Depends on the context. Covert operations and operators usually means that someone is bound to be negatively affected for the positive outcome of someone else.
In some ways yeah. My country pivoted from semi-dictatorship to dictatorship to democracy to democracy and finally back to dictatorship. I was born under a dictatorship and for the first 21 years of my life, there was only one president, a crazy murderous dictator.
I just emigrated to the US so it's crazy seeing the same stuff I run from all over again. My county's president is aligned with the current US right wing policies, so yeah, though minute, I'm a legit target, so I do not talk about my country's politics or government.
Medical distributor (last mile) in Texas. We are laying off people. I am likely on the chopping board come the next round. We had a lot of govt contracts that have gone.
After spending a fair bit of time in China, I've come to understand one thing. A weaker America is good for China, but, China does not want to lead the world. Sloppy seconds works better from China.
Many years ago, Richard Branson, wrote that in his fight with British Airways, he actually preferred being second. This because nobody is gunning for you. Everyone always guns for gold, but a silver is not a bad thing either but nobody is in the race thinking, golly, I'm going for silver this time.
So, China has no real interest in the liabilities that come with leading the world. It's a headache that does not benefit them. Own the infrastructure, mine the planet, sell plastic crap, that is fine, but rule the world, problems. Everyone turns to you for solutions or is trying to bring you down. Better to just chill.
I used to preach Reddit. Like the gospel. If you called me on the phone about an arbitrary subject, at some point I would have said, 'Well, on Reddit...'
I was so in, there was a sub of one of my favourite tv shows I was hot on and I ended up being mentioned in a newspaper in the UK.
Was a +1 to a friend from when we were in primary (grade) school. It was her cousin getting married. When they walked in for the reception, the groom seemed off. The suit he wore, how he wore it, the whole setup seemed off. My friend was a bridesmaid.
When finally they could mingle, she came and sat with me and asked me what I thought. I told her something was off. Now, you need to understand, me and my friend are frank with each other and hold no punches.
She scrutinized the setup and disagreed with me. We agreed to disagree and enjoyed the rest of the party
I've had the privilege of driving Asian, European and American cars on three continents. Currently in America and I drive a European car.
While different cars for different purposes and different situations, on a general scale, European wins in the quality department, it's a toss up for reliability between European and Asian, with Asian tilting the scales, performance, again a toss up between European and Asian, and Europe tilts the scales here.
I could go on, but when I lived in Europe and having seen what America has to offer, it would mean America would have to do better, offer smaller vehicles that are practical, reliable, economical and good looking, all of which they currently cannot offer domestically.
That being said, China is going to destroy everyone when it comes to EVs. You may not like them, and they can be gimmicky but dang, those rides are sweet.
Not a European, but a well traveled person who has drunk beers in Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Botswana, Senegal, UK, Poland, China, and the UK, as well as drunk beers from Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic etc, I stopped drinking beer when I drunk American beer. Sure, there are some good microbrews, but holy moly, there are some questionable things that pass for beer in America.
After the Promise 1987
Escape from Sobibor 1987
Dang '87 was a tear jerker fest in my timeline.