THE PENTAGON’S NEW MAP

Esquire ^ | March 2003 | THOMAS P.M. BARNETT, U.S. NAVAL WAR COLLEGE

[Wonder Warthog]

Lots of background information in the origninal article and associated links. I strongly suggest going to the URL and cruising the add-ons. I don't necessarily agree with all of this, but there is a LOT of food for thought here.

[goldstategop]

I think the real key is understanding national sovereignty isn't absolute. If other countries use it as a shield to undermine our national security, we'll take action to pre empt the danger. None of that blather ever again about going to the UN for a show of hands before we act to protect ourselves.

[AFPhys]

thanks for this post. I will be thoroughly reviewing this article in the future. Perhaps it ought to be reposted at a less busy time.

[CobaltBlue]

This is indeed a fascinating article, and the author's website has a lot more of them.

As we have become not only the only superpower, but the greatest military power the world has ever known, the question of what to do next is one that ought to be the subject of discussion nationwide, and in every home.

Taking a tip from Superman, we should only use our power to do good.

[Fzob]

Bump for later

[SkyPilot]

Bump for later

Me too--too long for now....

[eyespysomething]

gotta feed kids b-fast, read later!

[kanawa]

Taking a tip from Superman, we should only use our power to do good.

Or from Spidey......"With great power comes great responsibility"

[Wonder Warthog]

"thanks for this post. I will be thoroughly reviewing this article in the future. Perhaps it ought to be reposted at a less busy time."

Perhaps, but I thought it was so apropos for current events that I ought to get it up on the board.

[Naplm]

bump for later

[Balata]

Good post and very interesting, but there is a lot in this article to take exception to. For example, he makes the following statement.

Global war is not in the offing, primarily because our huge nuclear stockpile renders such war unthinkable—for anyone.

Really? I'm sure many here would disagree with this statement after seeing the the recent reactions of the nut case in NK.

It seems to me the author has dusted off the old static haves and have-nots argument and put a dynamic component to it with an active interface.

Another theory that looks good on paper, but...

[Wonder Warthog]

"Global war is not in the offing, primarily because our huge nuclear stockpile renders such war unthinkable—for anyone."

Yeah, I had a MAJOR problem with that one too. Although he "might" have in mind a "mutually assured destruction" kind of scenario--in which case, I think he is correct.

Far more likely is that some nutcase (Kim Jong Il, Saddam, Osama?) will gain access to one or a small number of nukes and use them for some irrational reason.

[F-117A]

One could contend that the "Balkans" were in the "Core" until certain elements in "The CORE" decided to intiate plans that put them in the "Gap".

Especially so if one considers, as does the author, Communist China to be part of the "Core".

[Wonder Warthog]

One could contend that the "Balkans" were in the "Core" until certain elements in "The CORE" decided to intiate plans that put them in the "Gap". Especially so if one considers, as does the author, Communist China to be part of the "Core"."

I think the Balkans have not been part of the core since pre-Iron Curtain days. I think it would be more accurate to say that the "elements" you are talking about KEPT a certain portion of those "Iron Curtain" countries from RE-JOINING the core, as Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Bulgaria, etc., etc. are so rapidly doing.

[Balata]

Yeah, I had a MAJOR problem with that one too. Although he "might" have in mind a "mutually assured destruction" kind of scenario--in which case, I think he is correct.

I don't think you can use the argument of MAD to support the authors argument. He has simply left nuts and psycos out of his theory. NK does not represent a threat that would assure destruction of the US.

IOW's, the author has taken Nuclear weapons off the table and I submit to you that is not correct.

According to his theory NK will be who we militarily face down next. And, unlike his theory, in this confrontation Nuclear weapons are a real possibility.

[Balata]

Bump for a ping.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks!

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[Wonder Warthog]

"Gap countries must be disarmed of all modern weaponry and be left technologically ignorant -- since most technologies are dual-use. Instead, let them be free to live within their own cultural mores as they have for thousands of years -- a threat to no one but themselves -- in effect, in a cultural apartheid."

Unfortunately, it can't be done. Technology is even more fungible than dollars or oil. Add to that the fact that we would have to institute a world-wide tyranny that would make Hitler and/or Stalin look like pikers to limit technology spread. Trying to change the culture is the only option open to us other than killing them all off.

[LonePalm]

EVERY single species that has EVER significantly threatened the survival of Homo Sapiens Sapiens is currently EXTINCT.

I would like to suggest that any political structure that threatens the survival of the United States should become extinct with ALL that extinct implies.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)