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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Stuck in the Middle Eastern Sand: The United States, Asia, and Post-Cold War Threat Inflation

http://www.mepc.org/articles-commentary/commentary/stuck-middle-eastern-sand-united-states-asia-and-post-cold-war-threat-inflation

Commentary

Stuck in the Middle Eastern Sand: The United States, Asia, and Post-Cold War Threat Inflation

James A. Russell
Associate Professor, Department of National Security Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School
December 15, 2014
In late 2011, the Obama administration with great fanfare announced its intention to “pivot” (subsequently characterized as a “rebalance”) to Asia as a foreign-policy and national-security priority. Citing the rising economic, political and military power of China, the administration sensibly sought to refocus America’s strategic priorities to reflect the growing importance of Asia in global affairs. As noted by the National Intelligence Council in various reports, the transfer of wealth from West to East on an unprecedented scale suggests a fundamental change in the global strategic environment that should be met by a corresponding shift in America’s strategy and policy.1 While the United States has long been involved in Asia’s political and military affairs, the pivot metaphor served to enable a reinvigoration of existing alliances and the establishment of a more robust political and military framework to serve, protect and further American interests in Asia.2http://www.mepc.org/articles-commentary/commentary/stuck-middle-eastern-sand-united-states-asia-and-post-cold-war-threat-inflation

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