Charles Krauthammer: After al Qaeda [China-led anti-American block ]

TownHall ^ | January 21, 2005 | Charles Krauthammer

[Tolik]

Where are we? At this midpoint of the Bush administration, engaged as we are in conflict throughout the world, are we winning?

The great democratic crusade undertaken by this administration is going far better than most observers will admit. That's the good news. The bad news is a development more troubling than most observers recognize: signs of the emergence, for the first time since the fall of the Soviet empire, of an anti-American bloc anchored by Great Powers.

[Tolik]

Nailed It!

This ping list is not author-specific for articles I'd like to share. Some for perfect moral clarity, some for provocative thoughts; or simply interesting articles I'd hate to miss myself. (I don't have to agree with the author 100% to feel the need to share an article.) I will try not to abuse the ping list and not to annoy you too much, but on some days there is more of good stuff that is worthy attention. I keep separate PING lists for my favorite authors Victor Davis Hanson, Lee Harris, David Warren, Orson Scott Card. You are welcome in or out, just freepmail me (and note which PING list you are talking about).

[gov_bean_ counter]

BTTT.

[highflight]

Always brilliant - the estimable Charles Krauthammer - who understands history and anticipates the future with clarity.

I wish he had addressed the part that the European Union might aspire to occupy in this realignment.

[eureka!]

Bump for later...

[An Old Marine]

Once again the perceptive Krauthammer sees what's in plain sight.

This is yet one more clear and strong argument for the US to disengage from a hostile Europe and develop new and stronger ties with India, Japan, Australia, and Latin America

[KMC1]

...sure did...

[River_Wrangler]

Charles Krauthammer
for President in 08. He gets it!

[DManA]

Russia and China will never be allies. Russia has nothing but space; China has nothing but people. That is a fundamental fact that Russia must face, deal with, or be buried.

[baseball_fan]

This is why I think Bush is thinking about a new association of democracies as a post-cold war architecture that can act as a counterweight and magnet, otherwise Bush's inaugural speech has been characterized by Peggy Noonan as "mission inebriation":

"My own 2 cents speculation is that Bush is laying the foundation for some kind of association among democracies that is more effective than the U.N., that will not be intimidated if necessary by China's huge population (25% of the globe) with their coming exertion of economic and military influence, and that this lessens the prospects that one democracy can be played off against another in dealing with North Korea and Iran and even Russia if Putin goes authoritarian."

..."If Al Qaeda saw that they could not isolate the U.S. among Muslims but would be facing this larger association of democracies of which Afghanistan and hopefully soon Iraq would be part of, this might make the dreams of a global Caliphate appear hopelessly utopian and marginalize the little following they would have left. If would also support the democratic movement inside of Iran because they would not want to be left out."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1325360/posts

[bobjam]

It's time to can the Woodrow Wilson diplomacy and return to the Theordore Roosevelt diplomacy....

and it should start with retaking the Panama Canal at the first excuse we get.

[Oorang]

Excellent article. Whether it's Krauthammer, or VDH, the clarity of thought is a great way to start the day.

[rdb3]

China in turn is developing relationships with such virulently anti-American rogue states as Iran. Add such various self-styled anti-imperialist flotsam as Syria, North Korea, Cuba and (Chavez's) Venezuela, and you have the beginnings of a significant ``anti-hegemonic'' bloc -- aimed at us.

I must raise two questions. First, if Japan is still our ally, wouldn't they feel the need to militarize themselves to check China?

The Sino-Cuban and -Iranian coalitions may not work as well as they would like. Fidel is about to be gone, and I doubt Cuba will remain communist after his demise. Iran is bubbling underneath the surface. I believe the Mullahs' days are numbered. So my second question is wouldn't a post-mullah Iran and a post-Castro Cuba actually work in our favor?

Real men don't whine.

[marty60]

Yes but we have many in this Country that would rather go along to get along, than fight for our Freedom.

[rdb3]

...and it should start with retaking the Panama Canal at the first excuse we get.

Now that's an interesting thought.

Real men don't whine.

[hershey]

Oh, boy, Charles K. reminds us what time it is.

[Tolik]

Up to the point, hopefully. NYC is not the same now as before 9/11. They did not become republicans overnight, of course, but very many people were "mugged by reality" and dropped rose-colored glasses.

[smiley]

I love and admire this Pulitzer Prize winner!...

[hershey]

Not long ago, weren't we told that the US was turning toward Asia and disengaging from Europe? Just before 9/11, I recall seeing a spate of articles about the rise of Asia/markets/economic power, etc.. and European fears that the US was turning its back on them.

[newgeezer]

Krauthammer ping.

Just wow.