Year Of The Snake. . .

(Year Of The Snake. . .)

It might be a sad commentary but the only Chinese most Americans know is what they read off a Chinese menu. If the restaurant is traditional, serving Cantonese or Shahwan cuisine, usually there is a placemat that shows the twelve signs of the Chinese Zodiac. Aside from the Snake, other signs include the Rat, the Horse, and so on. It is said that those born under this symbol tend to be intelligent and intuitive, A more contemporary definition could be that the "Snake" is accurately reflecting Beijing's behavior. Like the DeepSeek AI program released the other day. Like President Trump is contemplating an "Iron Dome" for national defense from the likes of China and indeed Russia as well.


Before there had been Trump derangement syndrome, there had been Reagan Derangement Syndrome more severe than anything 45-47 has experienced. For President Reagan, the Soviet threat was much more pronounced. One could list statistics on who had the bigger bombs and in what quantity and at the time, the Soviets had the edge.


Reagan had an idea to alter the strategic balance, no longer accepting Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) as the guiding principle for strategic policy. The President had no intention of matching the Soviets platform to platform, same numbers of missiles bombers and submarines. President Reagan wanted to explore possibilities of strategic defense, a network of satellites that, with lasers and other technologies. The program was announced in 1983 and Reagan called it the Strategic Defense Initiate (SDI).


The press dubbed it "Star Wars" with considerable derision. The technological challenges were too complex, the program would de-stabilize the strategic order. That would be why, when President Reagan met with Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev in Reykjavik, Iceland and making progress in nuclear arms reduction, Gorbachev wanted the cancellation of SDI something Reagan would not do. It is of note that as the two leaders left the Summit, and it was clear the talks had ended badly, the General Secretary did not know what to say to which President Reagan is reportedly to have replied "you could have said yes."


The Trump concept of an Iron Dome defense would be more technologically advanced than in 1983 and the concept and viability of strategic defense has been demonstrated by Israel, it has been their system to begin with. Of course, any American version will need to be larger. In this, the Year of the Snake, President Trump can but the Chinese on notice. Just in case.

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