posted on Jan, 5 2005 @ 03:06 PM
A little tongue-in-cheek here:
So the US now has to face an economic reality- as in the game of Monopoly(r)- only build what your income will afford. Everyone that has ever played
that game knows that without super 'luck' overbuilding causes shortfalls. Repeated shortfalls put you out of the game.
Sorry I have to bring this up Fred but:
As Rome found out, no nation/empire can do everything. Eventually the basis for wealth becomes over used and deteriorates. America, as Rome, can not
maintain armies (legions) at every flash point of an ever growing presence (empire) even if there were no challenges to its hegemony. America faces
growing coalitions against its position. As Rome faced Macedon so too does America face China. Should China be able to build a coalition as Macedon
and Carthage failed to do then America will become isolationist by default. China, Russia, India along with resource rich states such as Indonesia,
Iran and the Balkans could (not easily) build a counterweight to American/NAFTA/Iraq.
Throw in a Venezuela (Panama perhaps), Brazil and growing links with Japan and America could find itself in the same position it tried to maintain 100
years back. The EU will scramble for the Balkans for the mineral wealth. With Russia sitting as a counter-weight to this potential grab the EU may
end up making concessions as Ptolemaic Egypt did to the Macedonians to counter the rising Rome.
The US must do something. Conquest or commercial deeds to neutralize or gain Iran have to be made so that the Asian land-bridge can be used. Iran
sits astride the roads between Afghanistan and Iraq. As Rome slowly devoured the Seleucid Empire (same area) so too is America conquering the ancient
area once known as Persia. But America must push past Iraq into the Iranian highlands.
America is left with a horrific future in the Eurasian area. America must combine Alexander and Rome at the same time. If the Asians (including
Russia) are able to unify then Genghis II (or Tamerlane) will occur. Iran is next one way or another- the riches of the orient await!