20 Comments

Fascinating and substantive post Lyons. Definitely getting a better analysis here than any traditional sources. Looking forward to part 2.

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Hearing this narrated masterfully by James Earl Jones would be amazing.

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Do let us know when China starts spending even half what the United States does on its military and empire.

Meanwhile, take a gander at this:

https://howmuch.net/articles/trade-timelapse-usa-china

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I wonder for whom you work/who pays you? I have just read the first part of the three part series. Important have been overlooked or intentionally not mentioned. Also, some fact-checking is required: the Russian Federation did not invade Crimea (I assume you have heard about the Referendum?; the U.S. has not experienced any major conflict within its borders (really?); the 'Long Peace' is a myth---just ask any Serb, Syrian, Libyan, Afghan, or Iraqi; Xi's public statements have always ended in stating 'mutual respect'; China is one of he few countries noting that the UN is the only institution the world has for seeking international peace and cooperation. China and the Russian Federation are on the 'same page' and entered into an alliance because both realize that the 'west', led by the U.S., is untrustworthy and promotes totalitarian capitalism. One cannot speak about China without recognizing such things. RJ Anderson

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That there is Upheaval there is no doubt, but it is an American and Western upheaval.

Also you may be starting the History in 1945?

The 20th century was more than World Wars and Cold War,

it was the Great Global Collapse.

Collapse of Empires.

1911 China

1917 Russia

1918 Austria

1918 Germany

1924 Turkey

1945 The Reich

1945 Japan

1948 Dutch

1956 England (Suez)

1962 France (Algeria)

1975 Portugal

1989 USSR/Warsaw Pact

1991 USSR

Nothing like this has happened since 1200 BC.

What we’re living through is yes the death of the American Republic as of January 20, 2021, and possibly the death of the American Hegemony, hopefully not to birth the American Empire. We are also seeing yes the death rattle of the Enlightenment.

There will be much more blood, and America is up for grabs. China is far away, entirely too far.

Not our problem, not if you live in America.

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" The nature of power became cloaked in layers of moral euphemisms and humanitarian justification to the extent that collectively we started, in a sense, to believe our own propaganda about never exercising power as power. Simultaneously, a naïve ignorance about human nature emerged, in which it was forgotten that, in an unconstrained state of nature, people will inevitably take and do what they can, if they can..."

So good. Explains the 'magical thinking' that I find so prevalent- and so disturbing- in my progressive friends. Most of these people really do believe their own bullshit - and can't even see, much less acknowledge, that the breathtaking privilege conferred on them to be able to hold such a naive worldview comes courtesy of the liberal world order backed up by US military power and the blood of actual patriots. Infuriating is an understatement.

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That's a completely meaningless definition of empire, and a false statement. China is no more than 60% Han, although that number has changed throughout history. China has been incorporating people to it's Han empire for 2000 years, and the vast majority not willingly. Tibet is not Han, Taiwan is not Han, and Mongolia is not Han, Bhutan is not Han, Xijing is not Han. This has never stopped Chinese territorial claims. Just like other empires, China wants naval dominance. What about those million Chinese in Africa? Africa holdings may not be outright territorial claims but China is now willing to defend them. That's called colonization. The British East India Company was a commercial venture with "private security" in India - just like Belt and Road in Africa. Just because you don't call it colonization doesn't mean it isn't. The world is good at playing "pretend" when they don't want to face reality.

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Strong stuff and well put throughout, in each particular. The tonic we need.

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Really great. Something worth thinking about, there's now an international imperial framework of NGOs and finance that's currently tied to the US, but China could easily step into the drivers seat

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Another excellent post - comprehensive and thoughtful. Will be sharing this with many family members. Thank you!

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Your post brought to mind the recently published novel 2034. The story explores a military conflict in that year, between the United States and China, and serves as a cautionary tale of sorts. The audiobook version includes an interesting interview at the end with one of the co-authors, Admiral James Stavridis, who reflects on the current and developing state of the US military, and what it needs to focus on going forward.

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