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Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 12:56 am
by bmforre
Central Threat of Our Times
China is the central threat of our times and the United States and its allies must ensure they have the military and technological power to ensure that this century is governed by Western principles, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
"While we still have to be enormously vigilant about terror ... the Chinese Communist Party presents the central threat of our times," Pompeo said on Thursday.
But I've clearly heard Trump proclaim that this honour belongs to Iran?
Is one of them speaking false or are there more than one Central Threat??
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 4:19 am
by Woodchopper
‘Great Power Competition’ is the new big idea in Washington. It’s all about global rivalry with China and Russia, and it will probably dominate US foreign policy for many years.
Iran is just a regional problem.
There is no guiding intelligence behind anything Trump says about foreign policy.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 6:13 am
by Martin_B
Woodchopper wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 4:19 am
‘Great Power Competition’ is the new big idea in Washington. It’s all about global rivalry with China and Russia, and it will probably dominate US foreign policy for many years.
Iran is just a regional problem.
There is no guiding intelligence behind anything Trump says about foreign policy.
You probably didn't need those last 3 words, Woodchopper.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 7:46 am
by secret squirrel
Woodchopper wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 4:19 am
‘Great Power Competition’ is the new big idea in Washington. It’s all about global rivalry with China and Russia, and it will probably dominate US foreign policy for many years.
Iran is just a regional problem.
There is no guiding intelligence behind anything Trump says about foreign policy.
How is it a new idea? Rivalry with the Soviet Union and communism more generally dominated US policy for the majority of the 20th century. That animosity carried over almost seamlessly to newly capitalist Russia. The only recentish change is the increase in the power of China.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:30 am
by Woodchopper
Martin_B wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 6:13 am
Woodchopper wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 4:19 am
‘Great Power Competition’ is the new big idea in Washington. It’s all about global rivalry with China and Russia, and it will probably dominate US foreign policy for many years.
Iran is just a regional problem.
There is no guiding intelligence behind anything Trump says about foreign policy.
You probably didn't need those last 3 words, Woodchopper.
Just keeping it on topic.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:34 am
by plodder
The problem with three big powers is that it gets increasingly unlikely any single one can dominate the other two. So this tension isn't going anywhere.
Is the EU seen as a bogeyman in China, Russia or the US?
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:37 am
by Woodchopper
secret squirrel wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 7:46 am
Woodchopper wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 4:19 am
‘Great Power Competition’ is the new big idea in Washington. It’s all about global rivalry with China and Russia, and it will probably dominate US foreign policy for many years.
Iran is just a regional problem.
There is no guiding intelligence behind anything Trump says about foreign policy.
How is it a new idea? Rivalry with the Soviet Union and communism more generally dominated US policy for the majority of the 20th century. That animosity carried over almost seamlessly to newly capitalist Russia. The only recentish change is the increase in the power of China.
Of course strategic competition goes back a long way.
It’s new in the sense that in the aftermath of 9/11 the main theme in US foreign policy priority was counterterrorism. For example if a president or official wanted to do something they’d explain it in terms of countering terror organizations (whether true or not).
Nowadays the counterterrorism stuff is old hat. Countering Chinese or Russian influence is the new priority.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:44 am
by Woodchopper
plodder wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:34 am
The problem with three big powers is that it gets increasingly unlikely any single one can dominate the other two. So this tension isn't going anywhere.
Is the EU seen as a bogeyman in China, Russia or the US?
Russia sees the EU as a rival. That was behind its actions in Ukraine since 2014.
The US doesn’t see the EU as a rival as the Europeans are dependent upon the US armed forces for protection.
I don’t know about the view in Beijing.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 12:39 pm
by dyqik
Woodchopper wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:44 am
plodder wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:34 am
The problem with three big powers is that it gets increasingly unlikely any single one can dominate the other two. So this tension isn't going anywhere.
Is the EU seen as a bogeyman in China, Russia or the US?
Russia sees the EU as a rival. That was behind its actions in Ukraine since 2014.
And the UK in 2015 and 2016.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 2:06 pm
by shpalman
Woodchopper wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:44 am
plodder wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:34 am
The problem with three big powers is that it gets increasingly unlikely any single one can dominate the other two. So this tension isn't going anywhere.
Is the EU seen as a bogeyman in China, Russia or the US?
Russia sees the EU as a rival. That was behind its actions in Ukraine since 2014.
The US doesn’t see the EU as a rival as the Europeans are dependent upon the US armed forces for protection.
I don’t know about the view in Beijing.
There seems to be a feeling within right wing evangelical USians that the UK shouldn't be in the EU but then these people think that if Gibraltar gets returned to the Spanish it will result in the apocalypse.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 2:38 pm
by dyqik
Some right wing evangelicals (and some of the British middle of the road ones) think that the EU is the 7 year reign of the beast and the pope is the Antichrist.
Their views should be given all due respect.
(Or whatever. My memory of sermons when I was 15 and sitting behind the sound desk reading the Bible for something to do rather than listening to the rantings from the front are hazy. Still, reading the Bible cured me of theism)
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 5:45 pm
by AMS
It seems to me that Russia wants to expand and dominate it's sphere of influence militarily and politically, hence sees the EU and NATO as rivals. But China seems more interested in economic strength, and may see more benefit in building up its trading relationship with Europe.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sat Feb 01, 2020 11:52 pm
by Herainestold
AMS wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 5:45 pm
It seems to me that Russia wants to expand and dominate it's sphere of influence militarily and politically, hence sees the EU and NATO as rivals. But China seems more interested in economic strength, and may see more benefit in building up its trading relationship with Europe.
Russia has been un relenting in its war against ISIS, and has taken over from America as the predominant foreign actor in the mideast. It is unlikely that they can project their power similarly in other parts of the world, and you have to wonder how they will interact with China in central asia.
China with its belt and road initiative is well placed to dominate the globe for the next century. Instead of bombing and subjugating indigenous populations, they are in vesting in infrastructure and trading with them. They are the greatest threaat o American hegemony, but most populations will prefer bridges to bombs.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:20 pm
by Allo V Psycho
bmforre wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 12:56 am
Central Threat of Our Times
China is the central threat of our times and the United States and its allies must ensure they have the military and technological power to ensure that this century is governed by Western principles, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.
"While we still have to be enormously vigilant about terror ... the Chinese Communist Party presents the central threat of our times," Pompeo said on Thursday.
But I've clearly heard Trump proclaim that this honour belongs to Iran?
Is one of them speaking false or are there more than one Central Threat??
Governed by Western principles? Like the ones espoused by Trump, Pompeo and the Republican Senators?
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:45 pm
by plebian
Herainestold wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 11:52 pm
AMS wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 5:45 pm
It seems to me that Russia wants to expand and dominate it's sphere of influence militarily and politically, hence sees the EU and NATO as rivals. But China seems more interested in economic strength, and may see more benefit in building up its trading relationship with Europe.
Russia has been un relenting in its war against ISIS, and has taken over from America as the predominant foreign actor in the mideast. It is unlikely that they can project their power similarly in other parts of the world, and you have to wonder how they will interact with China in central asia.
China with its belt and road initiative is well placed to dominate the globe for the next century. Instead of bombing and subjugating indigenous populations, they are in vesting in infrastructure and trading with them. They are the greatest threaat o American hegemony, but most populations will prefer bridges to bombs.
You mean saddling developing nations with unpayable debt for infrastructure designed to extract natural resources and create markets for chinese goods? Then taking those infrastructure projects back into Chinese ownership and forgiving the debt. Oh and in the case of deep water ports, flipping them into military bases.
So old style colonialism with a gloss of paint.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 2:36 am
by secret squirrel
Woodchopper wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:37 am
Of course strategic competition goes back a long way.
It’s new in the sense that in the aftermath of 9/11 the main theme in US foreign policy priority was counterterrorism. For example if a president or official wanted to do something they’d explain it in terms of countering terror organizations (whether true or not).
Nowadays the counterterrorism stuff is old hat. Countering Chinese or Russian influence is the new priority.
I see what you mean. It's the old 'shifting of the rhetorical focus'.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 10:32 am
by Gentleman Jim
plodder wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 8:34 am
The problem with three big powers is that it gets increasingly unlikely any single one can dominate the other two. So this tension isn't going anywhere.
Is the EU seen as a bogeyman in China, Russia or the US?
Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2020 1:52 pm
by Herainestold
America, or at least Trump, sees the EU as a bogeyman.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2020 6:18 am
by Herainestold
https://twitter.com/joshrogin/status/12 ... 3866970113
Trump tonight: “We have perhaps the best relationship we have ever had with China, especially with President Xi.”
Pompeo last week: “The Chinese Communist Party presents the central threat of our time."
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2020 6:58 am
by Woodchopper
Like I said. There is no guiding intelligence.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2020 7:33 am
by plodder
Anyone dealing with politicians knows that what’s said publicly counts for nothing, it’s the rarely reported small print that matters.
Re: Central Threat of Our Times?
Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2020 10:39 pm
by shpalman
dyqik wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 2:38 pm
Some right wing evangelicals (and some of the British middle of the road ones) think that the EU is the 7 year reign of the beast and the pope is the Antichrist.
Their views should be given all due respect.
(Or whatever. My memory of sermons when I was 15 and sitting behind the sound desk reading the Bible for something to do rather than listening to the rantings from the front are hazy. Still, reading the Bible cured me of theism)
https://bibletruthandprophecy.com/brexi ... n-babylon/