Charlie Rose

dhruva  06/27/2008 08:37 AM Report

Parag comes across as articulate and his emphasis on the need to consider the viewpoints of other nations is welcome. Unfortunately, his book is very poorly written, highly polemical (in its treatment of the US and India for example), and generally contemptuous in its attitude towards liberal democracies (while unreservedly praising the authoritarian bent exhibited by the regimes in China, Malaysia, and Singapore). Especially specious is Khanna's claim of a united East (ie. Asia) challening the West/America. The notion that Asia's virulent nationalism, embittered past, and complex geopolitical rivalry would be conducive towards an alliance between countries as disparate as China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Russia is doubtful to say the least. For an insightful critique of Khanna's book as well as that of far worthier contenders (Fareed Zakaria, Bill Emmott, and Robert Kagan) I highly recommend Ian Buruma's recent essay in the New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2008/04/21/080421crat_atlarge_buruma?currentPage=1

neil maccallister  06/05/2008 07:44 PM Report

May I add that while I appreciate Mr. Khanna's work towards orderly thought in the world, and his advice to double-check the reality of our mental images, ..that there may be a danger associated with dividing the world into first, second, and third world societies. I know that is obvious, but, after seeing Nicolas Roeg's film 'Walkabout' last night, ..I was reminded! Are we sure we know where "Time's Arrow" points? Thanks! .. :)

Margaret Alexander  05/29/2008 02:13 AM Report

Great insights into the future and current issues that will improve American thoughts on the world. Many of his insights are true to average thinking Americans.Many issues about other countries should be practice by our government communicating with second world countires.

neil maccallister  05/26/2008 07:34 PM Report

Thanks to the show for its presentation of the wide variety of voices and experiences in the world, including the voice of Mr. Khanna. His 'grouping up' of nations, based on his first hand viewing of many, was informative, especially in his reminder that the views of so many of the world's countries are either different from ours, or applied to totally different life concerns- such as food or water! However I do not agree with the vast majority of respondents here who argue that America is filled with self-centered jingoists who disdain the other people of the world. These comments themselves disprove that first belief; and our continuing foreign aid, peace/education efforts, and foreign tourism dispel the second. Let's keep hope alive!

neil maccallister  05/22/2008 10:32 PM Report

Et tu, Pierre? Isn't it informative, though, that after you (falsely) claim Americans as among the least generous people, and that we are either lazy (.."don't care") or cowardly (.."don't dare") as well as ignorant (.."a lack of understanding")- That you then claim that we don't feel the depth of the world's generosity? Now, I never shorted any nation's genorosity, nor made claims of America's, but using your own choice for statistics (The Euro based OECD) I see that the US has provided 24% of this foreign aid type given out from the 1950's to the present, more than double any other source except Japan at 15%. Isn't that a good thing? And this aid category (mostly loans for development costs) does not count our military crews out there (with other countries as well) rebuilding storm damaged homes in SE Asia, building med clinics and schools, or providing emergency food/med relief to many. We should all be doing this, we should all continue to do this, ..and we are! What about the individuals (Clinton, Gates, Buffett, and others) who contribute time and money to help others in the world? I've heard a Microsoft partner has been traveling the world setting up libraries and donating books, often to groups of children who have never seen a book! Oprah goes to So. Africa and builds a school! Do these efforts register on that balance sheet? It is a good world, and there are a lot of great people here! (Including C. Rose and the many others who work to spread knowledge and stability!) Let's keep our heads up, our eyes open, and our hands ready to help!

Pierre  05/20/2008 11:31 PM Report

Among countries of the OECD, US was in 2006 among the least generous in public aid to development by national income, between Greece and Portugal.

UK and France, together about a third of US population, are giving more money in public foreign aid than the US. Some numbers about the percentage of Official Development Assistance / Gross National Income according to OECD: Greece 0.16, US 0.17, Canada 0.30, France 0.47, UK 0.52, Norway and Luxembourg 0.89, Sweeden 1.03. But Americans are so sure to embody the value of generosity that they do not even care (or dare perhaps) to check if the US is truly a model in this matter (and in other matters as well). The problem is not so much a lack of generosity from Americans but a lack of understanding of the true values of other societies, in this case of the generosity of European societies.

fjgajewski  05/20/2008 07:19 PM Report

PS on cluster bombs:

Benedict XVI Urges Ban on Cluster Bombs

GENOA, Italy, MAY 18, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI has expressed hope that a Dublin conference beginning Monday will ban cluster bombs.

After reciting the Angelus today in Piazza Matteotti, during his two-day pastoral visit to Savona and Genoa, the Pope expressed the hope that "through the responsibility of all the participants, a strong and credible international instrument will be created" at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions.

The meeting, to be held through May 30, will gather representatives from some 100 countries to negotiate a new instrument of international humanitarian law banning cluster munitions, which are blamed for indiscriminately killing and maiming civilians in conflict zones.

"In fact it is necessary to remedy the errors of the past and to avoid their repetition in the future," added the Holy Father. "I accompany the victims of cluster munitions and their families with my prayers as well as the participants in the conference, offering my best wishes of success."

The United States will not be attending the event.

Bob  05/20/2008 06:31 PM Report

In the news today, the US is opposing a ban on cluster bombs. These are dirty weapons that when fired, release hundreds or even thousands of smaller bombs that litter the countryside causing suffering to civilians long after the military confict is over. The US is not participating in the conference and is pressuring the UK not to support a ban on cluster bombs. There we have it in a nutshell. The US is the leading proponent of terror in the world today. Of course, the US public does not hear of news like their governments move to stop the ban on cluster bombs. The mass media - not PBS - but almost any other mainstream media outlet will not report this news. They only spew out canned jingoistic patriotism that keeps the public duped. It really is up to the rest of the world to stop the US on its course of spreading pain and suffering around the world.

Rick  05/20/2008 06:15 PM Report

Gustav: Sweden is a nation cowards.

VKAgarwal  05/19/2008 10:26 PM Report

Parag Khanna's identification of several countries as a second world is an important contribution to the existing and evolving international political configuration. Indirectly it has has been discussed recently by many authors without such a delineation. As Mr. Khanna also mentioned it has far reaching implications, particularly for USA. In trade, geopolitical diplomacy and exercise of power-soft and hard-his prognosis is worth paying attention to if we are not to compound missteps in future.

Pierre  05/19/2008 10:20 PM Report

As a Canadian, it is very difficult for me to understand why it is so very difficult for many Americans to recognize that the rest of the world has different opinions that are legitimate and coherent. Every people has its own chauvinism, prejudices and lack of self-criticism, but I do think that the certitude Americans have that the universality of their values is self-evident (often with the generous intention of believing that every human being has a natural access to that understanding) is creating for them a blind spot, i.e.: others surely think like them unless they are stuck in outdated alienating traditions or blinded by the fear of a despot or brainwashed by lunatics or, worst of all, animated by evil. But no, universal values are not self-evident and are not concentrated in one place in the world.

Pierre  05/19/2008 09:37 PM Report

Le simple fait que M. Khanna ait besoin d'affirmer et d'expliquer que les autres peuples du monde ont leur propre vision du monde, leurs propres intentions et, faudrait-il ajouter, leur propre conscience de sujets (ou de peuple) s'orientant dans l'avenir, montre a  quel point l'idealisme americain, bien que respectable, genereux et capable d'apporter des choses au monde, comme on l'a vu par le passe, produit en meme temps son point aveugle. Quel est ce point aveugle? Il me semble que c'est l'idee, fausse, qu'il n'existe qu'un veritable ideal, l'ideal americain, qui devrait aller de soi pour tout le monde comme un plus un fait deux, et que les autres peuples, lorsqu'ils ne reconnaissent pas cette evidence, soit sont des attardes de l'histoire, soit percoivent mal la realite de ce grand ideal, soit sont un peu cingles, soit se soumettent aux interets mesquins et criminels de leurs dirigeants, soit sont domines par un desir de faire du mal qui s'agitent en eux. Oui mais sans meme parler de relativisme, n'est-il pas possible de penser que comment vivre, pour les peuples comme pour les individus, ne va pas de soi, et que les elements de reponse se trouvent ici et la dans le monde, parfois franchement differents et parfois semblables sous des formes differentes. Ca n'enleve pourtant rien a la valeur de ce moment de l'histoire qu'a ete la revolution americaine et au droit pour un peule particulier de reconnaitre son fondement dans certaines valeurs au nom desquelles c'est faite cette revolution.

Allan Ramesh  05/19/2008 05:58 PM Report

It is so very difficult for many Americans to recognize that the rest of the world has different opinions that are legitimate and coherent. The current US regime is going around the world telling the world to embrace democracy and embrace freedom. Meanwhile, the US a political process that requires a candidate to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to become President and perpetuates the shame of Guantanamo Bay and Abu Gharib. I cringe every time I see a bumper sticker that says â??God Bless Americaâ??. Does that mean â??God Damn the Rest of the Worldâ???

Gustav  05/18/2008 10:31 PM Report

The interview with the ambassador, the general and also Mr. Khanna resonated with me extensively.

One of things which I, almost frighteningly, came to conclusion while watching this clip is that I no more see America as the leading country in our world, whether or not that's the case right now is hard to say.

I was in Hong kong and China for a month recently and it made me familiar with the economics of these countries and also their state of mind. Coming home to Sweden I noticed the heavily dropping value of money around the world, mostly in America. During Clinton's administration the dollar price was at a period 10 Swedish crowns, today it's 6 crowns and dropping.

Rose brought up the fact that we Europeans first of all see ourselves as our countries, but this isn't really true. In Sweden for example "Patriotism" is a dirty word for ignorance and prejudice among other things. We can without any paramount obstacles cooperate without spite and I think that's one of our strengths. At least that's my take of our younger generation's feel(I'm 18).

More shows about new world order and EU!

Brooks R.  05/18/2008 12:58 PM Report

Wow. Khanna really responded to all of Charlie's questions with depth, certainty, and succinctness, while avoiding predictable replies, pat answers or cliches. I wish the interview was longer, but I'll probably just get the book.

Vishal Sharma  05/17/2008 10:25 AM Report

Charlie,

Over the years and as most readers have mentioned you need to give some space to other guys, sometimes you are interrupting them probably because you already know that and you have a view, bit this show is for others I presume.

Parag was upto the task of yr questions even though there was bit of heavy handedness (verbally in yr questions), but the other day you took the retired General of UK to cleaners, he scummed under yr pressure.

I think you need to give enough space and respect when they are replying and telling you something.

Rest is think you are doing a great job.

This book looks like will be good to read and esp his ideas.

Deborah  05/17/2008 04:47 AM Report

I notice that Charlie treats certain guests with skepticism and, arguably, antagonism. Maybe he disagrees with the political and social ideology of certain people, for example Naomi Kline. In the end, I have nothing but respect for Charlie Rose and always enjoy his interviews.

Khanna's assessment of the global economic power realignment should be required reading for those who blindly believe in American supremacy through military dominance. Thanks to twenty-five years of irresponsible economic policies, culminating with the presidency of G.W Bush, that consistently ignored the most fundamental needs of Americans, our long term economic health is in serious trouble.

America is becoming a second world characterized by a weak democracy and stark disparity in income distribution.

TABS  05/16/2008 11:50 PM Report

Mr Rose does acknowledge Mr Khanna's intelligence and observations when he asked him if any of the candidates running for President had sought out his advice. Mr Khanna replied that Obama has used him in a consulting capacity.

Spoite  05/16/2008 11:29 PM Report

I concur with Frank & Ernest's post. Perhaps because I have a professional interest in the European Union, I noticed that Charlie cut the guest off, or contradicted him with old cliches, every time he attempted to explain something about the EU. it is not the first time that we see Charlie's misplaced sense of patriotism and belief in US exceptionalism acting up when someone says that another country/continent is doing something better than the US, especially those damned Europeans that America had to save twice from self-destruction. Well, times have changed and Europe is proposing by example a model of supranationality, exchange and dialogue that looks more appealing to the rest of the world than what the US is doing right now.

Frank & Ernest  05/16/2008 09:33 PM Report

Charlie Rose can be really annoying. When he has a certain guest he can be so gracious and fawning. I suppose he disagreed with Parag Khanna because he kept cutting him off and seemed hostile to Mr. Khanna at times. This was heavily contrasted in my opinion with the earlier interview with Robert Kagan. Charlie, your misplaced sense of patriotism ruins an interview. The Cold War is over, move on.

Anne Suire  05/16/2008 08:24 PM Report

I really enjoyed listening to Parag Khanha. Very smart man indead!.

Amy  05/16/2008 04:39 PM Report

For seven years, the world has been held hostage by George W. Bush's ego needs. Combined with the endless WWII tape that's apparently playing in his head, and you get a foreign policy mess of gargantuan size and complexity. It's gotten to the point where even the non-neocon, neocon-Robert Kagan, kinda, sorta gets it. It's interesting how the most realistic and creative foreign policy ideas today, are coming from people who are grounded in, or have spent a good deal of time in, foreign countries. Parag Khanna, Fareed Zakaria, and Samantha Power, to name a few.

Eureka Springs, AR  05/16/2008 03:09 PM Report

Long time viewer who had to take a break for the better part of a year due to the questions not asked of many many neocon guests. Last nights first segment with Kagen was no exception.I wonder if CR will ever stop asking the same old failures their "expert opinions" while ignoring both their consistent failure and long affiliations in the neo con world.

I must say the interview with Parag Khanna, was a refreshing new (to me) kind of guest and the line of questioning certainly seemed much better with him..

More of that please, and please consider inviting more progressive guests.

Thank you

Leslie P.  05/16/2008 01:11 PM Report

Last nights show was funny, thrilling and scary. Although I was not impressed with your first guest, I thought the questions you asked him were important and his answers were remarkable, in a kind of irresponsible way.

On the contrary, your second guest, the young man who has written "The Second World...," was fantastic. I am very happy he is working with B. Obama. I agree with everything he said and the some. What an interesting and intelligent generation Parag Khanna comes from. He gives me hope for the future of my beautiful granddaughter. Great show.

Also goes for the night before last with the former British ambassador to the United Nations and General Sir Michael Rose. Very interesing indeed.

Regards

TABS  05/16/2008 05:03 AM Report

Mr Khanna's rational of, "to see what their world view is." was the most important sentence he uttered during his entire interview. The rest of his interview was merely his observations as related to his rational. Mr Khanna now needs to not only observe but to start to deconstruct his observations. If Mr Khanna is really smart he will take his rational and apply it to the personal level. One might say as an example that is what Bill Clinton does on an instinctual level, and that is what made old Bill such a gifted politician.

KMGuru  05/16/2008 01:35 AM Report

Very well spoken. There is a lot of truth to the power plays which has been the case since the dawn of the civilizations. That reminds me of the "Art of War". Since we all read the same books, perhaps we can do something about it, since a lot of people outside America like Americans and not necessarily the foreign policies which can change with a new president.

Ferdinand Gajewski, PhD  05/16/2008 01:27 AM Report

Someone smart for a change.