Nuancing Up Retreat

Our policy towards Russia and China is called "strategic reassurance."

That is, we act meekly enough so that there is no way Russia or China will worry that we'll react to their rising military power or aggressive actions.

Remember, that's just fancy talk for "retreating."

No doubt that is very reassuring, strategically speaking, for Moscow and Peking.

For our friends and allies who count on us to help them stand up to Russia or China, there's no reassurance at all in that strategy.