I agree with Patrick, China is overated in the sense that although it is trying to acquire 'hard-power' any attempt to use it will be met with swift action from several of the world powers including Russia, India, Japan and the United States - all of which have had (or continue to have) beefs with Beijing.
Culturally the chinese (Han Chinese) mentality will curb any imperialist visions. Plus i don't think china can, in the long term, remain a nation without severe social disorder and extreme measures being taken by the communist party.
Eventually you'll probably see China wind up like Indonesia, a series of increasingly independant provinces governed by a weaker and weaker central government.
Japan on the other hand, will begin to flex it's muscles more often, and has the technology to keep china at bay.
Korea, once re-unified will likely drift towards a closer relationship with Japan as a balancing act to counter China.
China will find it's self in the current situation that America is in; powerful, but with many, many peoples and nations deliberatley blocking thier actions simply because they are powerful.
As for Iraq, the real winners will be the people if there is a peaceful break-up of Iraq into regions based on ethnic lines - something that has wrecked africa and continues to plauge the middle east.
The Kurds deserve self government, and once they get it, this will have a dominoe effect into turkey, which will then reveal it's true colours and and be once and for all barred for joining the EU.
I think the best thing is for peaceful disengagement between the different ethnic groups in iraq, but that will be seen as a 'loss' to america.
It was a good idea, but America should have waited for Europe to come on board - i remember listening to the UN on radio, hearing the speechs and thinking "Right, the europeans are IN - just give them 3 more months for Iraq to fail to comply with the weapons program and you've got them"
But no, Bushy wouldn't wait. As as a result to many lives have been lost.
