George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 121

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The UN emergency refugee relief conference began. It wasn’t that the atmosphere hadn’t always been tense, but the expressions were particularly grim this time. While these expressions were usually due to excessive workloads, this time the reason was different: there seemed to be no real solution.

Of course, saying “there’s no solution” really meant, “There is absolutely no way to solve it without harming one’s own country.” There’s an answer to almost every problem in the world; it’s just not the answer everyone wants.

Whether it was the EU or other countries, the opinions were largely the same: refugees should somehow be distributed among all UN member states. This argument was especially strongly asserted by Turkey and Southern European nations, which were rapidly descending into chaos.

There was a severe shortage of funds, administrative capacity to aid the refugees, and public authority to control them. Above all, the issue of Sharia [Islamic law] autonomous regions, which the refugees insisted on establishing, was also a major problem. The creation of autonomous regions within a sovereign nation was problematic in itself, but wasn’t this a complete role reversal? Moreover, the thugs wearing orange fluorescent vests and carrying clubs, calling themselves Sharia police, were also a problem. How could they claim that Sharia is above the constitution when the country’s legal system was functioning properly?

In any case, in Southern Europe, especially in countries close to Turkey, this kind of problem was widespread in major cities. It was understandable that anti-refugee sentiment was not only prevalent but rampant throughout Europe.

However, the Sharia autonomous region issue wasn’t limited to Southern Europe; Germany was second only to Turkey in experiencing this type of refugee-related unrest. As the richest country in Europe and a leading member of the EU, it attracted a large number of refugees. In particular, most of the refugees fleeing Afghanistan sought refuge in Germany.

So, a saying began circulating in Germany:

“From the time of the Holy Roman Empire to modern Germany, there has never been a record of surrendering the capital to Middle Easterners, but today they have finally occupied our capital. Not through war, but through the cracks created by our kindness.”

Perhaps it was because they gained power, or perhaps it was because punishment was difficult, but they committed all sorts of crimes. Refugees don’t necessarily commit crimes, but they were in a social environment where it was easy to do so.

Whether it’s Germany or anywhere else, shouldn’t a normal refugee adapt to the culture of the host country in order to find work? Whether it’s essential common sense or a certain level of knowledge, it seemed lacking. As a result, economic independence was virtually impossible, so they easily turned to crime.

Of course, there were refugees who showed a willingness to adapt to the local culture or study for work, but it wasn’t easy. For example, in Islam, there are specific times for prayer ‘five times’ a day. So, what would an employer think if an employee suddenly stopped working to pray?

Of course, if you miss a prayer, you can make it up later, but wouldn’t they question the employer’s authority when they are simultaneously protesting to revise the constitution, claiming that Sharia is the most perfect law in the world?

In that way, anti-refugee sentiment in Germany was gradually developing into refugee hatred. In addition, with very few exceptions, there was a problem that they couldn’t even imagine, let alone realize. In the hotbed of anti-refugee sentiment created by refugees, far-right ideologies that had been thoroughly suppressed since Nazi Germany’s defeat were gradually resurfacing.

This was a natural phenomenon. A kind of ‘invasion from the outside’ was perceived due to the influx of refugees, and people were suffering tangible consequences, so it would be strange if people didn’t become more insular and exclusive.

But as I said, the snake of far-rightism was still coiling and gathering strength beneath the surface.

In any case, the UN conference proceeded as follows:

“Therefore, I argue for the necessity of a refugee quota system.”

Following the established procedures of the UN conference, a formal resolution was submitted, and as expected, Germany proposed the ‘refugee quota system.’ In reality, they wanted to expel all the refugees, but they couldn’t do that from a humanitarian standpoint.

The United States also brought up a similar proposal. However, unlike the refugee quota system submitted by Germany, there were some differences, and the United States was included. This was to avoid accusations of being inhumane for not accepting refugees.

In addition, they indirectly warned that they might withdraw from Iraq if the situation in the Middle East worsened instead of stabilizing. This was because they proposed a resolution to give work to the UN Trusteeship Council, which had become largely irrelevant. The targets were Middle Eastern countries where the EU and Russia were directly exerting influence.

Of course, this was rejected. Since the United States presented it as a warning, they didn’t push it aggressively.

There was also the problem of China, which had turned into an empire of germs. At first, there were only germs that could be dealt with sufficiently, but all sorts of variants began to emerge. The World Health Organization had already declared an international emergency and was providing medical supplies to China.

Thanks to the combination of a backward and corrupt health administration and the United States’ pressure, a country on the verge of bankruptcy had its health crisis alleviated, allowing it to breathe. What an irony?

What China was most concerned about was the United States’ scrutiny. Even though those vicious guys were agonizing over what kind of resolution they would bring to undermine China, they were devising all means and methods. But the United States did not scrutinize at all at this UN. Even the minimum oversight that they had always exercised was absent, so the Chinese officials and Li Keqiang became anxious.

“This is strange.”

Of course, this situation was the most ideal, but isn’t it human nature to be suspicious when an ideal situation presents itself? There is no truly ideal situation in the world. If it appears ideal, it’s just that you haven’t noticed the flaws.

“Confiscate everything and sweep it up!”

Following Li Keqiang’s order, the Chinese government carried out internal inspections and investigations. Because the matter was so serious, all sorts of spies were caught, including those suspected of being CIA agents. Above all, due to the outbreak of the epidemic, people were reluctant to go out regardless of occupation, gender, or age, so it was very easy to catch them.

Bush read up to this point and closed the report. Although the people who were caught were not CIA agents, they were at least connected to the CIA. They were local collaborators, and because they quickly confessed, most of the CIA agents had to withdraw or flee overseas.

Above all, it was difficult to carry out proper intelligence operations because of the epidemic. You might say, ‘How can administration become difficult because of illness in the 21st century?’ but the country happened to be China. China was unsophisticated, but it approached the problem in the most reliable way.

China had set up quarantine stations with soldiers wearing chemical and biological protection suits in every town and city and was controlling it almost perfectly. In short, the logic was that if the cause of the spread of the epidemic was the movement of people, there would be no infection if there was no movement of people.

It was unethical, but there was no more efficient way than this. The problem was that there was an absolute shortage of medical supplies, but this was gradually being resolved with the help of the World Health Organization. However, not all 1.3 billion Chinese people were suffering from the same disease, and they were complaining of different symptoms or complex symptoms, so there was a shortage of supplies and manpower. Medical personnel and volunteers were desperately trying to sleep for 2 hours a day, but there was a limit, right?

The resolution that China put forward at the UN was a bill to increase the budget of the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

“This is what happened in one day.”

“Most of it is as expected.”

However, the news that the spies, including those connected to the CIA, who had been dispatched to China, had been neutralized was unexpected.

“There are also reactions from the Chinese people that you requested. Well, the reactions are all different. I’ll read you a few.”

The chief of staff took out a piece of paper. Bush quickly noticed that it was a document that had softened all sorts of immoral or somewhat cruel and gory expressions. Otherwise, it couldn’t be just one page.

“First of all, this is the most common opinion. There are terrorist threats such as stabbing the president to death if they meet him on the street. Most ordinary people are like this. There are also some mild remarks such as the United States should not use force to pressure them, but solve it with words like intellectuals. Most of these remarks were from those who had a lot to lose. In short, they are politicians.”

“They’re not good expressions to hear.”

“Well, that’s about it. Shall I read you the president’s status in Afghanistan too?”

Bush quickly refused this. The words that would come out of that mouth were obvious: something like the idolization of George W. Bush as an individual is taking place, or the Afghans think of Americans as true friends, and it’s all thanks to Bush. Something like that.

The chief of staff, who had been blocked from speaking before these stories, licked his lips. It was a great achievement in its own way, but what Bush was aiming for was a respected president, not a deified one. What kind of leader needs that?

“But if you’re an intellectual, shouldn’t you communicate with guns rather than words?”

“What kind of crazy talk is that?”

The chief of staff was so embarrassed to hear this that he messed up the top of the documents while sorting the reports by type.

“Well, guns work better than words for threats. Isn’t that a fact that any intellectual knows? Therefore, intellectuals should use guns.”

Bush himself really thought it was a perfect logic. Of course, there was a logical error in Bush’s argument. The problem was that, regardless of the presence or absence of errors in the argument, at least this was a million times more effective than the empty promises that were being made in politics.

“By the way, at this rate, it will be impossible to get the debt back from China next year or the year after.”

Bush was convinced after reading the report that summarized the data that CIA agents had brought with them while escaping. The Chinese government was severely short of money right now. It was so serious that not only the people but also the politicians had to open their wallets themselves. It was a desperate struggle to save at least Beijing, the heart of China.

“That’s right. Experts are predicting a moratorium or default.”

“I think similarly, but well, my thoughts are a little different.”

“How are they different?”

“There’s a high probability that the creditor itself will disappear before that.”