What's the role of the US?

[The Dharma Bum]

[JDHURF]

[eynon81]

[The Comrade]

there are two constants when discussing foreign policy in the 21st century

1. stupid people suggest nuclear war will break out
2. stupid people suggest regional conflicts are a thing of the past.

[eynon81]

[broken robot]

[Leviathan]

[exploited]

Pakistan and India both have nukes, and the border is porous enough that neither could be guaranteed a first strike victory. India would no longer have US military support, and neither would Pakistan. China would increase it's support for for Pakistan, which is already substantial, while Russia would likely increase it's patronage of India.

Neither Russia nor China would be willing to risk losing their client just to sell more arms, because the consequences of India or Pakistan beating the other far outweigh the benefits to either patron. At very worst, you'd have a long, drawn-out proxy war in the border regions, with neither side capable of a decisive win due to the intervention of major powers. Both the clients and the patrons benefit more from low-intensity conflicts, and neither patron benefits from either client winning.

Israel is more than capable of kicking the shit out of it's neighbours, conventionally or otherwise. They can take care of themselves. And since they are also capable of and actually willing (if necessary) to level every major city in every country attacking them, there will be no conflict.

South Korea might have some problems. But I kind of doubt it. They'd win in a conventional conflict, and develop nukes once US support evaporated. Russia and China both want North Korea to chill out, so I don't think either side would just stand back and let North Korea off the leash.

Japan and China will always compete. Nothing we do changes that.

The drug problems of Mexico and Columbia and the like can be resolved easily. Just legalize the drugs and there is no more problem - that is the only solution, whether we send them money and military training to kill cartels or not.

Decreasing American involvement does not mean we would sit there and let Russia take over Europe. Let's not pretend that anyone here is suggesting we do nothing if Russia sends tanks to recovery its SSRs. The US role can be reduced alot without allowing every other major power to just do whatever they feel like.

[The Comrade]

[broken robot]