Old Cold War, New Cold War

Over the last month or so, I have become fascinated by the idea that the "New American Century" may not be a cakewalk for the world's current single undisputed superpower. Surely only the most reality-robbed of neocons would assume that second tier powers would sit idly on their hands while the US ruled unhindered except by the flea bites of third-world based terrorists. But no, instead this blinkered attitude seems endemic to Americans at large.

The US is a huge country, and its inhabitants are used to having everything they need or want right here inside their own borders. There is little need to be aware of what other nations may be planning. It is significant that only 12% of Americans have passports, the lowest figure of any Western nation. It is also significant that another 12% of Americans cannot find their own country on a map of the world - and that these people usually point to the Russian landmass instead, from an implicit belief that the USA is the biggest country in every way. With attitudes like these, it is not so surprising that attempts by other nations to rise to superpower status themselves, and counterbalance the mighty US, have gone pretty much unnoticed on these shores. Yet there are two major power blocs poised on the verge of attaining superpower status, meeting parity with the US in military might, economic strength, population, industrialisation, technology, land area and resources.

Some of the moves afoot in the international arena sound like "the plot of a Tom Clancy novel"and none more so than the Russian attempt to "outflank" the US and it's allies by bringing together a geographically diverse coalition of those countries which have been identified by economists as having the greatest growth potential, which I have been following through the bi-weekly Newshog news briefs. So here, in order of appearance, are the news stories and my comments as originally posted. Make your own mind up - are these rising superpowers a good thing as counter-balances to the US, a bad thing as rivals to the Pax Americana or are we in "Tom Clancy Country"?

Let me know your opinions, please.

• Geopolitics: Welcome to the new cold war. It's Chirac vs. Cheney, SUVs vs. minicars, and pommes frites vs. freedom fries in the new transatlantic culture war. (This article is well worth getting the daily pass to read.) - From The Daily Grail News Briefs, 18th Nov.
  
  
• Is President Putin planning to glue together the world's most powerful coalition superpower? Newshog 21st November.
  
  
• The Russian President is in Brazil to sell space and nuclear technology, fighter planes. I am guessing he sees an opportunity to duplicate Russias success in making India an ally. Newshog 24th November.
  
  
• After Putin's alliance-forging trip to Brazil - next stop India, where the two countries are expected to sign accords on defence cooperation and other areas to take strategic relations to a much higher level. Newshog 28th November.
  
  
• The election in the Ukraine has more at stake than simply democracy for that country, as the U.S. Russia and European Union all mull the geopolitical effects. Newshog 28th November.
  
  
• The European Union takes over peacekeeping duties in Bosnia. This little reported handover is crucial to the EUs hopes to change the situation where it is an economic and diplomatic giant but a military midget. Newshog 1st December.
  
  
• Would a European Union which was a "liberal, democratic, voluntary empire expanding continuously outward as others seek to join it" be a good thing for the U.S.? Newshog 5th December.
  
  
• Putin has backed India to become a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council in a move designed to strengthen ties. Newshog 5th December.
  
  
• The new Cold War. The "war of civilisations" isn't just against Islam, says Justin Raimondo of Antiwar.com. Newshog 8th December.
  
  
• Russia's defence minister is in China for talks aimed at further developing military and technical co-operation between the two countries. The Russia-China-India-Brazil Coalition still on track? Newshog 12th December.
  
  
• Still sceptical about the Russia/India/Brazil/China Coalition I keep banging on about? What if Radio Free Europe and Goldman Sachs told you the same thing? Newshog 15th December.
  

Update Right after I posted this, AntiWar.com posted Ray McGovern's new article on the same subject "Laughing Dragon, Dancing Bear" which covers the Chinese/Russian military exercises and leads with the words "While President George W. Bush, his neoconservative advisers, and centrist Democrats bask in the glow of America’s status as "the one remaining superpower in the world," signs are mounting that other major powers do not intend to hunker down and suspend their own efforts to shape history." Believe me now?