Quote:
Originally Posted by Oberon
I maintain that the early 21st century will contain much of the same elements as that of the early 20th, and indeed that of the late 19th.
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Yeah, I think there's little sense denying that there is a very imperialist-like race for resources going on right now. One important thing for America to realize, as soon as possible, is that China is not their natural enemy - no more than Germany was Britain's natural enemy at the start of the 20th century. But therein lies the real lesson, of course - Britain and Germany inevitably had to maneuver around each other, like the US and China are doing today, and eventually maneuvered themselves into the previously-unthinkable and mutually-destructive position as each other's enemy. It didn't need to happen, but it did. Militant attitudes and an eagerness to get into the thick of others' conflicts played no small part in that.
US foreign policy really needs to keep those lessons in mind. It also needs to be really careful with its "our SOB" approach, especially in the Middle East. It's something that continues to backfire, and something that will inevitably bring America into conflicts it does not need in the long run.