Of course Team USA does not like to risk large number of American lives. No secret there, I doubt.
Same is true for any country that could actually force Team USA to risk large number of American lives, e.g., Russia, China. Not likely. Aging demographics means young lives are ever more precious. The days of throwing expendable young men willy-nilly into the meat grinder are over.
We have all (USA, Russia, China) heavily invested in military technology as a surrogate for wasting our young men.
Nasty little countries like North Korea don't have a level playing field. Yes, they could make South Korea and Japan extremely miserable for a short time. Their own people will not be inspired for a long fight.
Nasty little countries like Iran have more leverage but only from necessity for oil. Their own people will not be inspired for a long fight.
Even if they did, no aircraft carriers, no cruise missiles, no remote drones, no tanks, no factories to manufacture same. Even if every Arab country decided to declare jihad on the West, even if every Muslim country decided to declare jihad on the West, no way to do it. The days of fighting on horseback with sword are over. They can kill their own civilians, and that is all.
Even nuclear option limited, as the only way to effectively deploy nuclear weapons requires missiles or aircraft to deliver. That's why nasty little countries specialize in terrorism. Waste a few young lives on all sides. Destroy a building or a few buildings. Then what?
Worst case, any scenario, short term misery, long term better for everybody. Hope none of these short term scenarios occur but if they do, only short term misery.
Not that short term misery is welcome. But in a big country with a big economy -- short term is short term.
Absolute worst case, Arab/Muslim nations all decide to stop selling us oil. Possible? Maybe but I doubt that those who love money will go for it. They don't love each other any more than they love us. Living in peace and prosperity is the most seductive force known to mankind.
And, if they decided to throw away the seductions of peace and prosperity? Might be, long term, best thing that ever happened to us. |
