When Historical Grievances Become Present Fears
CASE A: The Vietnamese Perspective (2026) ABC News reports on an internal Vietnamese military document outlining preparations for a potential 'American war.' The content suggests a strategic assessment that, despite decades of normalized relations and growing economic ties, the United States remains a top-tier threat requiring active contingency planning. This includes readiness for large-scale
conventional conflict, cyber warfare, and economic disruption. The document, dated 2026, was reportedly distributed among high-ranking military officials for operational review. This is not merely a theoretical exercise; it reflects a deep-seated institutional memory and a risk analysis that assigns a non-zero probability to renewed hostilities (ABC News, 2026). CASE B: The U.S. Perspective on
'Former' Adversaries (Historic) Contrast this with how the U.S. typically frames its own relations with former adversaries. For example, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, while some strategic planning for Russia continued, the dominant U.S. discourse shifted rapidly towards integration, partnership, and 'democracy promotion.' The idea of the U.S. military actively blueprinting a
'Russian war' two decades later, even speculatively, would have been largely dismissed as an anachronism by mainstream media and policymakers. Similarly, following the normalisation of relations with Cuba in 2014, the focus was on economic engagement, not mutual military contingency planning. This highlights a double standard: former adversaries are expected to shed their historical suspicions,