Very good observations and, imo, the same could be applied to Russia. A coherent American foreign policy needs to recognize the legitimate security interests of both those nations, including their border security.
And while it is right to pressure China, our own failure (RE: Iraq) was a tragic blunder and set a very bad example. We were good with Sadaam warring on Iran for ten years. We let him get away with a lot of nasty stuff.
Iraq chemical attacks against Iran
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_chemical_attacks_against_Iran
Then in the first Gulf War, we used half measures and have reaped the whirlwind since. An That war was supposed to have corrected the failing of Viet Nam. Events have proved that it did not.
@LonestarDream
The Liberal Media, who were having grey ponytailed orgasmic fantasies of being "relevant" like they were in the 60s, proclaimed Iraq to be "another Vietnam".
Then, just like their ideological forebearers, who lost the Vietnam war despite the military efforts and the ultimate sacrifice of over 58,000 Americans, they propagandized failure and finally managed to elect enough of their own to make their prophesies come true.
Deja vu, all over again.
Once again, the lives and limbs of American Troops were sacrificed on the altar of liberals proving they were 'right', without concern for the consequences for not only the troops on the ground and their families and loved ones, but the people of the nations affected.
Just like Vietnam. The same epithets, the same treatment.
The real 'baby killers' (Liberals: 50,000,000 and counting, since
Roe) continue to denigrate our troops. I'd better quit here, it really pisses me off. :nometalk:
Sorry about the tangent.
Russia and China have to be factored into the superpower matrix of the future, wither in concert or as separate entities. The two out of three vote there could go either way, or change in mid event, and the EU is not going to be a factor because of fragmentation and disunity, so that balancing factor will not be present. Former and present English Commonwealth nations might form a potential bloc, with global distribution (UK, CA, AU), but that will take a while to spool up to the same status, but despite being a welcome addition in terms of hegemony and military contribution, would not likely act as a perceived buffering superpower for a while, if such is desired ever. India may emerge as a major power as well. Two continents (aside from Antarctica) remain pretty much out of the Majors, but one has its own problems as well.
One thing of note, all the major powers either have a bone to pick with the developing Caliphate or will in the near future (EU comes to mind, when it finally wakes up), because the problem children of the world have provoked incidents and are becoming problems everywhere but South America so far.