Does it bother anyone besides me?

[whyBish]

Competition?  Nonsense.  It's jungle rules in real international politics, though certain forms and conventions are adhered to by many, though NOT ALL players.  And there is no referee.  Or hadn't you noticed?

Occhi
[right][snapback]80806[/snapback][/right]

You seem to be reading my use of the word 'competition' as 'sport'. (I was thinking in terms similar to evolutionary usage, or optimisation situations such as the Prisoners Dilemma where an increase along a particular independent axis may result in different levels of increase (or decrease) in two or more dependent axes)

As to the actual discussion, I'm not sure how you are using the term 'rival' either, unless you also consider your allies rivals as well?

In a hypothetical world, if Britain had the economic potentail of China, but the same political relations with the U.S. as it does in the real world, then would you vew it as a strategic rival?

Also, from your point of view, why is it neccessary for the U.S. to be the dominant force?

... I just realised I haven't put a smilie in this thread yet... perhaps therein lies my problem ;)