Why are Chinese state-owned companies prospering in the wake of American-led military campaigns? For starters, Chinese coffers are full of hard currency, and China's growing economy is heavily dependent on the natural resources that are found in abundance in both Iraq and Afghanistan. China's state-owned enterprises have the money and the motivation to make major bids in war-ravaged countries lacking essential infrastructure. Of course, an important reason why China has so much money to spare is because Beijing has wisely avoided costly military entanglements.

This is a lesson that I am afraid the US is going to learn the hard way. The military industrial complex in the US has such deep roots, that it is difficult to even envision, much less discuss, a future where our national security is not measured by our ability to militarily subvert other nations.

Obama's Asian pivot is just further evidence that we consider a strong military presense to be the ultimate bargaining chip. Of course, when it comes to brinksmanship, it is. However, most strategic economic issues are settled far in advance of the military question. Global economic outreach is the most common determinant of geopolitical activity. The costs of global military dominance are extremely high, and the benefits are rarely, if ever realized.

The US is stuck in a geopolitical strategy rut that has a poor ROI.