As the US continues to face an increased involvement in three current world hotspots– Ukraine, Israel-Hamas and Taiwan, especially the Middle-East – it must continue deterring China from acting on Taiwan. Its own economic and societal turbulence makes it imperative that the US leadership work closely with its key allies to create a front of concerted action toward any Chinese intentions.
Again, this author decided to review the options US and allied leaders could have to handle the situation. He produced the following “Peel the Onion” question to bring objectivity to the situation: “Peel the Onion – What is the USA’s optimum option to handling three simultaneous hot spots –Ukraine, Israel-Hamas and Taiwan – preferred Option D: US &Allies reduce trade activities w/China unless leaves Taiwan alone; considering 1) America logistically-financially stretched, 2) American electorate wary of direct involvement, 3) adversaries –Russia, China and Iran – aggressively testing US & Allies, 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 decided to leave the existing yin and yang “bookends” posed by this question in place, 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 Key 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 sub-options – AA thru EE or FF – that would enable US leaders to pursue Emotional Distancing (ED). EDwould 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 sub-options with any new ones of your own.
His final six sub-options look quite interesting and he was particularly intrigued by – Sub-Option AA: US & Allies layout Tiered-Strength Trade Sanctions. US & Allied leaders should stand-by their initial decision, as it would likely only 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. What is USA’s optimum option in warding off Iran in the Middle-East? Thanks Option Solving. (NOTE: Our next posting will be in two week’s time: “?” 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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