"... the vast wilderness of America."

A translation issue, I am sure, but the only place where this might still apply would be Alaska. In the mainland portion of America, we have designated "Wilderness" areas, protected by the Federal government, from any sort of man-made development. The goal is simple: Protect these places as they have always been ...

"It is surprising that only 490,000 people live in Iowa. You must instinctively distinguish whether the person you encounter in the wasteland is a friend or an enemy to survive."

A perception problem, as well as inaccurate. Iowa has over 3 million people and is hardly a wasteland. It is one of the most productive agricultural states in the country.

It depends on your definition of "wasteland" I suppose. There are certainly many places in the American West, where you can look out a long way and not see much in the way of any population centers. Where you do find them, they are smaller towns, not huge cities. But ...

As far as determining whether the people there are "friends" or "enemies," to "survive" the thought never enters our minds. I think you may have this perception from watching movies about the settling of the American West in the 1800s? Just guessing ...

"Perhaps you have succeeded as a manager because of your good ability to distinguish between enemies and friends."

I succeeded because I was good at my job. Company "politics" is always a part of any human enterprise and life, whether here in America, there in Korea, or anywhere else. As long as there are people "in there," we can rest assured there will be problems ...