Back Up Our Words

It is good that we have managed to block China's efforts to enforce their dominance in the western Pacific at the expense of our allies. I commended President Obama for this move (although our shift to our west has been ongoing for years now, it is no less an accomplishment) and even wondered if we could flip Burma (keeping in mind the problem of getting thug rulers to truly flip).

But don't forget that our diplomacy must be backed by force so that our allies will retain the confidence to continue to stand with us should China try to disrupt the region rather than prosper along with them. The words are good--but they are no substitute for real power and evident determination to use it if necessary.

If we don't back our diplomacy with sufficient military power, we risk initial defeats in the western Pacific such as we endured after December 7, 1941, when our insufficient military forces were defeated in the Philippines, which we lost along with Guam and Wake to a much smaller Japan that had the military power there, ready to strike.

Slashing our defenses in the face of our budget problems even as we declare a defense perimeter in Asia is a recipe for disaster.