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by cooper_ganglia 820 days ago
How is building a rail system for transporting freight to and from the U.S. that runs through Russian territory a good/feasible idea?

Even if Russia agreed, Putin or whatever strong-man dictator they have next could suddenly decide it was a bad idea, and to block U.S. freight. Then we have no rail transport AND a grounded air fleet that would take time to get operational at the same output it is today.
2 comments
mc32 820 days ago
I didn't mean tomorrow ("if we ever.."), or the day after. I meant one day when the US and Russia get along as well as China and the US do. It's not like we'll be at not-war war long into the future. Building the bridges and tunnels would take probably a decade or two, the way we build things. But if we did, then much of China's trade that goes over airfreight could come over via rail... one day.
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BirAdam 820 days ago
When goods stop crossing borders, soldiers start crossing borders. The easiest way NOT to go to war is to have open trade.
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nradov 820 days ago
That's a nice little platitude but it's not supported by the historical record.
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BirAdam 812 days ago
Eh, the USA’s history seems to confirm it. I’m not really sure about others, but I’d be surprised if countries that are dependent upon one another were at war with one another.
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photonbeam 820 days ago
Best way to avoid war is to have the border be open ocean.

Having a railroad bridge with russia is inviting problems

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