Yes DUB ... I agree. I heard the same interview and it was fascinating stuff.
Turkey is the 17th largest global economy and is destined, in Friedman's view to be the dominant Islamic force.
What I found really interesting was his view of the global domination of the USA ... destined to continue unchallenged for the remainder of this century.
The following makes for some serious contemplation:
The USA economy is bigger than the next four global economies combined (ie. Japan + Germany + China + Britain).
The USA has total control of the seas - it dominates both the trans Atlantic trade and the trans Pacific trade. The strength of USA naval power is greater than that of all of the world's navies combined !!! Wow!
He sees the 21st century as the "Dawn of the American Age" which has supeseded the "European Age". Since WW2, Europe has been reduced to a collection of secondary powers.
He sees the US / Islamist conflict as subsiding and argues that the US goal Vs. Islamic conflict (incl. Afgahnistan etc) is not to 'win' but to destablise and prevent a strong Islamic bloc from emerging.... something which Freidman argues has already been achieved.
In fact, he sees a potential clash between the USA and Russia as being more likely in the future as Russia re-creates its old sphere of influence.
He makes other 'unlikely' predictions as well ... he sees potential trouble ahead for the USA from Mexico (which, surprisingly is the worlds's 15th largest global economy.
There's much, much more.
The interview inspired me to buy the book:
George Friedman: 'The Next 100 Years. A Forecast For the 21st Century" (I got my copy from Glebe Books)
