Quote:
Originally Posted by tshile
The problem with that point of view is it ignores the significant progress made in relations between us and China in terms of trade and cooperativeness. There are many that view China as a communist-in-name-only country that's on the verge of officially moving into a more democratic state. The idea that we're constantly on the brink of war with China is one that seems to be about a decade or two out of date.
The middle east is an interesting and complex issue to say the least.
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Ok, But you do know the following have all taken place in the last 9 months:
1) Major China/Russia troop maneuvers
China, Russia start joint naval exercise | South China Morning Post
2) Chinese exertion of territorial rights over disputed territories with Japan
China's New Air-Defense Zone Is a Creeping Effort to Assert Sovereignty | TIME.com
3) Chinese fighter jets entering Taiwan air space:
China Fighter Jets Enter Taiwan's Airspace - Businessweek
4) China Russia oil pipeline agreement
Russia, China Sign $400 Billion Gas Deal After Decade of Talks - Bloomberg
5) Brazil, Russia, India and China have formed an alliance a la IMF
BRICS Bank Viewed as IMF Competitor
Again, the point being that we moved from the dual power of USSR/USA, which hung ever on an edge but had two main actors, neither were ultimately willing to go that last step, to the Sole power of the USA, but the US is not set up to go it alone as a sole world power, so we have relinquished a lot of the authority/responsibility we shouldered from the late 80's to the mid 2000's. Now the world is moving back to a set of tentative alliances, as you say China likes our money, but might like Russia's oil more. Russia might feel emboldened by China's backing and feel like the two of them together could put Europe on it's heels. There are a lot more uncertainties in a multipolar world, and a lot more chance for miscalculation, which sort of brings me back to my rant and what set it off. When the head of the US is repeatedly saying publicly, we didn't know, or we sent our forces in, but the intelligence was bad, or it was due to xyz failure, it opens the door to opponents thinking that they might slip one by, or make a miscue. If you remember, the start of the first Iraq war - the invasion of Kuwait, has been ascribed to the US seemingly give an offhand approval of the absorption of Kuwait. With one power, you just squash it and go on, like Iraq 1, but in a multi polar world, where Russia and Iran for instance might together not like the idea of a US led invasion of Iraq, the lines become blurrier.
Like I said at the outset, this is my rant. I get that I see things through a certain prism, and I'm not suggesting, as maybe G1 thought I was, that I could do a single bit better, only that it is distressing/discouraging to see us muddle into this new phase, and look cloddish doing it. I like the life the US presents not just me, but my kids, and one day, I hope my grandkids. and to that end I see us on the brink of a turning point, which may very well not have the joyful ending that some seem to imply is an obvious conclusion.