@Stressedlines: I completely agree that our military structure is advantageous because of the level of training that our NCO's have. However, I disagree with what you said in regard to the "first 1000 or so KIA". We have to remember that losing 1000 soldiers is a big thing today (in comparison to the First World War , where Britain lost 10,000 soldiers on the *first* day of the Battle of the Somme). The American public gets worked up when they hear that we lost more than 15 soldiers on any mission. You can only imagine the public reaction to losing 1000 soldiers in a week.
On another note, have you guys actually contemplated what the US foreign policy in regard to China should be? Here is an essay I wrote regarding this issue a month back:
TITLE: Why the world (and the United States in particular) should have reason to worry about China
China's policy leaves a lot for the United States to worry about. Though politicians seem only too eager to overlook the long-term threat posed by the communist regime in Beijing, the reality that we face is that China is growing stronger every day, and they are now seeking to use their power as a means of acquiring territory that was once "Chinese" (as if they have a dictionary definition of what a territory needs to have to be Chinese). The heavy-handed condemnations of Japanese nationalism, the jingoistic (and often irrational) disputes with the Philippines over rights to minerals in the South China Sea and manipulative usage of China’s own currency are all signs of a boisterous rising power. However, if history has taught us anything, it is that such boisterousness by a rising power poses a sharp threat to the security of the United States. And, countries that are looking for their “place in the sun” are not afraid to bully around other countries in order to achieve that goal (often to the dismay of the global hegemon).
China’s economic and military growth draws sharp corollaries to the rise of Imperial Germany after unification in 1871. After defeating the French in the Franco-Prussian War, Imperial Germany wasted no time in rapidly industrializing. However, Germany’s growing strength posed a strategic threat to Great Britain (then the most powerful country in the world). Though the Germans were defeated in the First World War, they bounced back to the global stage under the Nazi regime. They bullied their neighbors (Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland) and paved the way towards a global war.
Similarly, China’s rapid growth has become a source of comfort and intense worry. On one hand, China’s growth has been an anchor for the global economy, and its rapid growth paved the way for economic success in the past decade. However, the gains from a strong China are short-sighted. China’s emergence on the global stage was driven by a state capitalist system that kept all “private” sector profits. Any economic activity was closely monitored by the People's Liberation Army and the Communist Party. Though the United States has invested far more in the military, China has focused their military in the Far East as they seek to achieve regional hegemony. Recently, China’s policy crossed the border from nationalistic to jingoistic. The government has made incredulous claims over parcels of land in an attempt to achieve regional hegemony. The recent diplomatic row with Japan is only one of numerous diplomatic rows China has kicked up in an attempt to achieve regional dominance over their neighbors. China has retained claims in Taiwan and Vietnam which date back to the Qing Dynasty (which fell in 1912). The diplomatic row that they kicked up with Vietnam and Taiwan over the Paracel Islands this year is just another example of China’s boisterous policies.
With all the signs of a diplomatic storm brewing, it is often surprising to hear that the United States has not found a reasonable solution to China’s growth. The USA’s inaction is well founded. If the United States does nothing, the problem will only worsen and China will continue to stay as a source of worry. However, if the United States tries to act too strongly to counter the growth of China, the Chinese government may interpret the actions as imperialistic, and that would inseminate anti-American sentiments in the region. However, if the United States acts too weakly, they risk another Munich, where overly conciliatory tones would be interpreted by the Chinese as a sign of the decline of the United States. That would give the Chinese reason to step up the diplomatic pressure on their neighbors to cede territory. China would continue to grow and overtake the United States as a global hegemon. With two vastly different options in front of the United States, it is believable that the United States has not done anything in order to stop the tide of Chinese growth.
The most viable option for the United States to follow is a mixture of the three policies presented. The United States should use a strong approach towards China’s aggressive jingoism, warning the Communist Party that punitive measures may follow if China continues to bully US allies like Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam. However, the United States must avoid the impression of being imperialistic when warning the Chinese, as such may give the Communist regime in Beijing reason to antagonize the United States and that would destabilize relations with China (which would have dire consequences). However, the diplomatic overtures are only a piece of the puzzle. The United States must also back up Japan, Vietnam and Taiwan to show China that a threat to allies of the US is a direct threat to the United States. Increased military deployment in these three countries would send a clear signal to the Chinese. And, above all, the United States must continue to pay off their debt to China and balance the budget before China finds another market to invest in.
The United States is thus faced with a problem that can be solved. If the US adheres to a three step plan of direct overtures, increased military presence and economic growth, the United States can tame the tide of Chinese jingoism. However, American policymakers do not have all of time to act. If China can find other economies to pour substantial investments in, they can demand their money back. Such a move by the Chinese would cripple the US economy for years, even a decade. By then, the Chinese would have achieved their goal of global hegemony, and the United States would only be able to watch from the sidelines, mired in economic calamity. So, quite frankly, the United States of America has a ticking time bomb on their doorstep which policymakers have to defuse before it’s too late.
Post your opinions about the article.
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