Re: 2pid, I really want to know

On May 11, 12:28=A0am, ScottW <Scott...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> 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.

Until we "pulled the trigger" I suppose.

Not gonna happen.

> Hence our weapons sales to Taiwan.

Indeed. Our tacit admission that they're on their own.

> > 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. =A0US policy is to achieve the same for Taiwan.

We cannot do that. We can strive to, we can hope for, but we cannot
*do*. The Taiwanese have a say in it.

> > > 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.
>
> =A0 Yes we can.

How would you propose making the Chinese pursuing a military option
"harder to acquire"?

> > They're getting their technology from the Russians,
> > among others.
>
> =A0But I was told they don't have an answer for the lowly F-16?
> I'm shocked to hear this isn't true....lol.

You're on crack. The F-16 and F-15 can fight with any aircraft out
there right now. That isn't an "answer for".

> > 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?
>
> =A0 No. =A0But 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.
>
> =A0Lessons learned from Vietnam?

Lessons learned long before that. When would you advocate committing
US lives without seeking total military victory?

> > > > Now go back to your basket and lick yourself.
>
> > > =A0Brilliant display of intellect.
>
> > Yap yap yap.
>
> =A0 I'll take that as a no, not brilliant but all you have.

Call it "sick of enabling a dog to chase its tail".

Yap yap yap.