Michael Auslin of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University writes for RealClearPolitics that China's cover-up of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan province may well be seen by historians as marking the clear beginning of a new Cold War between the U.S. and China. I believe Auslin oversimplifies.
I see parallels between the role of the current pandemic situation vis-a-vis China, the role of the Berlin blockade in formalizing the U.S.-Soviet Cold War, and the role of 9-11 in formalizing the U.S.-Militant Islam Long War. Let me explain.
In each of these cases, the conflict was already ongoing. Cold War with the Soviets began as hostilities ended in Europe, during the Truman administration. The Long War with political Islam dates back at least to the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut. You could even argue it dates back to "the shores of Tripoli" the Marines sing about, which happened during the Jefferson presidency. And our conflict with China has flickered off and on since the Korean War.
What all three events have in common is that they captured the attention of everyday Americans who pay little attention to what happens overseas until it affects them personally. Each of these was a wake-up call to the American man-and-woman-in-the-street.
You can argue, as Auslin seems to, there is no Cold War, no Long War, until everyday Americans recognize it has begun. For those of us who pay attention to overseas happenings, it isn't that simple or clear-cut. These things build up slowly until a splashy event gets the public's attention. Covid-19 may well be that attention-getting event with China.
