What are we wating for?  We need to get our defense contractors over to Nam and start selling them some defense techno and push the Ivan out of the market.  Build the weapons of mass destruction here and export em, it will boost our economy for sure!

This situation is a living example of war might be prevented? 

  Here’s a contention between China and Vietnam, both of whom share a good
deal politically and culturally.  No country as small as Vietnam would take on a
country as large as China militarily and initiate a war.  Maybe China would do
so, which would mean some degree of bullying if it happened.  There are
surrounding countries who understand the languages and cultures of both
countries and could intervene and help with negotiations. 

  Immediately get both sides together and lay all the contentious issues on the
table now, before hostilities start.  Use negotiators that both sides could agree
to trust.  Isolate the issues and their interrelationship.  With help of neutral
observers and conciliators, talk about them with each side being enabled to
speak frankly, make accusations.  Create atmosphere where grievances can be
aired fully without blame and counter-blame minimized wherever possible. 
Discover areas of possible agreement—even though small. 
  Discuss fully the rewards of coming to agreement and the disadvantages and
problems that would likely occur if solutions are not found.  Minimize threats,
denigration, insult, etc. 
  Work on easiest issues first to get positive experience in the beginning.  Then
build on that to more difficult issues.  Use give and take for working toward
agreements ( bargain-based negotiation etc.)  See that agreements are
immediately instituted in action.  Promote understanding of all issues and
reward agreements with honor and prestige. 
  For difficult issues still in conflict, take before a respected regional “court of
appeals” for suggested solutions.  Offer reward for agreement in form of
prestige, national pride, international commendation etc. etc. 
  Put into words, it sounds over-simplified, but these steps, obvious though
they are, are seldom if ever tried before wars “break out.”  Wars are always a
result of disputes that have been allowed to intensify when they might have
been settled beforehand if steps like these had been used.  Such steps could
be institutionalized, could become expectations and habits, and processed as
a matter of due course.
  Wars are people.  Peace is people.  Exploitation, dishonesty, fear is people.
Courage is people.  Etc. etc.“The impossible just takes a little longer.”
  War is only “inevitable” because such steps are ignored.

I freakin’ LOVE that picture!  It says ALOT. =)

All I know is, the world doesn’t need more submarines, it needs more mandolin players.

That’s a badass photo…what do you want to bet that dude can play?