Shocking wrote:
KEN-JENNINGS wrote:
I'll have to look up the 20 years ahead statement for some clarity. I read it in Foreign Policy magazine I think 2 years ago or so. I'll have to find the exact issue when I get home.
Personally I think the statement is absolute bull. Unless ofcourse they discounted all NATO partners - though Russia still (ocassionaly) develops pretty high quality stuff. As does China as of late.
Consider the scope. One-off builds in Russia and China don't hold a candle to a fully developed, technologically advanced military the US has. We have better ships, better planes, etc. And more of them. And the logistics to put them anywhere in the world. No other nation can say that. We've got partnerships (like NATO, you mentioned) that allows us to operate in every corner of the world - and we do. NATO countries don't have this large capability if you remove the US resources - much of NATO relies on US resources to cover their ass. And let's remember, we are talking about single countries, not multi-country alliances. NATO is not a sovereign nation; NATO isn't in this discussion.
We've developed strategies to cover the globe - not to say these are the best or most complete strategies, but there are blueprints. The groundwork has been laid. Can we realistically say China has the ability to move 'x' amount of troops with a full navy and air complement to any region of the world with a very short turnaround time? The US can - and has. You can't just build a technologically advanced armed forces and the logistical support systems in 20 years. The US had the advantage(?) of getting into the cold war, which created a real motivation to do all these things.
Shocking wrote:
KEN-JENNINGS wrote:
Why will China have an economic advantage? Sure, economically they are setting themselves up for the future in regards to securing resources and geopolitically developing their string of pearls to ensure they have spheres of influence extending through to the African and European markets - so what? They still need to build their internal infrastructure.
As I said, 20 years. By then their infrastructure should be pretty good.
Pretty good...No, they are still a ways off. Look at western China as opposed to Eastern China. There are huge degrees of separation between the industrialization of cities on the east coast and rural areas in western China. They do have an advantage of centralized control within their government which allows them to manage huge projects that affect the whole country, but again, 20 years is not a lot of time, especially in a country that tries its best to stifle democratic progress.
Shocking wrote:
KEN-JENNINGS wrote:
The US has a considerable technological advantage militarily and strategic advantage geopolitically - we've been beefing up our military and cultivating our spheres of influence for far longer than the Chinese - and that is an important piece to consider.
It could work against you. As of yet, barely anyone on the global political scene bears a grudge against China. The African nations are much more inclined towards the Chinese as they 'have done no wrong unto them', surely many nations might follow as China expands its influence and power.
Diplomacy and force wins. We have the money and the muscles to force countries to do what we want. Bearing a grudge is perception vs. reality. African nations are more inclined towards China because China is focused on investing in industry there and giving them aid (not AIDS). Money wins there. That's the reality vs. your "have done no wrong unto them" perception.
Shocking wrote:
Fatherted wrote:
the BAE-EADS merger is going to create one fucking powerful company
The largest defense corporation in the world probably. Twice as large as LH.
And I believe the US is it's biggest customer - again, we are talking about nations, not companies or alliances.
Don't get me wrong, I don't like unipolarity. I think having another nation there to challenge US supremacy is a good thing - I just don't see China filling that role in 20 years.