Alex’s Soapbox

I just finished reading Paul Bracken’s Fire In The East which predicts the loss of American influence in Asia (including the Middle East).

It was written before 9/11 and Iraq. Though it predicted a challenge to American power, the challenge was not from nuclear-armed nations (India, Pakistan, China, North Korea) but from non-state groups like Al Qaeda and non-nuclear states like Syria and Iran. The latter theory is espoused at John Robbs’ Global Guerrillas.

Contrary to the books’ prediction, the nuclear powers in Asia (except North Korea) have interests that are not in direct conflict with those of the United States. The fear that Asian WMDs will be more likely used than Western WMDs will hopefully be proven false.