[TecVol]

I highly recommend this book. I just finished it (actually listened to it on audio), and have a clear understanding as to the challenges/threats in the coming decades.

This is a non-partisan book that describes our main threats, Weapons of Mass Production, and Weapons of Mass Construction.

I would love to hear ChinaVol's take on this

Se it at Amazon.Com here: http://www.amazon.com/Coming-China-Wars-Re...9961&sr=8-1

[ChinaVol]

I don't know what the book says but most of what I read in the US media related to China is inaccurate, most intentionally. Here are some facts;

This current regime has never attacked another country, they consider Tibet and Taiwan part of pre-WWII China.

They still call themselves the Communist Party but have not practiced Communism is over 25 years.

The Chinese people are very loyal to this group and patriotic to a fault.

The general population loves Americans more than other all other foreigners.

China has a very large Armed forces but only a small part are highly trained and none have any combat experience. The government fears a large military force for reasons of self preservation.

Human rights are abused but I would say less than in the USA per capita. There are abuses by the police same as in the USA, mainly because of the governments inability to tightly control the regions outside the cities. I think this is a constant ploy by the US used as a negotiating chip.

If there is trouble between China and USA it will be on the economic front. China owns more US dollars than the USA. The country has little debt from the government down to the farmers, cash society. The Chinese government is currently investing in metals, gold/silver/copper,aluminum since the USA economic problems surfaced. This allows them to grow strong while we grow weaker and ensures China will have the raw materials to continue production domination for the next 20 years.

I could see the USA starting trouble due to eroding economic conditions and declining dollar values. The value of the US dollar is currently totally controlled by the Chinese government. The Chinese Yuan is a controlled currency and is currently pegged at 6.85 to 1 rather than being set by the open market. The scary part is they can un-peg it anytime they want which would cause a massive devaluation worldwide.
If you don't believe me ask your bank to sell you some Remembi and see how they respond? Yes, the US has many reasons to fear China most of those reasons caused by their own greed.

Bottom line, China would never make a military/economic war on the USA. No reason to, they have all the cards.

[TecVol]

A brilliant synopsis CV. I could have saved a lot of time by not reading the book, and just talking to you. Your observations support most of the books comcepts..

According to the author, most of the major issues can begin to be addressed by two things:

1. Weaning the U.S. from oil dependence

2. Weaning the U.S. from cheap Chinese imports

#1 is such a tired concept. Walmarts has made #2 almost impossible