Comments on: Party of Six

By: Charlie (Colorado)

Charlie (Colorado) — Sun, 20 Feb 2005 05:23:44 +0000

The probability that the missle defenses will work better than no missle defenses is 1.000.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 20 Feb 2005 04:12:51 +0000

How do you know the missile defense is unlikely to work? When are they going to use it? Also, the recent reports about the US test “failures” do not show the interceptors don’t work, they show the equipment used to observe and measure the test were not working so the test was cancelled.

By: Jim, Mtn View, CA

Jim, Mtn View, CA — Sun, 20 Feb 2005 03:42:56 +0000

This could not happen literally, but as a thought experiment I sometimes wonder about the PRC reaction to a US which said something to the effect–”We are not willing any longer to provide a nuclear umbrella for Japan, So Korea, Taiwan, …Therefore, we are in consultations to see if these countries would accept nuclear weapons as a gift so that they can defend themselves.” My suspicion is that No Korea would be brought to heel pretty dang quick.

By: John Blake

John Blake — Sun, 20 Feb 2005 02:13:22 +0000

Ah, how complex it all is– if you’re a diplomat, with nuance to foster and time to burn. But remember, the very first rule in negotiating is know you adversary/opponent. Treating with Gandhi or perhaps Mother Teresa differs from committing to Stalin or to Al Capone.
The mainland Chinese are a decaying totalitarianism, their putative Communism a pathetic farce taking refuge in typical nationalistic tub-thumping. No-one familiar with Taiwan’s historical circumstances gives any credence to the Peking Politburo’s assertions, provided only that we make our resolve impossible to ignore.
China is very large. The country has tremendous economic potential. But unless and until its illegimate satraps are dethroned, there is no more point in engaging them on Taiwan than Johnny Torrio found in disputing territories with Scarface Al.
Let’s hope we don’t get to an OK Corral point. But if it happens, I’ll take Wyatt Earp over the Clantons every time.