[Norm K]

Regarding China: we currently share a common greatest weakness, our economies.

While it's a slow process, China appears to be in the process of establishing new markets so that if and when we finally grow the stones to turn our backs on their cheap, crappy goods they'll be in a position to replace enough business to weather the storm.

Here's hoping we're in the process of rebuilding the manufacturing of at least those products that are critical to our way of life and, quite literally, to the lives of many of our citizens.

On Russia: it seems they'll always have someone either at the helm or in the wings who's ready to expand their footprint/influence. There's probably nothing that can be done about that. Their biggest threat is low energy prices, which probably do more to constrain them and their ambitions than anything else. High oil and NG prices on the other hand, provide the funding for them to pretty much do what they want.

However things are sliced and diced we should strive to make any war an economic one, the price of which would be paid more in treasure than in blood, versus equal amounts of each.

_