[Demidog]

Let's go to war with China. After we're done kicking the butts of the poorest, least well-trained "army" in the world, our President can pound his chest and tell us all how great the mighty U.S. war machine is. Then we'll turn it on a few more impoverished countries like Somolia and the Philipines to keep our confidence up. And then we'll go attack China. Won't we?

[Tom Jefferson]

Doing battle with China will be a little more difficult than we have encountered against the great Taliban armed forces.

Besides, we really don't want to have war with China. Much better if we can coexist..so long as they stay in China and don't get too adventurous. However...if evidence comes out that China had a hand in 9/11, I think economic sanctions should be in order. We are the principal buyer of Chinese products.

[spycatcher]

No way. We're too weak right to challenge them as you imply. We need time to build up forces and training from the Clinton "dark years."

Don't underestimate though the immense amount of knowledge we gain from "practice wars" beating up on the little guys. Nobody talks about this much but it's a huge tactical advantage when moving on to bigger fish. Iraq will be the next step up to show how we're back in (pre-season) game shape. Wiping out North Korea will be the first real war against terrorism. And it will go much easier in 2005 than it would have just 5 years ago.

[RightWhale]

And then we'll go attack China. Won't we?

War with China won't be like in a Clancy novel. It will be nasty and tremendously destructive. There is also nothing in China that anybody wants. Lose-lose.

[Aliska]

I think the notion of going to war with China is absurd. For that scenario to play out, we would have to be very sorely provoked. After all, we get all our goodies from them now and disrupting trade would be a terrible blow to our economy which has already taken a severe blow.

[rdb3]

Sarcasm or not, I am for the complete and total destruction and obliteration of Marxism in all its vestiges (Marxist-Leninsm, communism, Maoism, socialism, "third-way," etc.).