Great post, Xeraphim.Xeraphim1 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 17, 2022 1:47 amI get it. You don't think I have a definition of a "direct threat." I'll admit, there are a lot of so-called "experts" who say what I say about American interests and then fail to establish what those interests are. So, I'll do it for them.
My definition of a "direct threat" is any threat to our soil or to countries which directly border us by land or by sea. By this definition, the most important region to our national security is the Northern Pacific region. Why? Because that region is the only thing keeping China from directly invading US soil.
That's why its so important that we maintain good relations with Russia and not push it into China's arms. Russia, along with Japan, would be able to guarantee that we have countries serving as "barriers" between our territory and Chinese territory.
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The thing keeping China from invading the US is the fact that it 1. doesn't have the sealift to move appreciable numbers of troops to the US, 2. doesn't have the ability to outfight the US Navy 3. doesn't have the ability to take over a large landmass and 4. doesn't have a particular desire to invade the US. The importance of the Western Pacific is to keep China from trying to invade its neighbors; something still difficult but within the realm of possibilities. Invading the US is a fantasy.
The US isn't pushing Russia anywhere. If anything the US has tried to bring Russia in the Western world as an equal partner; not to the US of course, but to one of the smaller European nations with similar economy sizes. The problem is that the Russian government is determined to try to achieve the power level it has as the USSR even when it doesn't have the economic or military power to do so. A different Russian government with different policies would find lots of Western hands extended to them and lots of economic possibilities. The current bad and declining economy and foreign status of Russia rests entirely on the mismanaging hands of Putin and his cronies. And there will never be an "alliance' between Russia and China; China has its own desires for Russian territory as well as influence in Central Asia.
I enjoy the back and forth. I think DaK hits on quite a few good ideas too, but I'm also skeptical of all that Mackinder/Dugin stuff and everyone knows the petrodollar stuff is my main beef with DaK. Otherwise, I enjoy all of y'all's posts.
I think people here on GD drastically underestimate the real desire of the global world, which (and it does include a possibility of at least scary regional or larger war) is to have a surveillance state and one world gov't (at least a loose confederation led by some BS entity like the IMF). It's quite obvious if you have the eyes to see.