You know, I hate to say it, but, if a confrontation had to happen, now would and should be the time. For some reason I think it is inevitable that if we do not stand up, we will be knocked out of our chair eventualy. Bullies don’t back off by playing nice.
That's so true, be they individuals or nations. Just a couple of weeks ago I got a big hug from a former bully who I've known since the late 50s. He became my friend after I stood up to him. He's a big guy, but so am I. It's just that I am, or was, a mild mannered nerdy type, and he's not exactly bookish, although he's not stupid either.
We had to beat the living crap out of Japan, within the living memory of many people in both countries. But now they are one of our more solid allies in many arenas.