Invading Mexico or Columbia ranks higher. You know countries with people who have experience fighting guerrilla wars and have existing relationships with arms dealers.
Invading China probably takes top spot though. Don’t start land wars in Asia, especially with a peer state who has most of the world’s manufacturing capacity.
No, Greenland ranks higher than Mexico or Colombia I’m pretty sure. Because even if the US wins, there’s nothing to gain strategically, only lose. Greenland being part of Denmark which is part of NATO, the US can literally just ask Denmark “hey can we build military bases on your kewl island” and Denmark likely would’ve been like “ok sure” before all the recent shenanigans. The stated goals are literally achievable without declaring war on allies.
I don’t think Trump will invade China - or if he does, I don’t think that the rest of the chain of command would listen to him anymore. THAT would indeed be the stupidest thing he could do. Everybody will lose if that happens, but especially the US.
How is it dumber to exercise militiary actions, in countries that are already busy in the CIA schedule and does drug operations on a weakly basis, than attacking a god damn ally which hasn’t done US any harm what so ever?
The US has been conducting military actions in both countries for nearly a century. How many times do you have to bomb a place before you’re officially counted as “at war” with them?
Invading China probably takes top spot though.
We really really really don’t want China to regain control of Taiwan. I think it is very possible we get into a shooting war if a Chinese friendly government ever wins an election on the island.
We really really really don’t want China to regain control of Taiwan. I think it is very possible we get into a shooting war if a Chinese friendly government ever wins an election on the island.
If Taiwan itself elects a China-friendly government, it’s game over. Ain’t nobody changing that if the locals themselves willingly join China. If China invades Taiwan, I could very much see the US helping Taiwan though.
If Taiwan itself elects a China-friendly government, it’s game over.
Venezuela elected a China-friendly government and we responded by kidnapping the President.
If China invades Taiwan, I could very much see the US helping Taiwan though.
The US will describe any propaganda campaign or business arbitrage as an “invasion” and respond with lethal force. In US terms, any influence China has over the island’s public is a de facto invasion, because it threatens the US sphere of influence.
Venezuela elected a China-friendly government and we responded by kidnapping the President.
Venezuela didn’t join China though. In Taiwan, an actually China-friendly government would mean Taiwan becoming part of China and thus having Chinese protection from the US military. Short of reuniting the Chinas, there can be no mainland-china-friendly government in Taiwan because mainland China doesn’t want any relations that aren’t direct ownership of Taiwan.
Short of reuniting the Chinas, there can be no mainland-china-friendly government in Taiwan
That’s simply not true. The current government in Beijing is happy with any thawing of tension and increase in trade/travel between Taiwan and the mainland, particularly with an eye towards increased private mainland investment in the island and high tech exports to mainland industries.
Improving the flow of trade between the island and the coast means predicating more of Taiwan’s economy on friendly relations with mainland industry. And that creates the kind of political gravity Beijing bureaucrats used to rope in Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea. Incidentally, its a salty subject for North Koreans, as Kim’s Juche philosophy staunchly rejects critical utilities and resources coming from outside the sovereign territory.
But the old line “China thinks in centuries” holds here. All Xi is working towards is reconciliation. The hand wringing about “Imminent Chinese Invasion!” is US bluster intended to justify severing civilian trade and travel with the island preemptively. Americans need Taiwanese residents to be terrified of Chinese incursion in order to alienate the island from Chinese business and culture. Because that’s the real long term play.
There are dumber ideas.
Invading Mexico or Columbia ranks higher. You know countries with people who have experience fighting guerrilla wars and have existing relationships with arms dealers.
Invading China probably takes top spot though. Don’t start land wars in Asia, especially with a peer state who has most of the world’s manufacturing capacity.
No, Greenland ranks higher than Mexico or Colombia I’m pretty sure. Because even if the US wins, there’s nothing to gain strategically, only lose. Greenland being part of Denmark which is part of NATO, the US can literally just ask Denmark “hey can we build military bases on your kewl island” and Denmark likely would’ve been like “ok sure” before all the recent shenanigans. The stated goals are literally achievable without declaring war on allies.
I don’t think Trump will invade China - or if he does, I don’t think that the rest of the chain of command would listen to him anymore. THAT would indeed be the stupidest thing he could do. Everybody will lose if that happens, but especially the US.
Even dumber because if we asked Denmark to build a base there they’d respond by asking if we really need another one
Not really. They’d ask if you’d not prefer to move back into one of the many bases that you have abandoned in Greenland and save some money.
How is it dumber to exercise militiary actions, in countries that are already busy in the CIA schedule and does drug operations on a weakly basis, than attacking a god damn ally which hasn’t done US any harm what so ever?
The US has been conducting military actions in both countries for nearly a century. How many times do you have to bomb a place before you’re officially counted as “at war” with them?
We really really really don’t want China to regain control of Taiwan. I think it is very possible we get into a shooting war if a Chinese friendly government ever wins an election on the island.
If Taiwan itself elects a China-friendly government, it’s game over. Ain’t nobody changing that if the locals themselves willingly join China. If China invades Taiwan, I could very much see the US helping Taiwan though.
Venezuela elected a China-friendly government and we responded by kidnapping the President.
The US will describe any propaganda campaign or business arbitrage as an “invasion” and respond with lethal force. In US terms, any influence China has over the island’s public is a de facto invasion, because it threatens the US sphere of influence.
Venezuela didn’t join China though. In Taiwan, an actually China-friendly government would mean Taiwan becoming part of China and thus having Chinese protection from the US military. Short of reuniting the Chinas, there can be no mainland-china-friendly government in Taiwan because mainland China doesn’t want any relations that aren’t direct ownership of Taiwan.
They dramatically increased business with China to evade our sanctions. We responded by tightening controls over the Panama Canal and encircling the Venezuelan coastline to halt sea trade.
That’s simply not true. The current government in Beijing is happy with any thawing of tension and increase in trade/travel between Taiwan and the mainland, particularly with an eye towards increased private mainland investment in the island and high tech exports to mainland industries.
Improving the flow of trade between the island and the coast means predicating more of Taiwan’s economy on friendly relations with mainland industry. And that creates the kind of political gravity Beijing bureaucrats used to rope in Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea. Incidentally, its a salty subject for North Koreans, as Kim’s Juche philosophy staunchly rejects critical utilities and resources coming from outside the sovereign territory.
But the old line “China thinks in centuries” holds here. All Xi is working towards is reconciliation. The hand wringing about “Imminent Chinese Invasion!” is US bluster intended to justify severing civilian trade and travel with the island preemptively. Americans need Taiwanese residents to be terrified of Chinese incursion in order to alienate the island from Chinese business and culture. Because that’s the real long term play.