The (Ex) Washington Realist

Grazdanin Gvosdev's comments are worth analyzing at length. First, while no doubt the fact that Merkel, despite making some attempts to be less beholden to Putin than Schroeder, is reverting to what realpolitik demands; that is nothing particularly egregious from an American perspective. Second, it is difficult to see why the whole Kosovo mess, is something on the debit side of the USA. It would be more accurate to argue that in point of fact, it is the EU countries, rather than the USA, which has more at stake
in stability or lack thereof, in the Western Balkans.

As per the Chinese missile test, while it is more evidence of increasing Chinese military prowess, per se, that is less worrying from the perspective of continuing American hegemony, in the world system, than the disaster of the whole Iraq adventure, as well as the whole non-policy vis-`a-vis Israel and the Palestinians. From that perspective, the Chinese missile test, is small beer indeed.
 

And Nick, don't forget, once the Indians tweaked the Russian fighter jets, they outperformed the best US models. So your military-technological lead could easily be eroded if various states decide to work together.
 

Where can someone read up on on the Indian tweaked Russian jets?
 

Anonymous 1:44:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/745557.cms
 

Also would add this report too:

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/12/indias-fighter-modernization-add-mig29s-to-the-list-updated/index.php
 

Thanks Anonymous 2.03 - There was some reference to this in a few Wall St. reports last year - We're probably spending way too much money on that new fighter. By the time it's built it may be outdated.
 

The Chinese - from their perspective - probably don't mind the US guarding their gas station in the Middle East while they produce millions of new scientists.
 

We do not have jobs for the scientists we have trained over the last 20 years. Nobody but nobody from the white upper-middle class in US studies science - there is no future left in it.
 

Why study science? You work in a lab for thirty years - not always with secure benefits and pension - and suddenly you're canned. Maybe you have some money , but probably not. If you developed something, the company owns the patent. Maybe they sold it. Meanwhile management is doing deals and making millions. Meanwhile your stockbroker makes ten times what the scientist makes. just be making phone calls. The popular media also ridicules scientists.