The Current Discussion: In his recent PostGlobal blog post, "The Ugly Chinese," commentator John Pomfret says the world's perception of China isn't as rosy as it used to be. Do you see China as a threat? Why? Why not?

Europeans and “ugly” Americans really do not need more threats from other parts of the world. We already threaten our own countries and continents. We act against ourselves all the time, starting with pollution and ending with aggression.

The real question goes like this: is it possible that in the span of a decade, or an even shorter period, China might become the world’s leader in terms of economic potential? My answer is a strong yes. Could China become the world’s leader in terms of political and military potential? My answer is a weak yes.

But let’s take that question further: Would that be such a bad thing for us? I don’t know, but I don’t think so. Previous policemen of the world weren’t any better: let’s not mention the late Soviet Union, or the Tartar hordes or the Wehrmacht. So, let us not worry.

It wouldn’t hurt to start to study Chinese, though. I have heard it is an extremely difficult language, and it is also an extremely beautiful one.

The recently announced anti-piracy plans certainly will help those U.S. companies that lose huge amounts of money as mentioned. But I’m not sure it will do much good for the rest of us.

It is a fact that people do not want to pay for music, software and other things they can get free on the Internet. On one hand, the authors and creators behind those materials deserve payment for the use of their work. On the other hand, the free use of artwork, scientific results and other useful things seems to me to foster a kind of cultural democracy. When your income regulates what you can enjoy, the needy won’t have as much as those who are better off.

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The Current Discussion:Protests over the Olympic torch relay have led to a crackdown in Tibet. Is Tibetan independence a lost cause? If not, what should its supporters do to win it?

I think the protests related to the Olympic torch are false and superfluous. Two Olympic games in my lifetime have been boycotted because of political rivalries. The results were poor—almost ridiculous. Sporting events should be left alone as apolitical games. Let everyone attend and let some win, regardless of the political judgments of the host country.

No country’s independence is a lost cause nowadays. But in every country, it's the people who live there who must fight for that independence. There is not much other people around the globe can do, and nothing for superpowers to do, especially not with their military force.

Call me an incorrigible optimist, but I am sure that sooner or later China will accept it if Tibet wants to be free. China is so big, and has so many inhabitants… They do not really need Tibet. China's politicians consider this a case of prestige. But for the next generation of Chinese politicians it will be more of a practical problem.

Tibetans should strongly unite, protest and fight - who knows for how long. I am sure that’s the only way that might lead towards independence for their country.

Budapest -- Hungary (Eastern Europe) is a member of the EU. Thus, its agriculture is tied to the subsidies handed over by the relevant institutions of the community. Each year our farmers and food processing companies believe that this has been the worst year ever. And, every year has seemed to be the worst year ever. Still, I think Hungary is quite well off when it comes to eating and drinking. In this area, the last famine was in the mid-war period.

Living in a relatively well fed part of the world, I can have an opinion about the subject of food shortages even if it is a result of looking around on this globe with relatively open eyes, ears and mind. I think the job of feeding every human being in the world these days is as serious a problem as global warming, and I cannot understand why experts and politicians talk much less about it.

The so-called civilized countries with the over packed malls, food stores and fast food restaurant chains should make up their mind and send some of their surplus to the needy before they would come over to get it.

I would not be surprised if the hungry people of Africa would show up in huge crowds in Spain or Italy or Greece. Traveling on handmade ships and rafts, it could not be an impossible endeavor to cross the Adriatic Sea. Similarly, the Chinese could start to wander northward, and I know that some mountains may be an obstacle, but still, there are good climbers and guides over there, not to mention the skilled sherpas.

This problem has a great impact on every region in the world, and in the future will have an even greater impact. I know it is ridiculous to hope that the UN or any other international organization can solve the enormous inequality in eating and drinking. But all the nations where most citizens are able to eat enough should unite on the food front to do something. Today's food riots may otherwise seem to be minor upheavals compared what we will have to cope with quite soon.

Until my words are heard by those who have the power to act, I think I'll go on a serious diet, just to feel myself a little bit better.

The Current Discussion:The global economy is quaking. Are we heading toward a global recession? Who's to blame?

Let’s be a little prudent with our prophecies. Most of them seem to be ridiculous after a bit of time has passed. Just one example: a leader of the Patent Office of a great country (guess which one?) said in 1900(!) that there was no need for his office any more since everything had already been discovered.

Unfortunately, economists have to calculate the future with every possible tool of their science—that is the one of the points of their profession. There have been some great economists who had quite a knack for foretelling the imminent changes of the economic processes. They can be regarded as the prophets of our age. Obviously, I don’t belong to this noted group, holding a simple law degree. But at the same time, as an author of fiction novels, my job is still related in an enigmatic way to guessing the future. So I’ll summon my courage and give an answer to this question.

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There are no dangerous countries, only dangerous people. Who are these dangerous people? Those who hold powerful offices. The higher the post, the more dangerous they are.

Unfortunately, I have no specific knowledge of the people who lead Pakistan, so I cannot agree or disagree. But what’s the point? What if we dubbed Pakistan the newest Evil Empire? What would that achieve?

If we must stick to the notion that countries themselves are dangerous, I believe superpowers always represent a greater danger than smaller countries. There are a great number of those ahead of Pakistan on the Dangerous list.

BUDAPEST - I am sorry to admit it, but Hungarians don’t pay any attention. Hungarians are dumb sometimes, but they’re not numb enough to listen to President Bush’s speeches. I hope my statement is not too offensive to Americans – though even if it is, that doesn’t mean it’s not correct.

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This question boggles my mind. I haven’t the faintest idea why the U.S. Congress thinks it can pass resolutions concerning countries as far away as Turkey, even if that nation is a “close ally.” Why do American legislators think they have a right to behave as if they were the only perfect representatives of justice? I’m not even sure that justice as such exists these days, or that it has existed since the two World Wars. If the U.S. Congress feels it should negotiate all the injustices of the last sixty or seventy years, that’s fine with me. But where is the resolution condemning Hiroshima, or the wars in Korea and Vietnam? Where is the resolution condemning the U.S.’s passive stance toward Hungary in 1956? That’s only the first of a troublingly long list.

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Congratulations, America! You decided to let a man into your country who doesn’t like you at all. In fact, you only let him in to Manhattan to talk to the students of the Columbia University and to the General Assembly at the UN. Although this is Ahmedinejad’s third visit to the U.S. since he has been in office, this time his visa is valid only in Manhattan. He wanted to pay tribute at Ground Zero, but his request to go there was denied.

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Ladies and gentlemen, let’s not confuse international political relationships with individual romances. Countries may envy each other’s relationships, but in international relations no one gives in to sentiment. Those who analyze diplomacy in terms of “tussles” and feuds forget that the only important factor in this field is power.

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