Re: 2pid, I really want to know

On May 10, 1:15=A0pm, "Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!"
<artygu...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> On May 10, 2:56=A0pm, ScottW <Scott...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
> > =A0So your point is..why maintain a deterrent?
>
> No, there are other things that we could do, assuming your earlier
> comment was correct.
>
> > Because even a US unopposed Chinese invasion of Taiwan is going
> > to have serious consequences for the US.
>
> Even if we seriously opposed it our chances of success are very
> limited. They'd have about 150 miles to travel. We'd have thousands.
> Look at a map. Taiwan would largely be on their own.

For a time.
Hence our weapons sales to Taiwan.

> We pulled out
> years ago.
>
> > Do you really think US trade relations would be unaffected?
> > The dollar? =A0Chinese holdings of US bonds?
>
> Where did I say that? However, China taking over Hong Kong was not a
> big deal, despite claims that it would lead to a calamity for the
> population and world markets.

Peaceful transition.  US policy is to achieve the same for Taiwan.

>
> > The US policy is to maintain a position the gives peacful
> > negotiated resolution to the problem the only path to solution.
>
> Absolutes are seldom the case in the real world, 2pid. There is no
> "only".
>
> > China is clearly pursuing the capability to have a military option.
> > We can make that option much harder to acquire.
>
> No, we can't.

  Yes we can.

> They're getting their technology from the Russians,
> among others.

 But I was told they don't have an answer for the lowly F-16?
I'm shocked to hear this isn't true....lol.

> All we could possibly do is make exercising it a little
> more costly. I'd predict at most a token show to save face.
>
> Do you suppose we'd go nuclear over Taiwan? Would we nuke China if
> they chose to nuke Taiwan?

  No.  But it would be the end of trade with China for 100 years.

>
> If we aren't willing to go the whole way, we'd better not go at all.

 Lessons learned from Vietnam?

>
> > > Now go back to your basket and lick yourself.
>
> > =A0Brilliant display of intellect.
>
> Yap yap yap.

  I'll take that as a no, not brilliant but all you have.

ScottW