> > The degree to which we’ve been blessed with resources and opportunity to do the right thing (and have consistently chosen to do the dumb thing) never fails

> > The degree to which we’ve been blessed with resources and opportunity to do the right thing (and have consistently chosen to do the dumb thing) never fails to amaze me It’s the curse of natural resources. When you have “the stuff” you feel like you don’t need to talk to others, spending time and human resources on talks and diplomatic relationships. In the context of global politics, military and intelligence where everyone’s ego is all the way up their ass, not wanting to talk is interpreted as disrespect and hostility. And so tension ensues, add the language barrier, culture barrier etc. and pretty soon you are stuck with the old USvTHEM Another country similar to that is Venezuela, they too have plenty of fossil fuels and sun and lithium.