Pacific Rim countries tend to imitate one another because they are so integrated by trade, and the questionable trend of shooting drug dealers without trial has now come to Indonesia, following similar practices in Thailand and Philippines. It would not be surprising if Malaysia followed. It underlines, above all, the inherent nationalism in these countries, many of which had independence struggles in the post-World War II era, as well as their willingness to thumb their noses at international institutions, which will tut-tut the moves. None of them fear the international courts in the Hague. And yes, it's nationalism at work: Note that Indonesia, the latest country to follow this trend, has a president who has explicitly condemned foreign drug dealers importing trouble into the country. It also channels the Asian loathing for illegal mind-blowing drugs, a bad Western habit as they see it, that they don't want imported into their home countries. It likely has its roots...(Read Full Post)