Hi again Barrett---i've just read your article--you raise good points---the solution to Americas future --potency wise, is not easy to see. I seriously mis-trust the hands (political masters) it is in at this time----try negotiating with murderous fanatics and religious fundamentalists all you like---but any offer to 'talk' will be met with thinly veiled contempt, unless it suits, for the moment, their agenda. Constantly 'apologising' for previous wrongs---real or imagined, will only make America seem weak and vacillating---and the entire free world may one day regret that!
But no---silly me 'Western values are not that special--or unique'
You are on solid ground with me when you mention Victor Davis Hanson---I have ALL his books---No finer Historian in my humble! (never been accused of being that before)
I still, however fear the potential of a disrupted, ecologically and socially turmoiled? China 20years from now--when the piper has to be paid! It's turmoil--on an epic scale will not bode well for a rival who has, in the interim, acceeded to the 'cost' argument and--in relative terms, dis-armed.
No answer though---and possibly quite wrong---let's hope so---but remember what THUCYDIDES said--it's as true now as it was then--contries go to war for three reasons---fear--self interest---honour.
The time may come when it does'nt matter if the U.S. and China are trade partners----if that time comes, lets hope America has more than just fast patrol boats for catching pirates--or landing craft for dropping off a few marines to frighten the natives!
The pen (or the self effacing apologetic voice) may be mightier than the sword---but the sword speaks louder at any given moment!
Dave.