With all the hoopla over the upcoming elections, I think most Americans have failed to recognize the extreme dangers that we are facing in this "new" world. Between all of the minor scandals that seem to pop-up each day concerning one or the other presidential candidate and the zika virus scare, it seems the most dangerous occurrence in a long time has been completely been ignored. Our news media is largely responsible for this, for they have relegated these latest threats to world peace to the back burners.
While daily, whatever each candidate says gets front page coverage, the fact that Russia and China have been conducting a series of military maneuvers (war games) is either stuck in the back pages or lost all together. Think about this. During the height of the Cold War, when Soviet Union and PRC were our arch enemies, and supposedly allied against capitalism, the two never held war games together! If anything, there were border disputes and actual firefights along the Amur and Ussuri Rivers! Now, since the demise of the Soviet Union and the "new" PRC which has supposedly become our friend, most certainly trading partner, the two are holding a series of military maneuvers. The latest naval exercise, as if to rub our nose in it, they are holding naval maneuvers in the Mediterranean! Neither Russia nor China have any ports, or other interests in the Mediterranean, yet they are holding naval maneuvers, actually even shooting naval guns and missiles! Meanwhile, North Korea is firing off missiles towards Japan, this time reaching farther than ever before!
Remember a few blogs back I talked about the new Axis, i.e., Russia-China-North Korea. It seems it is alive and doing well. There are those in our government as well as the news media who "pooh-pooh" the whole idea of the new Axis. They think it is simply Putin trying to flex his muscles and China trying to respond to our support of Japan and other countries in their maritime disputes with China. That may very well be. But it was the muscle flexing that got Putin Crimea and part of eastern Ukraine. It is muscle flexing that allows China to continue to hold Tibet as one of its provinces! As for North Korea, everyone knows that they are a nut case and unpredictable. Well, they may be a nut case and unpredictable, but they are also shrewd and not completely foolish. They would not do something without knowing that they will either get away with it or that they have backing. In this case, it is Russia and China.
Yes, we have problems with ISIS/ISIL and it won't go away soon. American lives will continue to be in danger and will be lost to terrorist activities. Ironically, we are now financially supporting the world's biggest sponsor of terrorism, Iran. I know that the White House has denied the accusations that the money (sacks full of cash) given to Iran on the eve of the release of hostages was not payment, that it was Iranian money. But even if it was Iranian money, it was still a pay off. Why did we have to release the money just then? Why not before or well after the release of hostages? Besides, if it was indeed Iranian money which was kept frozen in banks, why not just make an electronic transfer to Iranian treasury? Why deliver payment like some drug dealers in sacks filled with cash?
But, all in all, that is small potatoes compared to what we could be facing if we don't watch out and counteract what is going on with Russia and China. Both China and Russia are convinced that we won't do anything because at this point we are so dependent on China economically. They may be right. As I said before, China really doesn't need to go to war, it only needs to call in its IOUs and we will be up the creek without a paddle! Russia, on the other hand, knows no other way but the heavy handed way, intimidation. They have practiced this type of foreign policy since the Tsarist days, so this is nothing new, it is in their DNA!
Sadly, I believe we have developed a reputation for being patsies, easy marks in the poker game of international affairs. Our fabulous Iran Nuclear Deal demonstrated how well we play the game, that our game plan is basically to give up everything and gain nothing! Aside from our miserable negotiating on the international scene, we have developed a reputation for inaction, of being indecisive. Our government has developed this wonderful art of inaction and indecisiveness to a fine point. We always have all the answers, verbally. But when you look at the results, it shows a totally different picture.
We desperately need a change. We need a change to a strong government that responds to international crisis and not just makes threatening noises then sits and waits! This may very well mean more "brush fire" wars, small wars that erupt around the world. Sadly that is how it is today, the nature of things and international politics. But we are the only superpower, the only country capable of being the "policeman" of the world. If we don't want chaos all around us, then we have to step in and do something to stop it. If we don't want the responsibility, then we should give up our preeminent position in the world to Russia or China. Make no mistake about it, Russia or China would be more than happy to become the number one nation in the world! Perhaps that is what our government is trying to do, turn over the responsibility to someone else?
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