Imo, Maund does a terrific job of putting the US ME strategy into a context that, if realistic, could be characterized as nothing short of "eye opening and far sighted."
I respectfully disagree with notion that Maund is putting things in context. I think some of what he writes here is woefully out of context. Eye opening and farsighted? I wont argue with that. However he leaves out some important facts IMO.
Quite obviously, Saudi Arabia would be unable to cope with the aftermath of such an attack, and would clearly require assistance from friendly countries such as the UK and US, and would be in such a hapless condition that it would probably appreciate having its vast oil resources managed by the UK – US axis on its behalf. Fortunately, a large contingent of axis troops just happen to be in the area on other business, so the troops, although spread thin, would be spared a long journey with its attendant jet lag.
US makes a move into Saudi Arabia after a terrorist attack?
No argument from me on that point.
It is also a happy coincidence that a large number of US supply and logistics bases have sprung up all over south central Asia in the time following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many in former Soviet Republics. This will greatly facilitate assisting Saudi Arabia in its hour of need.
He mentions our bases in the former Soviet states but does not mention the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)?? Nor a mention of the politics of some of the former Soviet states allowing the SCO to build counter bases to the U.S. bases? Nor does he mention the sizable standing Russian army in Moldova? WTH? The idea that the U.S. is going to just walk into the former Soviet republics and grab the Caspian Sea oil and gas reserves and not get a fight from Moscow and China is pretty laughable. The majority of the oil and gas development in the Caspian sea region was originated by Moscow when the U.S.S.R was still intact. The Russians were helping the Iraqis jam our smart bomb signals. Powell accused them of such and to my knowledge Moscow never denied it.
However, if everything goes to plan, axis powers will finally be able to turn to the other major world trading blocs, such as Europe and China and India, with a broad smile and say “You want oil? – how much are you prepared to pay?”
===========================================================
The assumption here is that China, Russia and India -- All with an involvement in the SCO -- wont make a move BEFORE this happens. How does Maund figure this?
It’s at this moment that all the countless billions spent on Aircraft Carrier fleets, Apache Helicopter Gunships, A10 Warthogs, A130 Spectre Gunships, B1 Heavy Bombers, B2 Stealth Bombers, B52’s, Cruise Missiles, F16s etc will seem like a real bargain. Europe, although having a larger population than the US and a substantial GDP is, comparatively, militarily impotent – as an axis power, the UK military is primarily allied to the US and Israel. China, although certainly able to defend itself, is not in a position to go throwing its weight around in the Middle-East.
One potential "fly in the ointment" for axis military planners will be if Russia starts to take an active interest in what is going on in its own backyard, and decides, for example, that it doesn't want Iran taken over by the axis.
"if Russia starts to take an active interest in what is going on in its own backyard??" Is Maund asleep? The SCO was formed not long after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Via the SCO China and Russia have been manufacturing arms together for many years now. They sell submarines to the Iranians. Russia is helping the Iranians build nuclear power plants and playing lots of politics over the what will happen with the radioactive leftovers.
The next few years promise to be the most interesting since World War 2.
I agree with him 100 percent on this. Kan u Shpell KAspyiun C?
AI
