Within a decade, Taiwan would be incapable of mounting any kind of credible defense, and the island would become nothing more than a security protectorate of the United States.
Ted Carpenter
It certainly means that they (the states) don't have the level of personnel that they might desire to handle some of these situations. They're doing with the minimum, not what might be optimal.
desire
In some ways, the symbolism of this referendum may be more important to this administration than the actual substance because the referendum is not likely to alter the underlying security environment. And, in fact, there is some chance that it may make matters even worse.
chance environment security fact important symbolism worse
It's to humanize the image a bit. To show that there is a friendly, human quality to this political leader. He's not just a stern political figure.
quality human image political leader
We've seen these cycles of ebb and flow half a dozen times or more since the war began. One can hope that this is a permanent decline, but it's still much too early to reach that conclusion.
war flow times early cycles hope conclusion
security kind defense
I have little doubt that while Iran might produce nuclear power for peaceful purposes that it is also seeking a nuclear weapon. A deal with Russia could delay weapons development, but it would have to be closely monitored.
weapon doubt power development weapons seeking delay iran russia peaceful
It still does not fundamentally alter the deteriorating security situation in the country, given the rise in sectarian violence.
security violence country situation rise
What we're seeing is the reflection of two developments -- first of all, the U.S. Military being more and more into a force-protection mode, keeping its military personnel as unexposed as possible to fighting.
military reflection fighting
If full-scale civil war erupts -- and Iraq appears to be awfully close to that at this point -- even 134,000 troops could be in a highly vulnerable position, especially when you consider how many true combat troops we have there.
war true iraq vulnerable close combat troops
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