Yes, but the Russian and Chinese economies are so intertwined with ours that anything disastrous would have severe consequences on their domestic turf.
I would guess they're hoping for American influence to be restrained by these confrontations with the Islamists, and not much more.
China badly wants to retake Taiwan, but they'd like to see us humbled (not destroyed) before they attempt it.
3,114 posted on 12/22/2003 9:21:48 PM PST by angkor
3,133 posted on 12/22/2003 9:51:34 PM PST by Quix
(Particularly quite true conspiracies are rarely proven until it's too late to do anything about them)