[Poohbah]

Another issue: China wants to be taken seriously as a superpower. Taking Taiwan by virtue of having more soldiers than the Taiwanese have bullets does not enhance that image. A campaign as exsanguinary an invasion of Taiwan would be would probably cause a massive loss of face. Stalin didn't care how he looked when he couldn't beat Finland cleanly. In the Orient, how one looks to everyone else--particularly barbarian foreigners--is EVERYTHING. And looking that inept is just embarrassing.

[Hopalong]

Ooops, Poohbah—was in the wrong box and pushed the wrong button by mistake. Scratch e-mail and substitute here:

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"The reference to Stalin's War with Finland is evocative:

"Nobody respects a country with a poor army, but everybody respects a country with a good army. I raise my toast to the Finnish Army." [ Stalin, 1948 ]

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Pardon the botch.

Best regards. S&W R.I.P.