There has been a rethinking of the structure and role of our traditional military alliances, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is setting up a new NATO Response Force and has moved outside Europe for the first time with the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. The focus of attention, today, is on Iraq and Afghanistan. But in future decades, priorities will change. And clearly, much of what we may be called on to do in the coming future will likely be determined by choices made by others.
Consider Russia, a nation with vast natural resources, an educated population, and a rich heritage of scientific and cultural achievements. Like Americans and others around the world, they are threatened by violent extremism. Russia is a partner with the US on some security issues, and our overall relationship is the best it has been in decades. But in other ways, Russia has been unhelpful; using energy resources as a political weapon, for example, and in their resistance to positive political changes in neighboring countries. The same holds true for the country of China. The Chinese people are educated and talented, and their country has great potential, with high economic growth rates and an industrious work force. Nonetheless, some aspects of Chinese behavior remain unsettling and complicate our relationship. Last year, a US Department of
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Source IIPM-Editorial,2006
