Global Military Balance

I have long maintained that films are powerful indications of the social mood and values of a society. Within that context, the comparison between two recent war films is highly informative as to the disparate perspectives on the importance of a strong military in Britain and America.

During the Cold War, America needed to learn more about Soviet submarine launched ICBMs and their nuclear first strike capability. When in the early 1970's the U.S.

Winston Churchill once said about history, ‘The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward’. As we approach the centenary of the end of World War I (WWI), perhaps it is time to ask questions about whether we really understand why such a destructive war, which blighted a generation, took place, and more importantly, how it was won. And out of respect for those that gave their lives and for the benefit of future generations, we must ask the key question: Have we learned the necessary lessons to avoid it ever happening again?

One of the core thesis of BTCH is that there are five stages of an Empire: the first of which is characterised by “copy and assimilate” as a rising system seeks to gain best practice knowledge to accelerate its growth. For many years China was known as just that, a nation that copied others. Indeed it has taken this “copy and assimilate” stage to new levels with its systemised, government sponsored intelligence operations designed to extract every piece of IP for advanced technology from every nation in the world, specifically America.

America has been building the political pressure towards both North Korea and China to bring about a peaceful resolution to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. That pressure reached white hot levels when America orchestrated the capture of the Hong-Kong-flagged oil tanker which was accused of transferring 600 tons of refined oil to a North Korean ship in October in violation of United Nations sanctions.

Trump's success in passing his tax bill is a major achievement and one that in the long run could make the world a safer place. It is the first of two critical elements that can temporarily reinvigorate the US economy. The second is to restructure the US debt burden but that is at the moment a little way ahead.

One topic that my readers know I feel deeply concerned about, is Britain's failed defence policy and the urgent need to remedy this potentially catastrophic situation. The urgency could not be better illuminated by yesterday's North Korean ballistic missile test that places Britain within reach of the despotic Kim. This threat is but one of many simultaneous threats on the horizon.