America is likely to remain the dominant superpower

[daftandbarmy]

Thank God for that....

Its troubles in Iraq have much weakened it; but America is likely to remain the dominant superpower
The Economist

http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=9401945

 

[CougarKing]

Let's not be complacent though, we have to be wary of other emerging powers, such as China and India, but that is the subject of another thread.

 

[daftandbarmy]

True. But if there's going to be one superwpoer in the world, I'm going to be happier that it's the good old US of A vs. those other nutbars.

 

[Greymatters]

Your article is good, but does not reflect China's growing economic and political might.  Not all power is based on weapons.

 

[CrazyCanuck]

Historically if we compared America to Britain or other superpowers America would be around middle age, it would still have another 100-200 years of dominance left. But as everything during these times is accelerated powers rise and fall much faster and minor events have far greater repurcussions than they did 100-200 years ago, it is pluasible that America may be nearing the end of it's term. Whether this happens within the next 50-100 years I can only guess, but anybody who says America will be a superpower forever is a fool, that has never and will never be the case with any nation.

 

[razorguns]

military and quality of life-wise yes - but economically, we are bitches to china, india, saudis, and other countries that are buying up our debt.

r

 

[Mike Baker]

Let's not be complacent though, we have to be wary of other emerging powers, such as China and India, but that is the subject of another thread.

Just to comment on the China part, I was watching a show that was on CNN about how fast China is growing, both economically and military wise. Two things that caught my attention was that in twenty years, China will be producing the worlds best fighter jets, and the worlds best air defence missiles. This may or may not be true, but it looks like China will be able to stand up to the Americans in the comming years.

As for India, I have not seen anything really on them. But in a few years they will surpass China for total population, which is kind of scary.

 

[FascistLibertarian]

We will see in 20 years. That is the earliest a decent peer competitor could emerge. Until then the US will keep their too many expensive and unneeded aircraft carriers while not having enough ground troops. 
Why be preparing for 2027?
That being said, saying America has 200 years left or whatever, who knows.........

 

[geo]

China has gone capitalist at the same time as it is still bound by it's communist ways.
Having grown so quickly, they have ground the little guy into the muck in the headlong race for international commerce.  The people and the environment have taken a back seat to the economy.  While some have become modern day mandarins (filthy rich), others are as por as they were under the old emperors. 

Given that the people do not have a say, there is just as much of a chance of a new revolution before long.

 

[FascistLibertarian]

not to mention the china borders mongolia, Viet, North Korea, Russia, India etc etc
they got a little more to worry about than just the good ol us of a

 

[3rd Herd]

tossing into the pot the recent Chinese/Russian combined exercises.

 

[Greymatters]

The last one I read about was in 2005.  Is this (Jul-Aug 2007) only the first one since then?  (Didnt see anything else come up in my search).

 

[3rd Herd]

The last one I read about was in 2005.  Is this (Jul-Aug 2007) only the first one since then?  (Didnt see anything else come up in my search).

Yes, I think you are correct. My thoughts are that it has to go more with the cross boarder Muslim problem which both countries are experiencing, Putin taking up a storm over this right now. The greater enemy scenario could be one on the other hand the talking pundits are going the message to America routine. But it was interesting to read the press articles on some of the components of this exercises such as rail movement and Putin promising more exercises in the near future. The Russian military has been getting a lot of press suddenly.

 

[geo]

Hmph,  now that Russia is flush with those petro dollars, the central gov't has $$$ to spend.... once again, it's a choice between buter & bullets AND I believe Mr Putin has decided to go the bullet route.  As a former world power, it must have certainly been galling to watch their empire roll back unto itself & subjugated states thumb their nozes at them.

 

[3rd Herd]

"General Xu Qiliang, the Chinese joint commander of the maneuver, told reporters the exercise illustrated closer relations between Moscow and Beijing. The historic rivals have been drawn closer by common interests including energy and opposition to U.S. dominance of global affairs"

"Western military attaches attending the exercise clicked away eagerly with cameras but some "

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/17/AR2007081700615.html

Should be some interesting photos on the forums in the next while.

Edot to add:

Geo,

Hmph,  now that Russia is flush with those petro dollars, the central gov't has $$$ to spend.... once again, it's a choice between buter & bullets AND I believe Mr Putin has decided to go the bullet route. 

I think he may be able to do both this time. The military or bullets that is a given but China has a lot of industrial goods that the Russian public would like to have. Imagine everything from clothes to electronics at a price the average Russian worker can have. They (the Chinese) might just take a big bite out of some of the European/Western shares of the market. This, China also needs as their current level of quality control is costing them in Western markets. Which has never been high on the list of the Russian/Soviets either. Some low cost imports will keep the people happy. By the way anyone now when the next "Russian" election is due ?

 

[geo]

From a personal perspective, I don't necessarily think that Russia will be well served by allying itself with China in that the chinese are constantly looking for resources.  The russian steppes are sparsly populated and mineral rich...
then again, China is flush with a lot of cash from it's manufacturing & international sales.  They can probably just buy the minerals under the russian steppes

Better the devil you know than the one you don't?

 

[tomahawk6]

China, India and Russia will remain regional powers until their economies develop to the point where they can compete with the US and Europe economically. America's true power lies in its robust economic engine which enables the US to spend what we do on military power. If our socialists ever gain power then you will see the beginning of the end for US military power.

 

[FascistLibertarian]

robust economic engine

The trade deficit and budget deficit as well as the lack of personal savings of most Americans dont worry you.
Compared to America in 1945 I would judge Americas economic situation to be pretty bad.
I am more worried about the US spending too much on their military than too little.
I think this could be similar to the USSR in the 1980's.

but Im prob just paranoid.

 

[razorguns]

The trade deficit and budget deficit as well as the lack of personal savings of most Americans dont worry you.
Compared to America in 1945 I would judge Americas economic situation to be pretty bad.
I am more worried about the US spending too much on their military than too little.
I think this could be similar to the USSR in the 1980's.

but Im prob just paranoid.

in terms of savings - we are poorer now than we ever were.

the 'housing boom' was merely generated by debt.  Nothing of value was created.  And we all know wealth follows production, not consumerism.

As soon as New Europe starts buying up chinese goods, and starts taking up our slack - our use to the rest of the world will be diminished.  And so will our 'economic superpower' status and our laughable fiat currency.

We are still the best country to live in, in terms of opportunity and standard of living if you have money tho.  Life sucks here if you're poor.

r

 

[tomahawk6]

The US defense budget is actually less of our GNP than during the cold war. I have long favored a larger defense budget and a larger Army as the US must be able to protect our national interest. To be sure the US doesnt have much national interest in places like Darfur but we do in the middle east, europe and asia. Where we dont want to act directly we can assist regional allies as we did in Somalia.

The global economy is more interconnected than it was leading up to the depression, so a crash in the US would affect the global economy in a catastrophic manner. Another way the US economy might stall is through excessive taxation which we see in Europe. As long as we avoid that pitfall, the US will continue to be a hyperpower.