The Era of Biden

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

I've had a little think, and there is a final point I'd like to make re:China and Afghanistan.

Two arguments have been made that can't be simultaneously true.

1) China doesn't do nation building
2) Afghanistan will become a quagmire for China instead of us.

It is the nation building that creates the quagmire. China would be happy to see Afghanistan become another safe harbor for Jihadists since Jihadists are retarded because, even though China is the country actively throwing Muslims in reeducation labor camps, Jihadists focus on attacking Western countries.

So, how does Afghanistan become China's quagmire?

And, it isn't as easy as just going back into Afghanistan if they start producing Jihadists, since ceding control to China puts it under China or Pakistan, or someone else's nuclear umbrella.

Of course - if the 1st argument is not true, and China does do nation building, that just means we'll have an expansion of Chinese style Communism which puts the lie to the claim that we're leaving Afghanistan in order to focus on bigger threats, eg. friggin' China.

TL:DR: y'all straight up wrong about Afghanistan.

[Smitty-48]

TL:DR: y'all straight up wrong about Afghanistan.

frankly, Gen Y & Z are free to fight whatever wars they please at this point

I'm well past fighting age meself, kicking back retired with the Vampire Squid Boomers

if Gen Y & Z are keen to charge back into Afghanistan & the like for the Boomers

they have the votes to make it happen, stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door

then they can go and see the Elephant for themselves, by all means, Gunga Din

it's merely an academic discussion for Generation X at this juncture

we pretty much dodged both the Boomer & Echo Boomers quagmires

Goldilocks Zone ftw

[Smitty-48]

in terms of Cold War Two security competition with China

I would submit that the tip of the spear is theater thermonuclear counterforce

the principle arms race being Hypersonic Weapons & Ballistic Missile Defense

enabled by maritime & airpower, particularly submarines & strategic bombers

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

it's merely an academic discussion for Generation X at this juncture

S'true enough.

I'm just slower than most so it takes me a day to think all the way through my academic discussion points sometimes.

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

in terms of Cold War Two security competition with China

I would submit that the tip of the spear is theater thermonuclear counterforce

the principle arms race being Hypersonic Weapons & Ballistic Missile Defense

enabled by maritime & airpower power, particularly submarines & strategic bombers

Does this logic apply equally to our bases in South Korea? If we just need subs and long range bombers, why not just shutter everything?

[Smitty-48]

the best place to put a base against the Chinese would be Vietnam

back to Camh Ran Bay

not as the invaders, allied to the Vietnamese against Beijing

get right up in their kitchen, in an alliance with their worst enemies

the Communists are not a monolith

they got their Communists, we got our Communists

divide & conquer the Domino Theory

Nixonian Madman Doctrine ftw

[Smitty-48]

in terms of Cold War Two security competition with China

I would submit that the tip of the spear is theater thermonuclear counterforce

the principle arms race being Hypersonic Weapons & Ballistic Missile Defense

enabled by maritime & airpower power, particularly submarines & strategic bombers

Does this logic apply equally to our bases in South Korea? If we just need subs and long range bombers, why not just shutter everything?

South Korea is a dependent not a boon

the reason you want to go with lots of Northrop Grumman B-21A Raider stealth bombers, is range

your primary bases for deep strike against PLA A2AD / Militarized Belt & Road

are at highly secure standoff installations such as Guam, Okinawa & Diego Garcia

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

Well, when the re-invade Nam candidate comes around, they've got my vote.

Way I figure it, we've got unfinished business there, and finishing up might cure America's fear of 'quagmires.'

[Smitty-48]

Well, when the re-invade Nam candidate comes around, they've got my vote.

Way I figure it, we've got unfinished business there, and finishing up might cure America's fear of 'quagmires.'

no, you miss the point again

Vietnam is not your enemy and never was

Vietnam is your Bulwark against China and always was

it's not re-invade Vietnam, it's ally with Vietnam as was the original mission in World War Two

the Vietnamese fear loathe & hate the Chinese with a passion

they are the ultimate Anti-Chinese proxy, none would fight the Chinese harder

the Vietnamese flipped to America's side long ago, after Le Duan died in 1986

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

South Korea is a dependent not a boon

the reason you want to go with lots of Northrop Grumman B-21A Raider stealth bombers, is range

your primary bases for deep strike against PLA A2AD / Militarized Belt & Road

are at highly secure standoff installations such as Guam, Okinawa & Diego Garcia

I don't see how that same logic doesn't apply to Bagram and Afghanistan dependency.