But this set of tactics by Washington can hardly work now. One needs hard and soft power and overwhelming deterrence to play double standards, but now the US doesn't have enough of such power.

Equally importantly, US interests are gradually falling apart from international society. Washington selfishly puts its own interests as priority and seeks "America first" brazenly. Its appeal and ability to defend itself are shrinking.

Many people around the world are making a comparison of riots in Hong Kong and those in the US. The US was still aggressively calling on its allies to put pressure on Beijing over the Hong Kong affairs last week. Trump announced measures to sanction Hong Kong for the Chinese central government's decision to enact a national security law for Hong Kong. But it's noticeable that there is not much substance in Washington's decision and US allies were not enthusiastic in following suit.

The US remains the strongest power in the world, but its strength is not enough to support its ambition of reshaping the global order. The country has too many urgent domestic issues. US failure in containing the COVID-19 epidemic has exposed severe deficiencies in the country's governance. The ongoing unrest exposes the deep-rooted problem of inequality and a lack of justice, reflecting the anger of the people at the bottom and the destruction when such anger is vented in the internet era.

China has shown patience toward the Hong Kong riots. Enacting a national security law for the city is one of the fundamental measures to solve the problem. Does the White House believe that deploying the military can solve its deep-seated problems? This is wrong. If the US cannot even contain the novel coronavirus, how can it soothe people's rage toward racial discrimination and social injustice that are everywhere?

The US political elites should be realistic and stop arbitrarily escalating external confrontations and playing party politics. They should figure out what the American people really need and help them fulfill their wishes."

There you have it Occupants of OLO Craft http://youtu.be/teBV0EoJJY8

Big Nana,

Your husband was right in his comment that
Aboriginal People would never be equal with
non-Aboriginal Australians until they are
treated equally in all matters - responsibilities
as well as rights and until they are given these as
they've been asking for decades. These things I've
stated to you over and over again -
directly and indirectly.

Until this happens government policies, programs,
incentives, money thrown at them - will all not
succeed and continue to flounder.

Glad we agree.

plantagenet
Comparing the police actions against Hong Kong protesters with 99% of the police actions against BLM protests in the USA is unreasonable and unfair. In the US, police have not been ordered to act with force, whereas HK police are following directions from Beijing.

US Covid 19 infection and death numbers are the highest in the world because, in part, of the large size of the US population. But, in per capita terms, the US is 8th or 9th in terms of deaths, with Ireland, UK, Sweden, Italy, Spain, etc with much higher per capita death rates.

Trump calling in the troops was a warning to looters and activists from the left and right who want these BLM protests to influence voters in November's presidential elections. What would you have done to stop the looting? And I wouldn't be surprised if most looting and violence was in cities under the control of Democrat governors who similarly wanted Trump to somehow be blamed for the terrible behaviour of a small number of state or town police.

Your biases are showing.

I am an Australian, and my people often make poor choices.

I have indigenous in me too, but this is irrelevant.
I wasn't raised into this culture so do not identify as such.

Galen, I see you dropped the "indigenous professor" bit. I'll refer to the gentleman in question as Anthony Dillon, AD for short, as he holds no special qualification in matters aboriginal, other than opinions. As for his aboriginality, from his photo some on here would fail him on that score, due to a skin pigmentation problem, too light.

I understand from reading, AD believes that the only way we will ‘Close the Gap’ between disadvantaged Indigenous Australians and the rest of the population is by ensuring that all Indigenous people have access to the opportunities that most Australians take for granted. This I agree with, Obviously AD recognises there is a gap in outcomes in key areas between indigenous and non indigenous, some denyers wont even recognise there is a gap. Good to see AD calling for that gap to be remedied.

After the opinions and supposition, using words like ridiculous, comedy show, laughing, antics, warriors, rent-a-crowds all that is offered as factual is this; "Aboriginal Australians in custody are less likely to die than non-Aboriginal Australians in custody..."

The facts; Australian Human Rights Commission Report Indigenous Deaths in Custody: Chapter 3
Comparison: Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Deaths.

3.1 Indigenous people were 16.5 times more likely than non-indigenous people to die in custody between 1990 and 1995. This rate reflects the disproportionately high number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody.

3.2 The disproportion in the rate of death was the highest in South Australia (31.7) followed by Victoria (18.8), New South Wales (17.0), Queensland (16.8), Northern Territory (7.7) and Tasmania (2.8).

3.3 Indigenous prisoners were 1.26 times more likely to die in prison than non-Indigenous prisoners.

Unless you can provide evidence of a massive turn around in the last 25 years, then the statement you attribute to Anthony Dillon is a blatant lie that must bring into question his credibility.

You got me buggered Bernie. You claimed that my reasoned argument about who really constitutes this mythical "aboriginal" middle class was "a strawman" argument, and then you seem upset when I threw a broadside back at you. Could you please pick one side of this argument or the other, and stay there?

To Paul1405. If you showed me a picture of a Viking and told me he was a Zulu, I would say that there is something wrong with your stereotype of a Zulu. I would not say that a Viking can just "identify" as a Zulu if he wants to. Nor should people who look clearly European, with blond hair and blue eyes, claim that they are "indigenous." You may call a cat "a bird" if you wish, but it still won't fly.

To Aries54. And what pray tell, is "the truth of our history?" London to a brick, you have never picked up a book about Australian history since you left school? One contributor to OLO only a week ago claimed that "Australians" had massacred aborigines. I asked them to provide names of these "Australians" and the dates, and locations where they had supposedly done these deeds. Naturally, I am still waiting for a reply. A reply I know will never come. And don't try that "stolen generations" crap on me. The High Court of Australia ruled it never happened, and that is why thousands of "stolen generation" court cases seeking compensation never eventuated. But I guarantee that you never knew that, did you?

I used to be an anti apartheid demonstrator until I realised that those who claim to be "anti racist" are simply "anti white." You are being used by Elmer Gantry type people, who know how to channel your youthful ideals into what you think is a fashionable cause that displays your identity, as a supposedly intelligent and virtuous young person. They know you will never pick up a book to check the facts. All you need do is to chant the mantra of "western democracies are racist" to fit right in.