Coalition operations.

I read Lt Col Paul Berg's editorial "Coalition Operations" (Fall 2007) and agree that the United States has enjoyed many close and personal partnerships with other countries; however, based on what I have seen of the war on terrorism over the past few years, I wonder if we have overlooked anyone who might have benefited from working with a multinational force. Did we inadvertently isolate anyone who could have been a team player? for example, Russian president Vladimir Putin is pulling his military arsenal of ships and nuclear-capable bombers out of mothballs and trying to build coalitions with China, Iran, Syria, and North Korea. Russia has also been having military exercises with China. I guess this is Putin's way of reacting to US-led coalitions around the world. I fear that these developments may lead Russia into renewed isolationism and increase the risk of a nuclear-arms race and new form of Cold War. I really do not foresee China being a staunch ally to Russia. China is quickly developing its own independent space, ballistic-missile, and naval programs. So how do we as a superpower tap into those countries for the war on terrorism?

Capt Steven "Schaff" Schaffhouser, USAF

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base

Willow Grove, Pennsylvania