AN ADVENTURE TO CAGE THE DRAGON… WITH A BUTTERFLY NET!

To say Pepe Escobar writes with sarcasm is to underestimate the obvious, but he drives a point home better than most.

How many people, not many I know, must be wondering, “ what is the US doing… shaking things up in the Dragon’s backyard at the same time they are being accused of aggravating the Tsar in his backyard as well”?

As poorly as the West is handling the status of an Allie that supported the West in Afghanistan and Iraq…yes.. the Ukraine put boots on the ground for the West in both conflicts…….  Why the sudden thumping on the Dragon’s tail?

I must admit, it seems puzzling to me and many like me, but there just might be a reason or two.

Let’s look at what might be going on here.

1. It was a planned trip and the US decided not to deviate it’s schedule and show “weakness”…. I know…. Too late!

2. Perhaps someone, you know… the academic’s looking for their next book on the issue.. have  convinced senior US leadership the Dragon must be shown it cannot pull a Crimea in the Pacific…. At least not without some real harsh words… and we all know how the Dragon shakes when harsh words are used…. Almost as bad as the Tsar.

3. Perhaps the whole Beltway Bandit Team has gone Batsh-- crazy?

Side note:  I could Easley see the left of center block in the US saying the President is once again caving to the Military Industrial Machine!

In reality, my bet is all three points have merit to what is taking place.

If the premise is the West is going too far by attempting to pull countries like the Ukraine away from the Tsar, then taking similar actions in the Pacific near the Dragon would seem disturbing.

Here is my problem with that line of thought; it gives the West / US / far too much credit for being visionary, deep thinking Masterminds.

The US currently has an administration that puts as little effort into international affairs as possible.

Planning the preventive demise of the Dragon and the Tsar may make for good sound bites to ward off accusations of being “clueless” in foreign policy, but the Devil always rest in the details and it’s the details that seem to be lacking here, not to mention just plain old simple desire!

Here is what I think is taking place.

The West / US / is not on the offense… not with the Tsar or with the Dragon!

No, just the opposite!

The Tsar sees the same thing the Dragon sees…weakness and a group of nations divided internally/ socially!

The Master Plan placed into motion by the Tsar was never designed to “prevent” the West from gaining ground on once Soviet ground.

Oh no…

The Tsar’s Master Plan is based on rebuilding the “ Motherland”… Just look at the opening of the 2014 Winter Olympics if you have any doubt.

The Dragon’s “Master Plan” is even far more complicated and detailed than the Tsars and has been underway for over thirty years now.

Folks…. Here is what the West / US / is doing and it’s more than not pretty, it’s almost terrifying!

The West / US / is now involved in a life and death struggle to remain relevant in the world.

Soon after losing “relevancy” can come demise!

What we witnessed today in the Pacific was not a well oiled machine set to counter the Dragon.

What I believe we witnessed was just another phase of the West / US / trying to tread water……..trying to hold together fleeting Alliances!

Tonight… Eastern Europe sleeps uneasy with the Tsar lurking in the dark and a few Paratroopers temporally in an exercise will not scare off the Russian Bear!

Tonight…. The friends of the West  / US / in the Pacific are thinking of a once mighty Warrior who is perhaps passed his prime.. still talking like a defender of the land, but the doubt is now there and the Dragon is out there in the dark… waiting!

In the Middle East… those who called us “Friend” now wonder where they will be in five years as the Persians and the Ottomans dream of Arab Slave Markets!

Yes… the “Apology Tour” and the announcement of the Death of American

Exceptionalism has set into motion events that perhaps could not have been prevented.

All powerful nations slip from grace at some point in history.

The question becomes, did the US set this action into motion too soon!

Was the world really ready for the withdrawal of leadership?

Side note:

 if my readers in Asia would be so kind to pass this around.. I would love to get the feedback or see how many read this post in that part of the world. Thanks.