Rolling Back Radical Islam

[Theophylact]

An extremely interesting article from Parameters, the quarterly of the Army War College(!).

The fundamental differences between the Islamic extremists and the Western responses are two in my opinion:

1) Islamic fundamentalists are prepared to die for their (perverted) causes. The US is unwilling to do so.

2) They are offensive while the US is defensive.

Unless these two basic issues are addressed and resolved appropiately, status quo will continue.

[J-Excel]

I think a lot of their rage comes from jealousy. I say suffocate them economically by reducing our dependency on Middle East oil. Then help them rebuild after they collapse. Communism in Europe suffocated economically. The same thing would happen in Asia if we would stop pouring money into China. For the life of me I can't see why we keep funding our enemies.

[Daft_Ghosty]

I don't see China as our enemy.. nor did I see russia as one either.. but I do agree with your post J-Excel.. makes no sense to poor money into the countries that could threaten us..

[daveleau]

China isn't our enemy, but they aren't bosom buddies either. Look at the incident with the EP3 that landed in Hanian. There are many reasons that we keep them under a watchful eye. They are communist and they have the greatest potential to be a superpower. Funny how Clinton and Bush Sr wanted to sell our stuff to them so badly. Clinton sold them more supercomputers than we use in our FBI, CIA and military (including the Pentagon) combined! All they need are ICBMs (which they are working on) and we will have another full-blown USSR on our hands.

How did you not see the Soviet Union as our enemy?

[J-Excel]

China may not be our enemy now, but we are on the verge of another cold war, this time with Communism in SE Asia. Things weren’t exactly cozy between the U.S. and China when our plane went down there last year. Tensions were pretty high between the U.S. and China even before that. We have kind of forgotten about China over the last year with the War on Terrorism, but they may still be a threat. If something broke out in the Koreas, China would most likely side with N. Korea. China may support India in an India/Pakistan War. China may support Iran if the Middle East erupts. Capitalism is a big threat to Communism; therefore Capitalism has to be wary of Communism.

[somecallmetim]

Originally posted by J-Excel
China may support India in an India/Pakistan War....Capitalism is a big threat to Communism; therefore Capitalism has to be wary of Communism.

I agree with being careful in dealing with China. The current despotic rulers will abuse weakness the moment they see it. China's current regime is based entirely on bullying. The only defense is vigilance.

Having said that, saying that India, the largest (pop. wise) free market/democratic state in the world siding with China? Not likely, the two hate each other. China siding with another despotic dictator like the one in Pakistan - now that's more likely, oh wait, except that dictator has US backing too.

Oh what a quandry is international politics!

SCMT

Politics and business are alike in one way:

No ones your enemy and no ones your friend.

On a permanent basis.