Well, that's the choice I've made. My son is Taiwanese and is in the reserves.
I understand your pain, but your position is terminally short-sighted and will only result in the sacrifice of even more sons later. Once China occupies Taiwan, it will move on Japan and on Philippines, where we have bases and mutual defense treaties.
Japan knowing that, is already investing in defending Taiwan, because Tokyo understands that defense of Taiwan is defense of Japan.
So the real question is not whether US boys will die, but when. Do you want them to fight with every advantage, or do you want them fighting with Beijing porting its ships and aircraft and missiles in Taiwan? That is the choice we face. A lot fewer boys will die if we can keep Taiwan out Beijing's hands. That is the math we face out here. That is why my son will fight, and why I will let him -- because in the long run it will mean fewer deaths. The sick calculus of war...
You think a pox on everyone and we stay home in America? No problem. After that, Beijing will grab parts of indonesia, Phils, Vietnam, all nations it claims part of, and eventually move on Australia -- China already sniffing around the Solomons because that is the key to Australia. You aren't going to be given the no-war choice, Beijing plans to take that from you. Your only available choice is which war?
We are at a historic crossroads now with Russia. If we allow a nation like Russia to over-run a neighbor, commit thousands of war crimes and murder 100,000+ civilians for zero military effect but only for terror, a nation that was no threat and hadn’t done anything wrong, it doesn’t stop there. It will only encourage more. Would we let them overrun Georgia next? Absorb Kazahtstan? How bout Finland? Does it stop with NATO? Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania?
At some point good people have to say, “this far, no further”. There is simply no other good choice. This choice will lead to death, suffering, and hardship. That is true. But we did not lead the way down this path. The only choice is to refuse to follow people like Putin (or bin laden) when they try to lead that direction. Try to stop them short of war, sure. But allowing them to walk away from actions like Ukraine is not stopping them. It only leads to more and worse.
Taiwan has to be the line with China. It’s a vibrant, thriving democracy with a great economy. That must be preserved and protected.
Your son doesn't need to serve or sacrifice. I've served in the military and I'd do it again to fight against Chinese Communist aggression. Taiwan is strategically important to the U.S., and especially important to our democratic allies in the indo-pacific - Japan, Australia, Korea etc. PRC control over Taiwan would enable China to project military power mutch further, and that would severely threaten our allies in the region. The PRC seeks to undetnine American power and influence worldwide, and its attacking democracy now. A successful PRC invasion of Taiwan would harm the entire region. Maintaining deterrence against the PRC is the answer.
You realize that no one really cares about Taiwan in regards to its independence. The issue with Taiwan is its chip manufacturing. Who controls the chips controls the world. China grab of Taiwan besides besides making the communist party feel better about itself is really a story about China trying to take control over the manufacturing of computer chips. It has tried to do it on its own and failed but after acquiring Taiwan, it would be in the position to dictate both economic and military terms to the rest of the world.
I never asked, but I suspect if someone had asked my grandfather in 1939 if he were willing for his sons to die for Iwo Jima, he’d have said of course not. Nor any other American, but guess what happened.
Just so I understand the author….let me get this straight. So the FIRST thing YOU did when Saddam invaded Kuwait was to fill out conscientious objector paperwork…. WOW. That says a lot there sally. Oh and by the way…just like in Quaker graveyards on Memorial Day, I’m sure there are plenty of American flags on graves in Mennonite graveyards. Moral clarity eventually leads you to understand there ARE things worth fighting and dying for.
….So apparently the sacrifices of others to prevent the predations of despotic regimes of the world should be left to some other family. You either haven’t thought that through, or you mustn’t have to look yourself in the mirror very often.
Well, that's the choice I've made. My son is Taiwanese and is in the reserves.
I understand your pain, but your position is terminally short-sighted and will only result in the sacrifice of even more sons later. Once China occupies Taiwan, it will move on Japan and on Philippines, where we have bases and mutual defense treaties.
Japan knowing that, is already investing in defending Taiwan, because Tokyo understands that defense of Taiwan is defense of Japan.
So the real question is not whether US boys will die, but when. Do you want them to fight with every advantage, or do you want them fighting with Beijing porting its ships and aircraft and missiles in Taiwan? That is the choice we face. A lot fewer boys will die if we can keep Taiwan out Beijing's hands. That is the math we face out here. That is why my son will fight, and why I will let him -- because in the long run it will mean fewer deaths. The sick calculus of war...
You think a pox on everyone and we stay home in America? No problem. After that, Beijing will grab parts of indonesia, Phils, Vietnam, all nations it claims part of, and eventually move on Australia -- China already sniffing around the Solomons because that is the key to Australia. You aren't going to be given the no-war choice, Beijing plans to take that from you. Your only available choice is which war?
Michael Turton
It is never wrong to hope for no war.
However…
We are at a historic crossroads now with Russia. If we allow a nation like Russia to over-run a neighbor, commit thousands of war crimes and murder 100,000+ civilians for zero military effect but only for terror, a nation that was no threat and hadn’t done anything wrong, it doesn’t stop there. It will only encourage more. Would we let them overrun Georgia next? Absorb Kazahtstan? How bout Finland? Does it stop with NATO? Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania?
At some point good people have to say, “this far, no further”. There is simply no other good choice. This choice will lead to death, suffering, and hardship. That is true. But we did not lead the way down this path. The only choice is to refuse to follow people like Putin (or bin laden) when they try to lead that direction. Try to stop them short of war, sure. But allowing them to walk away from actions like Ukraine is not stopping them. It only leads to more and worse.
Taiwan has to be the line with China. It’s a vibrant, thriving democracy with a great economy. That must be preserved and protected.
Your son doesn't need to serve or sacrifice. I've served in the military and I'd do it again to fight against Chinese Communist aggression. Taiwan is strategically important to the U.S., and especially important to our democratic allies in the indo-pacific - Japan, Australia, Korea etc. PRC control over Taiwan would enable China to project military power mutch further, and that would severely threaten our allies in the region. The PRC seeks to undetnine American power and influence worldwide, and its attacking democracy now. A successful PRC invasion of Taiwan would harm the entire region. Maintaining deterrence against the PRC is the answer.
No u shouldn’t. But then Taiwan should have nukes or some form of WMD to deter an invasion
You realize that no one really cares about Taiwan in regards to its independence. The issue with Taiwan is its chip manufacturing. Who controls the chips controls the world. China grab of Taiwan besides besides making the communist party feel better about itself is really a story about China trying to take control over the manufacturing of computer chips. It has tried to do it on its own and failed but after acquiring Taiwan, it would be in the position to dictate both economic and military terms to the rest of the world.
I never asked, but I suspect if someone had asked my grandfather in 1939 if he were willing for his sons to die for Iwo Jima, he’d have said of course not. Nor any other American, but guess what happened.
Correlation is not causation.
Just so I understand the author….let me get this straight. So the FIRST thing YOU did when Saddam invaded Kuwait was to fill out conscientious objector paperwork…. WOW. That says a lot there sally. Oh and by the way…just like in Quaker graveyards on Memorial Day, I’m sure there are plenty of American flags on graves in Mennonite graveyards. Moral clarity eventually leads you to understand there ARE things worth fighting and dying for.
….So apparently the sacrifices of others to prevent the predations of despotic regimes of the world should be left to some other family. You either haven’t thought that through, or you mustn’t have to look yourself in the mirror very often.