Former & current SECSTATEs and SECDEFs should be keelhauled--or maybe hung in gibbets on Pennsylvania Avenue. Yet again proactive policymaking has given way to blasé indifference. Thus, Beijing sees us as passive and weak--something confirmed by POTUS's incredible diplo/political/tactical Charlie Foxtrots in Afghanistan and Ukraine. We are, in Roy Boehm's words, fuckee-fuckeed
It is striking how the global situation is paralleling the geopolitical situation that was in place prior to WWII with China acting the part of imperial Japan. As the saying goes “history does not repeat, but it certainly rhymes”.
This isn't just on the State Department. It is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society failure. Has DoD levied Solomons basing on State as a requirement? Have Commerce and AID prioritized it? Have US companies "played ball" by pursuing strategic relationships in these countries? Does "securing the Solomons" appear in NIEs and DoD strategic plans?
At least the Biden administration has finally appointed a negotiator to deal with the renewal of the Compact of Free Association with the Marshalls, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia.
It appears that these folks are crying out for an agreement with the US, and I can't envisage any good reason to penny pinch in dealing with them. But perhaps I'm simply lacking in imagination.
Cdr. Salamander, I guess you havent been following China's creep eastward across the Pacific which has been going for years, or its creep into the Indian Ocean. It has even ventured into the Med, but not yet established a base. It has exercised in the Baltic Sea. And its has exercised in the NW Pacific, casually breezing past the Aleutians. I am not fan either of State or the Pentagon. But the US failure to respond appropriately starts at the top, Obama-Trump-Biden. If you want to go further, go to the American people, who are busy drinking beer, watching porn, drugging themselves to death, fighting over gender and Critical Race Theory, defunding the police and arguing about Will Smith - Chris Rock and "The Slap". I'm sure you've written about Chinese happenings in Tonga. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-tonga-hold-aid-ceremony-day-before-us-pacific-meet-2022-02-11/ FYI, the Chinese are on record as saying they need to patrol the US/South America west coast to protect their trade. And BTW, anyone who thinks the US will fight China over Taiwan needs to reassess.
Have so, though maybe only twice a month! I was not critiquing you, but amplifying what you were saying. I share the same views. Thank you for writing.
Chinese are the largest farmland owners in the United States. Bill Gates is number 2.
Former & current SECSTATEs and SECDEFs should be keelhauled--or maybe hung in gibbets on Pennsylvania Avenue. Yet again proactive policymaking has given way to blasé indifference. Thus, Beijing sees us as passive and weak--something confirmed by POTUS's incredible diplo/political/tactical Charlie Foxtrots in Afghanistan and Ukraine. We are, in Roy Boehm's words, fuckee-fuckeed
That’s because the U.S. IS passive and weak. +1 on keelhauling.
It is striking how the global situation is paralleling the geopolitical situation that was in place prior to WWII with China acting the part of imperial Japan. As the saying goes “history does not repeat, but it certainly rhymes”.
As so often is the case your posting drive me to drink.
Yup
This isn't just on the State Department. It is a whole-of-government and whole-of-society failure. Has DoD levied Solomons basing on State as a requirement? Have Commerce and AID prioritized it? Have US companies "played ball" by pursuing strategic relationships in these countries? Does "securing the Solomons" appear in NIEs and DoD strategic plans?
Love your work Sal!
At least the Biden administration has finally appointed a negotiator to deal with the renewal of the Compact of Free Association with the Marshalls, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia.
It appears that these folks are crying out for an agreement with the US, and I can't envisage any good reason to penny pinch in dealing with them. But perhaps I'm simply lacking in imagination.
Cdr. Salamander, I guess you havent been following China's creep eastward across the Pacific which has been going for years, or its creep into the Indian Ocean. It has even ventured into the Med, but not yet established a base. It has exercised in the Baltic Sea. And its has exercised in the NW Pacific, casually breezing past the Aleutians. I am not fan either of State or the Pentagon. But the US failure to respond appropriately starts at the top, Obama-Trump-Biden. If you want to go further, go to the American people, who are busy drinking beer, watching porn, drugging themselves to death, fighting over gender and Critical Race Theory, defunding the police and arguing about Will Smith - Chris Rock and "The Slap". I'm sure you've written about Chinese happenings in Tonga. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-tonga-hold-aid-ceremony-day-before-us-pacific-meet-2022-02-11/ FYI, the Chinese are on record as saying they need to patrol the US/South America west coast to protect their trade. And BTW, anyone who thinks the US will fight China over Taiwan needs to reassess.
You clearly have not been reading the last 18 years I’ve been writing. Nice try though
Have so, though maybe only twice a month! I was not critiquing you, but amplifying what you were saying. I share the same views. Thank you for writing.
CDR Salamander - what do you make of the closing of the Red Hill fuel depot - is it a strategic loss?