I have a few global concerns for this week. First, members of Congress continue calls to designate Russia a state sponsor of terror.
Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said the move was “long overdue” and a resolution has support from 99 senators. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was holding off his support until he read the bill, but it appears the Senate is close to moving forward. This is really not up to the Senate, but the State Department. Right now, Russia doesn’t fit the legal definition of a state sponsor of terror, however, changes to the requirements could be forthcoming.
The United States will likely run into the same problems it did with Russian sanctions; namely, force other countries to choose between vital imports from Russia, such as grain and oil, or choose to side with the U.S. against a state sponsor of terror. This could backfire much like Russian sanctions did because the American designation will be diminished if major countries outside of Europe don’t support it, which is to say that U.S. global standing will be diminished.
The strategic message coming out of China is that the Western era of global history is ending, and it’s time for a Chinese-led world order. Major economies that no longer move in lockstep with the United States is one of the greatest strategic shifts happening right now, and it raises the risk of war with China, which U.S. leaders in the future may see as the only way to save Pax Americana.
by davefairtex 
