The Strategic Situation(I)

Overall, American foreign policy is just as incoherent and directionless as in the final 5 or 6 years of the Bush 43 administration. What American policy there is are policies directed at either Iran or North Korea and trying to "engage" the help of larger powers, most of whose interests coincide only vaguely and occasionally with our own.

Afghanistan is a tactical quagmire and a strategic disaster for the US. Iraq is proving to be that as well. The effects of these two endless wars have been to "terrorize" the US military. That is: to shape its training to a point where it is all geared toward "anti-terrorism" and heavy combat training is either delayed or posponed indefinitely. In this sense the US military has again become a hollowed out force with units only prepared for nation-building operations in Iraq or Afghanistan and unprepared for any type of more conventional warfare. It is a general rule of thumb in world affairs that the events you are not prepared for are the ones usually thrust upon you. The next war between major powers will be both conventional and unconventional.

The strategic situation vis a vis China and Russia sees a deepening of their relationship on the military and economic levels. This is perilous for the US and some way must be found to drive a wedge between these two giants as it is obvious the US is unwilling or unable to recognize the threat a Sino-Russian reproachment will bring. One curious little note is that Russia has cut off all grain exports until December 1st due to a drought/and or fires. It is of interest, at least to me, that just 25 or 30 years ago every Western analyst would have recognized this action as a war preparation. But of course that is now unthinkable. (more soon).