Charlie Rose

ann C.  10/12/2008 01:57 PM Report

I'd like to commend Mr. Koppel's historic reporting on China. Thank you, Mr. Rose for such wonderful, entertaining interviews/shows to promote better international relationships and humanities. There's got to be a venue for understanding different countries like yours.

My point is about Human Rights:

I’m an ethnic Chinese educated both in traditional Chinese and English system, and then, it dawned on me that I was deprived of human rights when my mother screamed at me each time trying to insist it her way, of course in her home. Whereas she would talk in a very respectful voice to a brother-in-law, or my sister who’s a married person. No, I am not unemployed living off my mother’s meager livelihood. Yes, she is an illiterate, ignorant woman who thinks that she has lived long enough to know everything thru radio news or television. Whooa, my enlightenment came by this term called: FEUDALISM and ya guess it, confucious-ism. I leave you to decipher. Trust me; it’s ingrained in every Chinese head despite communism and socialism. Hell’o, I did not enjoy much human rights outside china either.

Further to ponder about the human rights issue. My finding is that: a lot of lobbyists in that little town of Canada use it like carrot stick; here the US government was brain-washed to use this agenda like business as usual to attack the Chinese government.

In simple Chinese term (no pun intended on the Mainland Chinese), both the Chinese government and the Chinese peoples all over the world really really sneer at this subject matter, “are you nuts, try to break up my family!” “How unforgiving, you wanna start riots and revolution in our country!!” Name those who like this carrot stick: lobbyists, dissidents and political pundits.

However, the current Chinese government seems progressive and would gladly leave some old baggage behind. There is a theme thru and thru in history. To fight is easy, to govern is hard. 20/20 now, Chairman Mao did not win all. Thanks to western technology, Chinese peoples talk very, very freely if we go by those comments on the web-sites, and the new breeds are confident and strong. I suspect the in-grained DNA in Chinese keep them traditional. Government matter is the sacred cow and generally speaking, Chinese people know their limit. After all, freedom is hard earned in recent history.

Konig  07/26/2008 04:41 AM Report

Come on... the chinese didn't return you the plane because they are scared of your firepower projection because nobody will risk a potential conflict over a piece of military hardware

sdfdsfsdfhgkj  07/21/2008 04:36 PM Report

Do you have any knowledge about Sichuan province in China? Did you ever visit there or just search some pictures of that area? There is a famous and beautiful poem more than thousand years ago in China ----HARD ROADS IN SHU (Sichuan). The first two sentences are “Oh, but it is high and very dangerous! Such travelling is harder than scaling the blue sky.” Most people will fly there, not taking train or driving. The roads in that mountain area are narrow and dangerous. You can guess that after earthquake; most of the constructions were destroyed. Gas supply was limited along that particularly roads. The narrow roads were blocked by landslide. Even after cleaning, it allowed just one car to pass at one time. The weather was horrible. Airplane could not reach there at that time. So the road was crucial. No traffic please!!!!!!!!! Those small cars and SUVs block the life road. They are warm heart people. However they made trouble. The big trucks which carried much useful supplies could not go though. When I heard your guys still blame Chinese government and put it into a political issue because Chinese government tried to clear the roads, I despise American media.

Shalom Freedman  07/15/2008 03:24 PM Report

Ted Koppel's 'realism' was quite discouraging. He tells us that the U.S. deals with all kinds of unsavory regimes, and in fact many are key allies- therefore we should forget completely about human rights in those societies. My own sense is that this is a short- term idea which has truly negative longer - term consequences. We have ignored the horrible character of the Saudi regime for years, and therefore have seen its Wahahabi educational system spread anti- Americanism throughout the Middle East and the world.

As for China I do not know why Koppel believes that China has the natural right to grow at eight to ten percent a year if this does irreversible damage to the world's environment. There is much to be impressed in about China's growth and development but I would have appreciated Koppel being a bit more objective and critical in his approach to their often ruthless and predatory economic behavior.

As for his backing off on the question of China's military power; that is ridiculous. An experienced correspondent like him certainly knows about China's military development, about its stealing of various American technologies in the course of this, about the threat it presents to Taiwan.

All in all I felt that Koppel was acting more like a salesman for China here than like an objective reporter.

Concerned Canadian  07/14/2008 07:04 AM Report

I do not know, but I have my doubts, on how much respect your politically influential evangelical movement has for any of the 10 commandments in your Chrisitian based country.

TABS  07/13/2008 07:13 PM Report

Nation states are run on pragmatism, as that is how food, clothing and shelter are provided. Preaching about morality and idealism is best left for church. Now that is not to say that honesty is not a essential virtue in a Democracy as it builds trust among people and that is the glue that holds a Democracy together...............The United States has never been run on a higher moral or idealistic plain than any other nation in history (the Founders didn't even abolish slavery which they knew was a abomination against mankind). Government is always about the pragmatic, of how to solve problems with the resources and constraints at hand. Where was this secular moral ism taught that the US should always adhere to this higher unobtainable moral calling? It is human nature that we are imperfect and will fail to obtain perfection. Yet there are those who continue to castigate every action of the US as being morally repugnant. The United States may not be perfect but we are the best thing that has come along so far.....Now the "whiners" will say, "Ohhh that doesn't mean that we should not try and attain a state of grace through our works." That is true so long as you are willing to accept the fact that you are equally responsible for the state of affairs that we are in today. Have you not used electricity to run your computer to read this. Is that electricity not generated by fossil fuels which contribute to global warming? Once you turn off your fossil fueled electricity then you have the moral authority to preach all you like. Until then one has to solve problems in the best way that they can, and accept that fact....With regards to honesty and the trust it builds. The US is wearing the rug of trust pretty thin. As Gore Vidal has pointed out the US became a National Security State in the late 1940's with the advent of nuclear weapons. For the first time in mans history men have been able to wipe themselves out in an instant. With such a dire state of affairs it has been deemed that there is information that the public should not be privy to as it might effect their security (lives). From that point forward there has been a slow degeneration of trust in our government and mass media. In the 2000 election, for the very first time the election process itself was called into doubt. Doubt over the veracity of vote counting. Since then trust between parties that hold different political points of view is beginning to fray. At some point if this trend is not reversed the glue that holds our Republic together will fail and authoritarianism will take over to maintain order so that the pragmatics of day to day life will continue. So that is the reasoning of the statement, "Will western style democracy be to inefficient and be cast unto the scrap heap of history while Chinese beneficent authoritarianism will takes it's place."

Ferdinand Gajewski  07/13/2008 04:57 PM Report

. . . add the Fifth Commandment while you're at it . . .

Ferdinand Gajewski  07/13/2008 02:39 PM Report

If the United States of America can put a man on the moon and achieve countless other wonders, surely it can figure out how to safeguard its oil interests in the Middle East without breaking the Sixth and Tenth Commandments.

sock puppet  07/13/2008 01:39 PM Report

Hey Concerned (Canadian, or anyone else) - Couldn't agree more. Nothing quite as pathetic as a one-time big bully called-out and reduced to a whimpering has-been. We are excelling in deserving our comeuppance. We're hurtling to a banana republic status. Just hope our emasculated arrogance doesn't result in using any of our 10,000+ nukes (a sicko fact on it's own demerits). A cornered, humiliated bully is a dangerous potential needing constant counseling. Can you Canooks help? Somebody needs to. We're a mess getting moreso daily. Want to buy some real estate - cheap?

Måns A.  07/13/2008 12:08 PM Report

20% currency decrease? Try 40%

Concerned Canadian  07/13/2008 11:59 AM Report

Democracy in the United States? You claim you have it but it has been so watered down and your constitution so abused that you are no longer the democratic country that you hold youself out to be.

It will come as a shock to many but there is more democracy in Cuba than there is in the United States. None of their politicians are elected with money and each of the hundreds who are elected look after the interests of their consitutents. And that country is full of happy people, with high level medical care for all and free education for all. They have graduated more doctors who have worked and helped out other nations than any other country. And I should add that they have a very high regard for the ability of women in every aspect of their society

maya  07/13/2008 08:11 AM Report

Ted Koppel has done it again. I have watched twice. He is simply one of the very few great reporters left in this world. I thank you sir, for the fair, truthful, unbiased interviews about China's past, present, and future, as well as the impact on the world. Some of the angry postings here make me feel sorry for those boxed in themselves, and afraid of the changes that are coming in our lifetime. No wonder China is moving ahead, because they didn't sit there blain other people for their own problems, like the people here. After my yearly trip to China, there is one thing very clear: the Chinese people DO NOT want western style democracy. Even the people have educated in the west, live and worked in the west. After all, if democracy has not bring all American basic health care after more than 100 years industrial revolution, what good is it ? Of course there is an other kind of the model, just look at France. They are not working, but sitting on a country almost in bankruptcy, covered by health care. So what, they invented democracy, but where is the future. The fact is China will create a new model for it's development & society weather others like or not. All you need to do is go there and see with your own eyes.

Concerned Canadian  07/12/2008 12:11 PM Report

Ted Koppel as good as he is, is a late learner on U.S policy and motives. Much if not all of the problems that the U.S has are a result of many decades of exceptionally bad U.S. foreign policy decisions. One of the worst strategies was and is the ill conceived support of all things Israeli instead of looking at that region in a much more balanced view taking into account the Arab, Persian and Palestinian interests.

As for China, and for that matter India - these are your next superpowers. If you have any doubts watch the Olympics this coming month.

Christopher  07/12/2008 02:42 AM Report

I can't believe the posts or this interview. It gives you the impression that the West will be on oil until they run out, having good relations with bad countries aka Saudi Arabia is good business, that not "understanding" this logic is naive, and that there is simply no other way to do business in the world. Although alternatives are not suggested in this interview, discussion of these alternatives is superfluous, as any "real" pundit "knows" it is all about controlling the oil. It is so pathetic. And this "China" thing... There is no democracy in China, period. But because China is an capitalist oligarchy, it is "ok", the reasoning being "oh well, at least it is capitalist". How is it that I am the only one who is so naive and sees an error in the mainstream Western logic. Just because all democracies have some form of capitalism does not mean that a capitalist country is democratic or is on the "right track". I mean the government of China is horrible. There is nothing to admire in China. Just like Hitler was admired in the 30's(great for business) and Mussolini in the 20's(quelling labor); China should not be admired in the beginning of the 21st century. At least Ted has the benefit of being honest about US foreign policy. Old men like him will never really contribute to the betterment of the world, why should they criticize a world which has given them such success.

okay, then what?  07/11/2008 06:40 PM Report

The part that is conveniently overlooked is that the military has few new recruits and cannot keep the same people stuck in Iraq indefinately. It is all very well to sagely share that our laziness keeps us tied to oil, but it is also lazy to refuse to face the hard questions regarding human beings who happen to be volunteer soldiers not career soldiers. Do we need a draft for this? Or maybe Ted has invested in some corporate soldier companies? Next time, please ask more of the tough stuff Charlie. Thanks.

Downey  07/11/2008 05:24 PM Report

Some of the best reporting out there. Objective reality is quite refreshing, for once.

Anthony Taylor  07/11/2008 10:33 AM Report

I was impressed with your discussion with Ted Koppel for its focus on what I believe are real world issues as opposed to serious misconceptions in the public and political domains. Hopefully, the next president will spend air time trying to educate the public. What really irks me about our overly lauded system of government is its failure to build and maintain the infrastructure of the Nation. In the early seventies I worked eighteen hour days to solve technical problems for reliable nuclear power becuase I believed that the security of the nation depended on having alternatives to oil and coal. Teams of engineers and scientists shared this belief and this driving force for their work ethic. After thirty five years of lost time I am exasperated to hear politicans talking about the need for alternative energy when I believe the situation is such that we have a National crisis pending, and it will be a miracle if it can be avoided. Joining the list of decaying infrastuctures you can add the electrical grid system, water and river distribution and control, resources to deal with natural disasters, decaying bridge structure to mention a few. Trying to fix things after a crisis is not the way any intelligent engineer would choose to live. In China we see that the upper levels of government are populated with people with some formal training in engineering. By contrast at this point in time, we have government top heavy with lawyers. I'm have to say that in all probability I will not be here to witness the almost inevitable consequences of our decayed infrasture.

Ray M  07/10/2008 10:26 PM Report

A U.S. citizen who holds "these truths to be self-evident"... along with principles articulated in the Bill of Rights and Constitution... I am increasingly wary of those who say, in effect, "you know, the U.S. deals with a lot of authoritarian and unsavory regimes"... so, therefore

and they go on to allow that this or that nation is not out of line to do a, b or c.(annex countries, enslave their inhabitants, deny human rights).

I wonder what we as a nation hold dear anymore....other than momentary, expedient self-indulgence.

The kicker for me was hearing Ted Koppel relate that a representative of GM or Ford said in response to his query about what would they think in Detroit?..."we're not a U.S. company, we're an international company" (paraphrase)

Oh, I get it. Exploit U.S. tax law and labor practices in negotiation, then, drop allegience when economic opportunities present elsewhere.

As citizens of the United States of America we must remember that businesses seem to have no allegiance and we (citizens) are compromised and taken advantage of at almost every turn.

It is hoped that journalists such as Rose and Koppell can hold a light on these disturbing trends.

Roy Fassel  07/10/2008 09:48 PM Report

Ted Koppel told some of Charlie's audience something they did not want to hear. America will be in the Middle East for years. The vast majority of the world's oil supply comes from the Persian Gulf and specifically through the Straits. Americans tend to be quite naive about world affairs. Without that oil going to the rest of the world, the global economy would collapse. Whether people wish to deny that, that is fine, but America would end up with a +20% unemployment rate. Some complain about the huge defense budget America has. A vast majority of the expense is paying for the various fleets at sea that keep the shipping lanes open and free in all areas of the world. Without American navy power the past half generation, it is doubtful that the global well-being could have been sustained. Just the simple fact of keeping shipping lanes open is a great expense to America and a benefit to all of humanity, with the exception of terrorists who would blow up every ship at sea if they could. Too many Americans live in a world they do not understand. The free world has taken advantage of Americans to protect them. And they hate America for doing something they won't do for themselves. Ted Koppel understand this. Good interview, Charlie.

Stan Fichtman  07/10/2008 06:15 AM Report

If I had a dime for every "China expert" that talked about the impending "war with China"." I'd be a rich man. With that said, It was absolutely refreshing to hear Mr. Koppel and his analysis of China and their current state of development. I am watching the first episode of his show now, and to be honest, he hits the issue of analyzing China right on the head. When Mr. Rose asked the question about what the current status of human rights is in China, Mr. Koppel got the answer right. As with anything relating to China these days, the answer to this and a plethora of questions about the country is "depends on what definition you use." As a resident in China from 1990 to 1993, and making a number of trips back to the country until the first part of this decade, I saw the same thing in the Chinese when I first lived there, and surprisingly, still what it is now. To change such a country, one must wait decades before even embarking on such a change. The fact that it took only 28 years for it to develop from a backwater to a economic powerhouse is impressive, but never expect the social dynamics of the country to change as quickly. Thank you for confirming this, once again, Mr Koppel. The government of the United States, Amnesty International and other entities that demand instant change to the Country to "western" standards should watch the series to truly understand what "China" is all about

TABS  07/10/2008 04:29 AM Report

In early 2001 a US intelligence gathering plane did collide with a Chinese fighter close to Chinese airspace's which a Chinese pilot was killed. The US plane made a forced landing on a Chinese island. The crew of the US plane immediate "burned" the secret intelligence gathering apparatus with the self destruct mechanisms on board, and were detained by the Chinese. The Chinese demanded a full apology for American culpabilty (violation of airspace) in the matter. The Bush admin wisely said it was sorry that a Chinese pilot died during the incident, which was a way of apologizing without saying the US was wrong in the matter. Thus allowing the Chinese to save face. The plane later had to be picked up and hauled away by the US as it was no longer airworthy, having had anything of any intelligence value to the Chinese destroyed.

TABS  07/10/2008 03:56 AM Report

Mr Koppel and Mr Rose connect the dots. The Chinese, Japanese, Brits, Germans, Saudis among others hold huge sums of US dollars. The US goes to war with Iraq and doesn't make the US taxpayer pay, in fact their taxes go down. The US Dollar falls in value on the world market. So those who are holding US Dollars have lost 20% on their money. So who again has paid for the war in Iraq, those who are holding piles of US Dollars have just paid a 20% tax to finance the war. A question, are some of those who hold those excess US Dollars now driving the Oil Futures market to recoup some of the money they lost on the exchange rate. Is this blow back? ...... Something to consider, in the future will western style Democracy be consigned to the scrap heap of history as being too inefficient to run a highly complex society and the Chinese model of beneficent authoritarianism rise to take its place?.....Again the Chinese have been an inward looking society since they burned their merchant fleet in the 14th century, they only act on the world stage when a need within China mandates that they act. Further the European colonial powers raped China in the 19th and early 20th centuries and the Chinese are bound and determined not to let that happen again. As evidenced by having co-Chinese ownership and therefore control of companies investing in China.... The Chinese also have invented Bureaucracy, so rather than direct confrontation the Chinese will act behind the scenes to pull the strings to get what they want, so it is no accident that they have intertwined themselves almost inextricably with the most powerful nation in the world, the US. For example they may buy a company in the USA and have that company lobby the appropriate elected official to achieve their aim...Which ties into the Chinese military, they have gladly paid the tax via a falling US dollar to let the US Military provide global security, however that being said they do hold a pile of US Dollars which does provide a check on US military actions with regard to themselves, all they have to do is hint that they will be dumping dollars. That is not to say that is the only reason they hold US dollars, it does provide a finical reserve to help stabilize their currency.

Guy Northrup  07/10/2008 03:36 AM Report

Ted Koppel talked about an American reconocence plane being shot down by the Chinese.... that is not true. That plane made an emergency landing after an accidental mid air collision in which a Chinese pilot was killed.

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Why didn't Charlie Rose correct Koppel about that ?

I can not believe that both of these intelligent men could have accidentally made such a mistake about the facts.

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If a an ordinary citizen like me... at 73 years of age ... can clearly remember the facts of that case... I am not willing to believe that this was just an error on their part. I think it was intentional anti-Chinese propaganda... and these two liars were counting on most listeners not recalling the truth about this incident.

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Dorsey Hudson  07/10/2008 02:52 AM Report

Koppel said that the U.S. has an energy policy. Then Charlie said, "What is it?"

Koppel's immediate comment which followed had nothing to do with our energy policy.

I can't help but think there was an edit at this point.

sock puppet  07/10/2008 12:38 AM Report

Ted pandered to us CR viewers as being smart. Well, I'll return the compliment with reservations. His assertion that we should stay in Iraq was particularly specious. Especially when the Maaliki et al are calling for a "timetable." On top of that their tribalism and sectarianism will continue to prevail tomorrow or a million tomorrows, with or without our presence.

Raysel M.  07/10/2008 12:13 AM Report

I'd just like to commend both of these journalists for an amazing and informative conversation. Charlie Rose raised every question I thought of as I was listening to Ted Koppel. I swore off all American mass media. This interview has forced me to reconsider my position. You've gained a fan Mr. Rose!!!

RE Mant  07/09/2008 11:51 PM Report

Very good discussion, but it won't matter if we stay in the Middle East for oil, if we can't afford to pay for it. The Chinese are simply mercantilist. So were we in the 19th c. It wasn't democracy or free-trade that built this country. If we continue down the road we are going politically, ppl won't want to invest here either. It was, btw, the Democrats who were the corrupt ones here. (And I think despite nomenclature, still are.)