As part of the review, the Pentagon runs the original Closed Door scenarios through its own simulations. The results validate the author's findings as published the previous year. On the first day of the month, China bars all foreign naval traffic from the Taiwan Strait. Four days later, Russia moves additional forces into Belarus. The next day, Kuwait joins its neighbors in denying U.S. forces basing rights.
Intelligence warns of imminent troubles in North Korea, the Balkans, and Iraq.
In heated council, the President and senior national leaders debate the course of U.S. strategy. Flag-waving is popular only up to a point, they caution. While the country may enjoy a good war dance, it's just too tired for the real thing. The response is equally passionate. Back down, the argument runs, and Atlas will indeed have shrugged.