Myopia Infects The Round Table

[JBMoney]

Favetti's been hanging out in the sports forums too much. I think he caught something from the Chise, and now the Myopia Virus is speading.

According to Favetti:
"The Russians are nothing and there current identity crisis is proof. The world USED to check with them for their opinion and blessing but now.....no one cares. The can barely tie their shoes......(no shoe laces.)"

While agreeing that the Russians are unfit for a long-term engagement, that's still their backyard. They can still field more bodies and hardware in that theatre than anyone, especially if they have some co-operation from the Ukraine, Belarus (sic?) & Friends.

Writing them off is a sorely mistaken take.

Out.

[Favetti]

Mr. Forumeister,

There are two dictums that must be followed: "never underestimate your enemy" and "never overestimate your enemy."

The Russians are not a threat. Airborne interdiction will prevent any and all local insertion of Russian assets into the theater at great cost to Russia. (Please note, this assumes that Russia has (1) the assets to rapidly move a viable force in the first place (which it doesn't); and (2) the insertion force is a viable combat unit (x-ref Chechnya).)

Russia is an aged bear: although a swat will still hurt, it is slow and will expend itself easily; the dentures just don't do it.

Our primary threat is within our leadership (if you call it that). There is no direction, no voiced sense of what is needed and no justification of the ends supporting the cost.

The difficult decisions are simply not being made.

[JBMoney]

At least I agree with you on the US Leadership. I hate the cliche but I'm getting this strange "another Vietnam" deja vu.

[Scoop]

As a student in the National Security Studies Program at Cal State San Bernardino, I can tell you that most experts on Russia believe that Russia will eventually get its act together and reassert itself to something resembling the boundaries of the old USSR. Of course, Russia is currently a basket case, and not in much of a position to physically stop us from doing what we want (if we ever figure that out), but you can't ignore someone who can target a few thousand nukes your way. Nor do I believe it is wise to antagonize a potentially useful ally against the real long-term threat to international stability, China.

I have to second the Bresslinator's thoughts on what is likely to happen if we get further enmeshed in the Balkans, China could make a move on Taiwan, North Korea could start something, as well as Saddam Hussein.

Carry on.

[Favetti]

My goodness, what is everyone smoking around here? It sure isn't fresh unpolluted air....

(...National Security? San Bernardino? That does quite jive unless of course Scoop is none other than the infamous Mr. Wiley...)

Alright, here we go:

An engagement in the Balkans if pursued with clear focus and a firm forceful hand may jeopardize our interests in only one region: Russia. The political pendulum is swinging to the extreme boundaries and not the center in Russia. An "insensitive" full-scale military entry into the Balkans may provide the opportunity for communist/nationalist party assumption of power. This is a detriment to the West's goal of a capitalistic Russia. After all, Capitalism => Economic Freedom => Personal Freedom.

The resources needed to engage successfully in the Balkans are already present: NATO (Europe). US assets in the region are an added benefit.

Redirection of US forces will not be needed and consequently, Taiwan and South Korea/Japan will be as well protected going forward as they were two months ago before the aerial engagement in the Balkans started.

For those who see China as a threat, remember, Freedom is a most wonderful drug. Like crack, it takes but a small taste to get one hooked and then the reaction is amazing and generally violent if the desire not satisfied. Right now, China is in an interesting position. Its population in the Northwest regions are rioting on a semi-regular basis and the population in the Southeast is tasting capitalism and a certain measure of economic and personal freedom. The domino has been pushed and China's leadership has recognizing this. If aggressively engaged on an economic and educational level, China will soon find itself traveled too far to go back let alone stop.

[Favetti]

.......however, I continue to overestimate our leadership.

We are on the brink of complete global hegemony and .... and ....

Oh, nevermind. Who wants to rule the world anyway......

Hey Bressler, how about a good game of A&A (board version)?