[Clare Dauson]

Following the release of a report by the US Strategic Research Institute, Russia began to be rated as the “most real military threat” to the United States. China is now called the "most comprehensive threat." What kind of aggressive and threatening acts of the two countries is meant is not clear. However, it became known about the American development of 6.8 mm caliber bullets, that should replace the NATO 5.56 mm caliber bullets. It is weird that the development began after the publication of information about new Russian and Chinese bulletproof vests, that are resistant to the 5.56 mm bullets. So whom is aggression actually coming from and who is preparing for war?

[late]

Following the release of a report by the US Strategic Research Institute, Russia began to be rated as the “most real military threat” to the United States. China is now called the "most comprehensive threat." What kind of aggressive and threatening acts of the two countries is meant is not clear. However, it became known about the American development of 6.8 mm caliber bullets, that should replace the NATO 5.56 mm caliber bullets. It is weird that the development began after the publication of information about new Russian and Chinese bulletproof vests, that are resistant to the 5.56 mm bullets. So whom is aggression actually coming from and who is preparing for war?

The history of war is also the history of trying to get an advantage. That's been happening for millennia.

The Defense Dept keeps a lot of people employed trying to guess the future. If you decide conflict with a country is a growing possibility, you need to be ready for that eventuality. America got caught with it's pants down in WW2, and avoiding that is part of it's institutional DNA.

All of which dodges your concern, which is a valid one. I would put it this way: How can we avoid a serious war?

China is on the way up, while we are on our way down. China is becoming the regional hegemon. It's happening faster thanks to Trump, but it's inevitable. Finding a way through that transition without military conflict is quite tricky.

But it's worth trying. The first step, after Trump is gone, is trying to recreate our alliances in the Pacific.

[Clare Dauson]

Yes, I agree with is, we all want to be better than others and so on, but America has absolutely no effect on Chinese hegemony. China has always been ahead of everyone, exactly like Japan or Singapore.

Chinese weapons are very powerful, their economy is independent of the silly US sanctions or any other reasons. They take upbringing and education seriously. They have a large territory, which is rich in resources, and in a possible war, I have no doubt that they can survive or even win.

[late]

1) Yes, I agree with is, we all want to be better than others and so on, but America has absolutely no effect on Chinese hegemony.

2) China has always been ahead of everyone, exactly like Japan or Singapore.

3) Chinese weapons are very powerful, their economy is independent of the silly US sanctions or any other reasons.

4) They take upbringing and education seriously.

5) They have a large territory, which is rich in resources, and in a possible war, I have no doubt that they can survive or even win.

1) Our fleet of ships limits the influence China can exert in the area.

2) Mao... The Great Leap Backwards.

3) Their ships and planes are 15-20 years behind ours. But they are catching up fast. And because their current goal is limited, they can put all their assets in theater, while ours are spread across the globe.

4) Yup, China has as many honor students as we have students. The way they use Go to identify talent early is clever.

5) Survive what? They can win without firing a shot. Unlike most people, in most countries, they know what a snapback is in Go. I don't think they will overplay their hand. I would also hope that we didn't start a major war, but with Trump, anything can happen.

[ThirdTerm]

Russian threats to use force can be mitigated by demonstrating US resolve and capability to deter and defeat Russian aggression, which must be backed up by credible force to avoid escalation. The United States army would be replacing the 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x51mm NATO rounds for the 6.8mm. The 7.62 has too much mass without enough propellant, while the 5.56 simply does not have the mass to penetrate through the body armor. It makes sense to switch to a new caliber that can break through Russian body armor.

You may not have heard, but late last year it was decided that the United States army would be ditching the traditional 5.56x45mm NATO and 7.62x51mm NATO rounds for an entirely new caliber in the form of the 6.8mm.

While we don’t know much about the 6.8mm so far, we do know that it is designed as a compromise between the virtues of both the 5.56 and 7.62 rounds. There are big concerns among Army officials that the 5.56 round will not be strong enough to penetrate the body armor worn by soldiers in the Russian Army.

According to Colonel Geoffrey A. Norman, the Force Development Division Chief at Army Headquarters, the 7.62 has too much mass without enough propellant, while the 5.56 simply does not have the mass to penetrate through the body armor. As a result, it makes sense to switch to a new caliber that both has sufficient propellant and enough mass to break through Russian body armor.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ ... lets-68052

[Political Interest]

Wonderful, so the world must play this zero sum game until the end. First it was Germany and Japan, then Russia needs to be knocked out. After that it will be the Chinese.

Since when did this all have to be a zero sum game?

[JohnRawls]

Following the release of a report by the US Strategic Research Institute, Russia began to be rated as the “most real military threat” to the United States. China is now called the "most comprehensive threat." What kind of aggressive and threatening acts of the two countries is meant is not clear. However, it became known about the American development of 6.8 mm caliber bullets, that should replace the NATO 5.56 mm caliber bullets. It is weird that the development began after the publication of information about new Russian and Chinese bulletproof vests, that are resistant to the 5.56 mm bullets. So whom is aggression actually coming from and who is preparing for war?

Russia, it violated international law by military means couple of years ago if you haven't forgotten and annexed some land. For all the shit that Americans get, they don't actually annex land.

[Rancid]

Isn't this normal? All major countries draw plan "just in case"

[late]

Since when did this all have to be a zero sum game?

Since before there were humans.

But I agree with you, one of things we prob have to do to survive as a species is to move past zero sum.

[redcarpet]

I hope I sound realistic. It won't happen. The U.S won't ever fight a real war, it hasn't since 1945. A war with the PRC risks a nuclear exchange. Maybe some small incidents, but nothing big.

Think about U.S military history, 1945-onwards. They're not even on a war footing really, not anymore! Those people are volunteers, and the U.S. hasn't felt an actual pinch on military manpower since the Vietnam war (and was ultimately just ended because of the drain on the economy, LBJ's 'Guns & Butter war' helped turn corporate America to back Nixon in 1968!).

If a major war were to suddenly break out, though, the U.S. military would suddenly need a lot more people. By the end of World War 2, the U.S. armed forces employed 12.2 million people on active duty. That's almost 11.5% of the total population at the time (and a big chunk of that total would have been children, elderly, disabled, etc.). It caused a huge drain on the civilian economy and standard of living. Two thirds of them were draftees, as well, and nobody liked getting drafted. In countries today with compulsory military service, it's generally among the least popular government policies.

We know governments are very sensitive to the middle-class swinging voters in marginal seats, etc, including their opposition to taxes & conscription.