The Phantom Menace

Before Germany invaded Poland nobody thought that there would ever be another World War. The powers that be figured that if they gave in to enough of Hitler's demands he eventually would be placated and war would have been averted. History has taught us that if you give an inch, dictators take a mile.

Two stories from Xinhuanet.com remind me of pre-war Europe. The first refers to Russia and China executing joint military exercises:

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting Russian army chief said here Thursday that the preparing Russian and Chinese joint military exercise is not targeted at any third country.

"The first joint military exercise is a new way of cooperation between the two militaries," said Yury Baluyevsky, Russian chief of general staff, who is on his first trip abroad since he took upthe post last July.

Instead of being targeted at any third country, the exercise scheduled to take place in autumn this year is aimed at "improvingthe training capabilities of the two militaries and boosting theircooperation," Baluyevsky told reporters after meeting with his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie Thursday afternoon.

Baluyevsky will also meet with Chinese state and military leaders Friday before he leaves Beijing for Sanya, a seaside resort in southern Hainan Province.

He said that the two sides have some details to further discuss.

Russia and China also agreed on the make-up of the troop, arms and equipment and military methods involved in the training.

"Russian paratroopers, marines and other forces will take part in the exercise," he said.

Russian and Chinese military leaders are also expected to attend this exercise.]

This wouldn't bother me so much if it wasn't followed by this story:

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia is against any secessionistactivities of "Taiwan Independence" in any form and will stick to the one-China policy, said Russian Chief of General Staff Yury Baluyevsky here Thursday.

Baluyevsky made the remarks during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Liang Guanglie. He arrived this morning, three days after the country's parliament approved the Anti-Secession Law aimed at preventing "Taiwan independence" from the country.

The two army chiefs also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the two armies.

Building and developing the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation is the choice of both nations and Russia's strategic target, Baluyevsky said, adding that Russia is willing to work with China to further the strategic partnership after the two countries and armies have scored closer ties and fruitful cooperation in recent years.

Liang said strengthening cooperation between the two armies is an important part in furthering the partnership, which has maintained a good momentum for many years. In recent years, he said, high-level visits between the two armies have been frequent and exchanges in all fields effective.]

I know I've beaten this drum before and people have commented back saying that both China and Russia have to much invested in the US to start a war. Maybe, maybe not. A year ago I would have agreed but the world is changing and hubris is rising. Iran fancies itself a Middle Eastern regional power, who is to say China and Russia don't see themselves as supplanting the US as a joint world-wide hyperpower. I'll be keeping an eye on situation as best I can but I would prefer not to be in the position of saying, "I told you so." On this subject, I would prefer to be dead wrong.