Stunning photography of the manmade island. The article raises questions about America's role as international peace keeper. Is it still valid that America conducts patrols and operates hundreds of bases in scores of countries, boxing in rival powers? That's obviously a loaded question. Curious, is this line of reasoning by commentator Laura valid?How many people read this article down to the 35th paragraph where one learns that the Pentagon conducted the world's largest naval war games in July, a month-long Rim of the Pacific exercises, known as RIMPAC,that brought together 46 ships and submarines, 200 aircraft and 25,000 troops from 25 nations? Last I heard, Beijing does not host any naval exercises up & down the California coast or the Atlantic seaboard. Please take a moment to think about the asymmetry of US naval power & the "threat inflation" of China's aggressiveness.