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> Sure. But the American strategy relies on building alliances. That naturally aligns us to others in a way a more-domineering imperial approach doesn’t. Bulls

> Sure. But the American strategy relies on building alliances. That naturally aligns us to others in a way a more-domineering imperial approach doesn’t. Bullshit. The American strategy with Iran has been to surround it with enemies, including the Saudis. It took China to come in and make peace between the two. In that instance, and many others, the clear USA strategy was to make enemies. There's a difference between alliances and proxies. The USA likes having vassals, it does not like having alliances with equals. Like in Ukraine the USA likes to have its proxies do its dirty work. And like in its growing bombast towards China, the USA would gladly sacrifice Korea and Taiwan if it hurt China.

senttoschool 4y ago
[flagged]
JumpCrisscross 4y ago
> The American strategy with Iran has been to surround it with enemies, including the Saudis. It took China to come in and make peace between the two. In that instance, and many others, the clear USA strategy was to make enemies. I’ll concede that our strategy with Iran makes zero sense to me. But I never said we don’t make, or even seek out, enemies. Just that we build alliances. That’s true in our approach with Iran, which leans heavily on our Saudi, Emirati and Israeli allies. > USA likes having vassals, it does not like having alliances with equals We like both. Our alliances with Canada, the U.K. and Australia are ones of supreme, to the point of vulnerability, mutual respect. Our alliances with France and Germany approach co-equal status–we regularly disagree without abandoning each other. We obviously don’t give a shit about the people in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan or, frankly, Ukraine, the way we do about Western Europe or Korea. > the USA would gladly sacrifice Korea and Taiwan if it hurt China Just got back from Taipei. Don’t think anyone there sees our committing to defending their homeland as sacrificing them.
- wheelerof4te 4y ago
  "Just got back from Taipei. Don’t think anyone there sees our committing to defending their homeland as sacrificing them." They don't have to see it that way. In fact, it's much better that they don't. Easier to sacrifice them when it's convenient.
  - JumpCrisscross 4y ago
    > They don't have to see it that way. In fact, it's much better that they don't. Sort of the attitude that’s putting Beijing in a regional bind.
  - stale2002 4y ago
    The point being that we give Taiwan large amounts of weapons to defend themselves. This is directly helping them with their defense.
    - wheelerof4te 4y ago
      Unless you're going to give them a nuclear weapon, your "help" will just bring them closer to real war with China. Which they couldn't really hope to win. In short, the US is just trying to instigate conflict, a thing US does best.
      - stale2002 4y ago
        Actually giving them weapons allows them to more effectively defend themselves. It's not like Taiwan is going to do a first strike against the mainland, or invade the mainland. Weapons would only be needed in the case of an invasion from China. And if that happens, then they will want as many weapons as they can get. It's not like they are turning down the weapons. They are accepting the military aid, because they want to have methods of defending themselves.

senttoschool 4y ago

[flagged]

JumpCrisscross 4y ago

> The American strategy with Iran has been to surround it with enemies, including the Saudis. It took China to come in and make peace between the two. In that instance, and many others, the clear USA strategy was to make enemies. I’ll concede that our strategy with Iran makes zero sense to me. But I never said we don’t make, or even seek out, enemies. Just that we build alliances. That’s true in our approach with Iran, which leans heavily on our Saudi, Emirati and Israeli allies. > USA likes having vassals, it does not like having alliances with equals We like both. Our alliances with Canada, the U.K. and Australia are ones of supreme, to the point of vulnerability, mutual respect. Our alliances with France and Germany approach co-equal status–we regularly disagree without abandoning each other. We obviously don’t give a shit about the people in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan or, frankly, Ukraine, the way we do about Western Europe or Korea. > the USA would gladly sacrifice Korea and Taiwan if it hurt China Just got back from Taipei. Don’t think anyone there sees our committing to defending their homeland as sacrificing them.

wheelerof4te 4y ago
"Just got back from Taipei. Don’t think anyone there sees our committing to defending their homeland as sacrificing them." They don't have to see it that way. In fact, it's much better that they don't. Easier to sacrifice them when it's convenient.
- JumpCrisscross 4y ago
  > They don't have to see it that way. In fact, it's much better that they don't. Sort of the attitude that’s putting Beijing in a regional bind.
- stale2002 4y ago
  The point being that we give Taiwan large amounts of weapons to defend themselves. This is directly helping them with their defense.
  - wheelerof4te 4y ago
    Unless you're going to give them a nuclear weapon, your "help" will just bring them closer to real war with China. Which they couldn't really hope to win. In short, the US is just trying to instigate conflict, a thing US does best.
    - stale2002 4y ago
      Actually giving them weapons allows them to more effectively defend themselves. It's not like Taiwan is going to do a first strike against the mainland, or invade the mainland. Weapons would only be needed in the case of an invasion from China. And if that happens, then they will want as many weapons as they can get. It's not like they are turning down the weapons. They are accepting the military aid, because they want to have methods of defending themselves.