[garandgal]

I sure hope the free trade crowd are correct

Correct about what? You give them far too much credit; thinking that they somehow have a grand strategy to eliminate a Chinese threat by empowering them.

Sure, that's what they've said. In reality, the generation of Americans currently in charge of both government and business is far more concerned with lining their pockets than anything else; even if it means that future generations may have to fight an enemy that we have created. Of course, most of them are too dim to realize what they are doing; and none of them (apparently) own a history book.

[investigateworld]

Unfortunately,the three subjects which fire up folks here the most are free trade, immigration and Wal-mart (ignoring sinkspur and landoftheirish). I think some of the finest brains around are chatting here, but AT TIMES it gets rough.
(Remind me to tell the story of why I quit my school teaching job and enlisted in the Army '69)
China I see as a threat which given the natural energy of the Chinese people could change the world.