America can’t fend off Russia, China at the same time

U.S. President Joe Biden says America must lead the new world order. He has escalated the Russian proxy war by sending more military arms to Ukraine and rattles American sabres at China’s sovereignty over Taiwan.

But America is no longer the superpower it was. Today, China is its peer economic and technological competitor and Russia is a peer military competitor.

Together they make a powerful adversary against America’s fading global preeminence. In this 21st-century world, America must learn to make accommodations — if we are to have world peace.

The fact it takes two emerging empires to challenge the American colossus is testimony to America’s size, veracity and achievements. Eventually every empire falls and is surpassed.

America’s exceptionalism and belief, it stands taller and sees further than anyone else, refuses it to go quietly into the night. With over 800 military bases around the world, America routinely practices regime change in any country that resists, under the pretext of human rights and democracy.

Since 1905, the U.S. has invaded 83 countries.

Reports say the indebted American hegemon can no longer afford the costly unilateralism of the past. Biden must go around and ask, even strong-arm, vassal NATO states into helping build NATO into a global military alliance to contain China and Russia.

Pentagon officials admit that America would be hard pressed to conduct a twofront war. But military planners suggest that given the strength of Europe’s NATO allies, America could leave them to deal with Russia, while it focuses on the conflict in the Pacific.

Both China and Russia refuse to be held back from what they see as historic destiny.

“Canada is not ready to face this new world,” warns a report called National Security Strategy for 2020s. Canada’s slow response about Huawei put allies on edge and collaboration with China, in areas of artificial intelligence, biotechnology and quantum computing, are particularly sensitive and require sensible consideration.

It recommends Canada beef up it military footprint in the Arctic to counter Russia and establish a naval base on Baffin Island.

Domestically, Canada must contend the rise of the far-right in both Canada and the U.S.

The report also warned of U.S. democratic backsliding if Donald Trump or someone like him comes back in 2024, which is not far-fetched. Does the U.S. stay in NATO? Does the U.S. become unpredictable? Will rising food and fuel prices cause civil unrest?

Canadians should prepare, the sound of war drums can be heard and dark clouds gather on the horizon.

Jon Peter Christoff, West Kelowna