5-Aug-17 World View -- China further escalates the rhetoric threatening India over Doklam Plateau

[John]

> Ah very interesting. I could see a scenario in which China decides
> to declare war on and attack the USA after learning of our
> assistance with the Indians. The one character I'm greatly
> intrigued by is Russia. I seem to recall you saying a while back
> that India and Russia are close allies, and that Russia would be
> more likely to come to India's aid before the US would do so. Is
> this accurate?

> Moreover, I had a sobering conversation with a friend today. He
> said he is very sad and scared because of the real possibility
> that he will not be able to go to college due to being conscripted
> into the armed forces (he is only 17). Before any comments about
> millennials not wanting to do their duty he has repeatedly
> expressed interest into joining the armed forces, but after
> getting his college education.

> I think it is important to remember, especially when tempted to
> bash millennials for all the negative stereotypes the media gives
> them, especially young millennial men, that it is precisely these
> "entitled" individuals who will be fighting for the survival of
> this great country, and since I am only 26 that will probably
> include myself. Kyrie Eleison.

I've said many, many times over the last 15 years that Millennials are
the next "Greatest Generation," and that when the time comes, they'll put
aside all the politics and will eagerly defend their families and
their country.

I'm not sure what you can tell your 17 year old friend. Depending on
what he plans to study in college, which could be anything from
women's studies to nuclear physics, it's possible that whatever he
might learn in college will be completely useless and irrelevant after
the war. Furthermore, he will learn a lot in the armed forces,
including all sorts of construction skills and survival techniques
that will help him a great deal after the war, assuming that he and
the country both survive. Also, there will certainly be a new GI Bill
that will provide benefits to returning veterans for education, as
well as other benefits.

[jmm1184]

I've said many, many times over the last 15 years that Millennials are
the next "Greatest Generation," and that when the time comes, they'll put
aside all the politics and will eagerly defend their families and
their country.

I'm not sure what you can tell your 17 year old friend. Depending on
what he plans to study in college, which could be anything from
women's studies to nuclear physics, it's possible that whatever he
might learn in college will be completely useless and irrelevant after
the war. Furthermore, he will learn a lot in the armed forces,
including all sorts of construction skills and survival techniques
that will help him a great deal after the war, assuming that he and
the country both survive. Also, there will certainly be a new GI Bill
that will provide benefits to returning veterans for education, as
well as other benefits.

And I applaud you for being one of the few voices I know who are not constantly bashing the Millennials for this reason. I don't agree or like what some of my peers do, but I'd say that's typical human existence.

As for my friend, should he survive he should be fine. He's a hard worker and gets along well with people. Moreover, he's wanting to study music education. With all due respect, I hope at least some people continue to study the arts even through the crisis war so there's a civilization to return to when the war is over.

[Guest]

This is a red line the Indians will never allow to be crossed.

Another red line. Great.

Red lines can only acquire credibility through repeated and consistent articulation, with leverage or capabilities to enforce them, if crossed. It is likely adversaries will test the ability to enforce red lines.

"There have been so many red lines laid down before North Korea, they are beginning to look like a red carpet."

Noboru Yamaguchi, a retired lieutenant general with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

[Matthew]

The North Koreans launched a missile that flew over Japan this morning. The Japanese air raid sirens sounded and the population braced for a possible attack. And America did nothing. Japan didn't even try to shoot it down. It's like Kin Jung un knows...America won't do a thing about it.....