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2013-06-04 China-Japan-Koreas

Why the next war with China could go very badly for the U.S.

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Posted by Besoeker 2013-06-04 00:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top
File under: Commies

#1 One of the false assumptions is that your enemy is going to have an easy time of it along with little or no domestic ramifications.

I received orders to move against Colonel Thomas Harris, who was said to be encamped at the town of Florida, some twenty-five miles south of were we then wereHarris had been encamped in a creek bottom for the sake of being near water. The hills on either side of the creek extended to a considerable height, possibly more than a hundred feet. As we approached the brow of the hill from which was expected we could see Harris camp, and possibly find his men ready formed to meet us, my heart kept getting higher and higher until it felt to me as though it was in my throat. I would have given anything then to have been back in Illinois, but I had not the moral courage to halt and consider what to do; I kept right on. When we reached a point from which the valley below was in full view I halted. The place where Harris had been encamped a few days before was still there and the marks of recent encampment were plainly visible, but the troops were gone. My heart resumed its place. It occurred to me at once that Harris had been as much afraid of me as I had been of him. This was a view of the question I had never taken before; but it was one I never forgot afterwards. From that event to the close of the war, I never experienced trepidation upon confronting an enemy, though I always felt more or less anxiety. I never forgot that he had as much reason to fear my forces as I had his. I never forgot that lesson. Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant

The power of the party is the first and last consideration of those in Beijing. They may play the nationalistic cards and talk the talk of restoring the glory of the Heavenly Kingdom, but they are rational enough to make sure they do nothing to endanger that prime directive.

Posted by Procopius2k 2013-06-04 08:29|| 2013-06-04 08:29|| Front Page Top

#2 But not enough to make sure they don't make a mistake. They are much like Germany in 1910. The future does not look better than the present. The period of their maximum advantage may be drawing to a close sooner than we think.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2013-06-04 09:14|| 2013-06-04 09:14|| Front Page Top

#3 And as a consequence, the Eurocentric world dissolved and never recovered. IIRC there was a Russian economist who argued that the European 'Great Powers' couldn't afford a war because it would economically destroy them. He was ignored, but his remarks were validated. Same holds for the powers big powers today. No power will recover to its former self of the day prior to open hostilities for a long time if ever.

Posted by Procopius2k 2013-06-04 10:22|| 2013-06-04 10:22|| Front Page Top

#4 Are you thinking of Norman Angell's The Grand Illusion?

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2013-06-04 10:57|| 2013-06-04 10:57|| Front Page Top

#5 I skimmed the article. I can easily believe that war with China would suck, but the author of this piece believes in the whole Chinese Los Angeles Missile Launch Thing... that was really a contrail from a commercial airliner....

argh!

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-06-04 11:41|| 2013-06-04 11:41|| Front Page Top

#6 China's kind of putting the cart before the horse. Get your own house in order first. Maybe having a toilet in every house, or a nationwide immunization program would be more realistic than World Domination for now.
The time of ever expanding resources is over, the great empires of the world are slowly diminishing, China may have missed the boat.

Posted by Sum Dum Guy 2013-06-04 11:58|| 2013-06-04 11:58|| Front Page Top

#7 Next?

When was the first? Korea?

Yeah, that went so well.

Posted by Muggsy Mussolini1226 2013-06-04 13:31|| 2013-06-04 13:31|| Front Page Top

#8 Depends if you count the Sand Pebble or not.

Posted by swksvolFF 2013-06-04 14:16|| 2013-06-04 14:16|| Front Page Top

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