The US is now facing involvement in three current world hotspots– Ukraine, Israel-Hamas and Taiwan. Since its economy and society is currently under stress, it has to position itself carefully. Handling all three hotspots simultaneously is a really tall order. It has to prioritize accordingly and do everything it can do to play for time, in the event that Ukraine or Israel can negotiate a settlement and reduce the pressure on America. So the US leadership is encouraged to utilize option solving to figure out its current optimum option.
So this author decided to review the options US leaders have to handle the situation. He produced the following question to bring objectivity to the situation: “What is the USA’s optimum option to handling three simultaneous hot spots –Ukraine, Israel-Hamas and Taiwan; considering 1) America logistically-financially stretched, 2) American electorate want no direct involvement, 3) adversaries –Russia, China and Iran – aggressively testing, and 4) threat of nuclear war?” Again, it’s appropriate to focus on just these four considerations to reduce complexity in your editor’s eventual suggestion, when that ultimate moment arrives – despite there being many other possible considerations out there.
He then set about producing yin and yang “bookends” posed by this question, to keep his mind focused. Bookends such as these are vital for preventing our fertile intuitive minds from wandering and losing concentration. We are mostly unaware of how powerfully valuable but foot-loose our intuition can be unless we can keep it properly focused on such occasions.
These came to be: “Sit back and act as necessary” – Too risky that could catch US flat-footed;and “Demand that Allies play a much greater role in all three” – Allies not dependable. You will note the italicized detractors associated with these least likely options, which shows why they are not particularly good ideas for consideration. Even so, these revised bookends will now hopefully nudge this editor’s intuitive thinking into high gear once more to come-up with a range of realistic options – see ourLatest Worked Option Example.
He then pursued coming up with at least five plus realistic options – A thru E or F – that would enable US leaders to pursue Emotional distancing. Itwould allow them to take a couple of hours or more of quiet reflection, or even sleep on it, beforecoming to any final conclusion. You can replace these proposed options with any new ones of your own.
His final six options look quite interesting and he was particularly intrigued by – Option D: US & Allies reduce trade activities w/China unless leaves Taiwan alone. US leaders should stand-by their initial decision, as it would only likely work against them to second-guess themselves once their initial decision is made…no matter the challenges ahead.
If you have an example of your own, please share it with this blogger, through the COMMENTS area or contact him at peter@ileadershipsolutions.com. Peel the Onion: What is USA’s optimum option in view of three world hotspots- Ukraine, Israel-Gaza and Taiwan. Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in New Year 2024” Let’s have your COMMENTS or go to peter@ileadershipsolutions.com. Allow time to connect with the blogger. Also consider buying the book: “Smart Decisions: Goodbye Problems, Hello Options” through amazon.com)
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