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Who: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ
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America's Foreign Policy Quandary

30 June 2015 | Pago Pago, American Samoa
Kimball Corson
America’s central foreign policy strategy, its long-term blueprint for advancing national interests and countering major adversaries, is in disarray. Top officials lurch from crisis to crisis, improvising strategies as they go, but rarely pursue a consistent set of policies. Some blame this indecisiveness on Obama, but the real reason runs deeper. It lurks in a disagreement among foreign policy elites over whether Russia or China constitutes America’s main, great-power and long run adversary.

Choosing Russia as the primary enemy, for example, would inevitably result in a further buildup of NATO forces in Eastern Europe, the delivery of major weapons systems to Ukraine, heavier sanctions, interference with the Russian Iranian relationship, and efforts to slow Russia's energy exports. Obama steps tentatively in these directions.

Choosing China as America’s principal nemesis means a more vigorous response to Chinese claims and base building in the South China Sea, closer support and alliances with Rim countries, counters to China's efforts in Africa and to its longer run grabs for resources worldwide.

The truth is we lack the means and resources to cover all bases, ergo, the split in views. My tack would be to cover both bases, smartly, as best we can, emphasizing China as the greater long run threat. Nuclear weapons and expanded NATO forces in Europe will only antagonize Putin and lead to countermeasures and escalation. Closer ties with Iran and a nuclear deal are cheaper and likely more effective as are cheaper sales of energy to Europe from our allies. Sanctions can help too and do not take huge resources, just as closer Rim country alliances and treaties don't either. Africa can be handled similarly. Diplomacy can displace some of China's cash, but China is a steam-roller there and that is why China needs to be our principal focus. Russia's struggle against implosion redoubles that view.
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Vessel Name: Altaira
Vessel Make/Model: A Fair Weather Mariner 39 is a fast (PHRF 132), heavily ballasted (43%), high-aspect (6:1), stiff, comfortable, offshore performance cruiser by Bob Perry that goes to wind well (30 deg w/ good headway) and is also good up and down the Beaufort scale.
Hailing Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ
Crew: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
About:
Kimball Corson: I am a 75 year old solo sailor, by choice. However, I did take on a personable, but high maintenance female kitten, now a full grown cat, named KiKiPoo when she is sweet, or KatKatPo after she has just killed something like a bird or bat. [...]
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Although I was a lawyer and practiced law with good success for thirty years, creating significant new law, I never really believed in the law, the politics of law or in the over reaching self-interest of most lawyers I met. Too much exposure to Nietzsche and other good and seriously thoughtful [...]
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Who: Kimball Corson. Text and Photos not disclaimed or that are obviously not mine are copyright (c) Kimball Corson 2004-2016
Port: Lake Pleasant, AZ