May 
be you should toss this idea with them and give me a yell.


	Tuan V Nguyen