[ROCKMAN]

Just tumbled across this site...The BRICS Post. Focuses on those emerging economies which are also impacting the energy distribution dynamic.

http://thebricspost.com/about-us/#.Ul6uZZ0o5WE

[Tanada]

You don't have to convince me Rockman, one or more of these countries will be the Superpower of the 21st century. I would bet on China or Brazil.

[Graeme]

Probably only China but their days of continued rapid growth are far from certain.

Some economists still predict a “bumpy landing,” but China is making an effort to rebalance its economy and move towards growth supported by domestic demand.

[Sixstrings]

You don't have to convince me Rockman, one or more of these countries will be the Superpower of the 21st century. I would bet on China or Brazil.

Don't count the US out, it just topped #1 in the world for energy production, gas and oil combined. US military will remain unrivaled, it spends more than the rest of the world combined.

America is the one with all the aircraft carriers. And bases all over the globe. Navy air power alone is larger than any nation's air force. US has the best special ops, and can drop SEALS or delta force anywhere on the planet within 24 hours.

[radon1]

Don't count the US out, it just topped #1 in the world for energy production, gas and oil combined. US military will remain unrivaled, it spends more than the rest of the world combined.

America is the one with all the aircraft carriers. And bases all over the globe. Navy air power alone is larger than any nation's air force. US has the best special ops, and can drop SEALS or delta force anywhere on the planet within 24 hours.

Obviously, this is unfair that the US is excluded from this privileged club of the billions in poverty. Might soon join anyway, in substance if not in the form. How about, say, BRAICS?

[ralfy]

As long as the public is willing to bear military costs and as long as there is no long-term threat of peak oil (not to mention global warming), then one can talk about a retention of or switch of superpower status, etc. Otherwise, the global economy will break down and military forces will start preying on citizens, including the ones they are supposed to protect or defend, until peak oil, etc., take their toll on them as well. At that point, it'll be sticks and stones.

[ROCKMAN]

Ralfy – First, I just posted the link because it would be a good source for info not covered by the MSM. No point being made.

As far as the US military protecting us from the future ravages of PO while we may have the greatest military force on the planet the US consumers have increased their cost for oil alone from $230 billion/yr to $630 billion/yr in the last 10 years. As Dr.Phil would ask: So how’s that military advantage working for you so far? Other than the $trillions and thousands of lives our military has expended in recent years to keep the oil flow from the ME secure for all those other importing countries how has that leverage benefited us?

[Ulenspiegel]

Other than the $trillions and thousands of lives our military has expended in recent years to keep the oil flow from the ME secure for all those other importing countries how has that leverage benefited us?

Here one could add, that only the first Gulf War secured the oil flow, a war that was quite cheap or even cost neutral for the USA.

All others that came later did actually not secure the flow of oil: Saddam and Gadafi were happy to sell, Afghanistan does not have oil in meaningful amounts and Iran is also willing to sell. BTW these later wars do not pass a simple smell test in respect to costs&risks/economic benefits.

It is obvious that for the same amount of money that was burnt in Iraq and Afghanistan the USA could have easily reduced its consumption by more than 50%, i.e. could have gained a real strategic advantage and would have got back most of the expenses as tax in the medium run (30 years).

[ROCKMAN]

U - true but that would not have fueled our military/industrial complex which is a significant portion of our GDP. A chicken in every pot and an F-16 in every garage. Or something like that. LOL.

[AgentR11]

Title is relevant today, 6 new countries joined BRICS today... Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran. Economically larger than G7; interesting times.

[theluckycountry]

Yes and interesting to read the opinions above of the posters a decade ago. When the British Empire was collapsing the vast majority of the population simply didn't believe it. Hell they still controlled India and 1/5 of the rest of the world, but the writing was on the wall.

[theluckycountry]