Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Allies? 

The ones who don't meet their NATO spending obligations? 

Those allies?

What's the benefit to the American taxpayer?

Is it travel, for those of us who can afford to?

Stable trade partners are fairly important to an economy like ours.  We're about to find out just how important, as China's instability intensifies.  

^^^This.

China at this point lacks much ability to project power over much distance from mainland China.  They are trying to build up because even taking Taiwan is, I think, outside their capability, today.  To attack the PI or Japan etc. is well outside their abilities.  A major need would be air support, which means carriers, which they don't have in amount and quality needed.  

Japan has a pretty credible self defense force that is expanding.  The logistics of sending a significant force across a major body of water and keeping it supplied is "difficult", especially if contested by submarines and/or air attack.

I don't think Russia has any current interest in the Baltics.  That is subject to change depending on what happens with Ukraine.  But I think it would be years out.

They attacked Vietnam a while back, didn't go so well.  They did have some strategy in the Korean War, their tactics were unimaginative, but so were ours often as not.

I wonder how many of their top generals are political appointees in effect.

Gorgeous day here, I went to the park for a bit, a lot of young female types strolling and jogging about.  And one old man.  I threw some against the tennis practice wall, my arm is ... well, old.

We're cooking up a trip in September to Istanbul with our semi-crazy neighbor, he'll be there anyway.  I have a zero Bday that month.  I was checking plane fares and remain astonished at how expensive it is to fly up front.  We'll stay in comfort seats.  Or main cabin if I get exit rows.  Also have a 3 day jaunt up into the mountains here in April.

The world, and particularly college football, seem determined to GTH with me watching.

We spoke with several folks who have been, including one fellow who is Greek.  They are unanimous that it's a fabulous place to visit.  And with our neighbor there to show us about, it probably will work well.  But then, I've also visited Oman, Turkey sounds positively western.