It happens to every empire that when it has reached its pinnacle in power and prestige, it experiences an identity crisis, unsure whether it must confront its challengers by adopting an aggressive stance towards them, or hunker down and hope they will leave it alone.
This
is the place where America finds itself at this point in time. It still enjoys
the status of being the sole superpower on the planet, but it sees other powers
rising at a faster rate than it does, which means they will eventually catch up
with it and surpass it sooner or later.
America
still has the power to confront them now—the most obvious being China and Russia—not to kill them, which
it cannot do, but to slow them down under pretexts it will have a difficult
time explaining since it will cost a great deal in blood and treasure to
achieve a minimal positive outcome.
And
while America is mulling over its options at the highest levels of government,
the minor stakeholders in the fields of foreign policy, military affairs, treasury
and the like, are positioning themselves on both sides of the debate, each one
of them trying to convince the government that the way to proceed is what each
is proposing.
On
one side of the debate, stand the hawks who believe that humanity is naturally
evil, disposed to attack you if you show weakness, but also disposed to respect
you if you project power, and the willingness to use it when push comes to
shove. On the other side of the debate, stand the doves who believe that
humanity is fundamentally a noble species that only needs a role model to show
it the way to a peaceful and prosperous existence, and humanity will follow in
the footsteps of that role model.
It
happens that a representative from each side of the debate has expressed their
point of view in writing, and we can get acquainted with what they had to say. Conveniently
so, both articles were published in the same online magazine The Federalist, only
one day apart.
On
December 9, 2021 there appeared Sean Davis’s article that came under the title:
“Following Debacles In Iraq And Afghanistan, Failed Interventionists Are Now
Agitating For Wars In Ukraine And Taiwan,” and the subtitle: “Ukraine and
Taiwan are proxy fights over the soul of American foreign policy: does it exist
to protect America’s security interests, or everyone else’s?”
On
December 10, 2021 there appeared Josh Hawley’s article that came under the
title: “As China’s Shadow Lengthens, The United States Must Help Taiwan Prepare
To Defend Itself,” and the subtitle: “US defense leaders have allowed China’s
military might to grow unchecked while they prattle on about critical race
theory and climate change. That increases the risk of war over Taiwan”.
Here,
in condensed form, is a short version of the article that Sean Davis wrote:
“The
failed interventionists are doubling down on failure. When you’re a global
interventionist, wars fix everything. This time, their target is Ukraine and
Taiwan. They wish to start a war with Russia and a war with
China. Don’t ask proponents of war with Russia over Ukraine to detail why
Americans need to die to litigate a dispute between Ukraine and Russia. Don’t
ask why it’s our responsibility and not that of Ukraine and greater Europe.
Don’t ask them to explain how the government that lost a war against Stone Age
goatherders can be trusted to wage a war with a nuclear superpower. In the
process of agitating for war against Russia, they’ve demanded another war
against China. Economically, China is playing for keeps, and our leaders
hyperventilate over Ukraine and Taiwan. The question is whether it serves
America’s security interests to engage in a war with Russia over Ukraine, and a
war with China over Taiwan. America’s obligation is to its people and security.
Its interests come first”.
Sean
Davis is here pointing out that the interventionists, who are the hawks, are
advocating the measures that will lead to war, for no purpose than the fact it
is the thing to do in their view. He suggests that if there are good reasons to
fight for Ukraine, however flimsy they may be, then it will have to be the
responsibility of Ukraine and Europe, not America, to fight Russia. As to
fighting China to save Taiwan, Sean Davis does not believe that those who lost
a war to the Taliban, could ever win a war with China.
And
here, in condensed form, is a short version of the article that Josh Hawley
wrote:
“China
is open about its ambitions. It calls for the transformation of the global
system, which means China in charge of the world. America must act now to stop
it. Our economic prosperity and national security, depend on it. China
controlling global trade would devastate the people who depend on it. The key
to halting this possibility is Taiwan. We know the Chinese model: the regime
controls its citizenry, lies and persecutes those who challenge it. China will
seek to export that political nightmare. The consequences for ordinary
Americans will be worse if China gains greater control over global markets. But
we are not powerless. There is time to act, and we can begin with Taiwan.
Beijing wants to swallow that nation. A Chinese invasion of Taiwan would clear
the way for Chinese hegemony in Asia. This isn’t a foregone conclusion. We can
start by passing the Taiwan Defense Act and the Arm Taiwan Act, which would
provide Taiwan up to $3 billion annually for five years to help the people arm
themselves and hold off a Chinese invasion. If you want peace, prepare for war.
We must act now”.
Josh
Hawley who is a Senator, does not like the idea that America is losing the
peaceful economic context to China. However, he would not want to fight a
kinetic war against China because he knows that America will either lose the
war or come out of it so badly bruised, it will be devoured by the lesser
powers waiting in the wings to show off their mantle.
And
so, Josh Hawley came up with a creative idea that only an American Senator can
come up with. Arm the Taiwanese, he said, and let them fight China to the last
of their citizens.
Then what, Senator? Will that make it a better world?