My best one-liner at Thanksgiving was a macabre tale of international finance gone wrong. Sitting there, in one of China’s most flash hotels (The Grand Millenium, I recommend it highly), we were discussing the nature of America’s current budget, outlook, and how the consensus among retired state department and defense department administrators that Afghanistan, not matter how necessary, not matter how crucial, no matter how honorable, simply could not be won without destroying America.

Pausing, looking at the caviar (from a $25 buffet!) smeared into my tablecloth, bubbling pots of southern Chinese soups, twenty desserts, a full salad and sushi bar, fresh baked italian bread of at least 6-7 types… and I muttered out loud:

“The United States Dollar: Backed by the full Faith and Credit of the People’s Republic of China.”

We all shrugged, and kept eating.