Sorry but dont see the US falling apart as others have. For one the US is still a very cohesive country from the standpoint of what American culture is. While there are divisions in the country its nothing like what it was in the 1850's and 60's that led to the Civil War.
People have moved too much and there is no real difference in much of the country anymore. If this had happened with no American Civil War in the 1860's then I would say yes. But not now.
Plus the US still has powerful military forces left, both at home and abroad even in 2001. Having CENTCOM come home after securing oil for the US by defending Iran and the Saudis, most likely in 2002 or so, will bring a powerful force, with a lot of equipment, back home - one that has fuel and access to more.
And I dont see the US letting the Mexicans keep most of Texas for long - for one CENTCOM, all by itself, has more than enough firepower to take back Texas from the small Mexican and Soviet forces that are left and keep them out for good. And MilGov, with fuel, has more than enough forces to kick the small Mexican forces out of CA and AZ and NM.
Thats why I discount the 2300AD world totally - sorry but there is no way the US lets Mexico keep LA, San Diego and half the Southwest. The game is a fantasy but all fantasies have some grounding in reality and that happening is non-sensical.
Now does that mean the US starts putting bases all over the world again - in a word no.
But I see them in 2100 still rebuilding, but back to their old borders and perhaps even bigger by absorbing some of the Caribbean nations or parts of Canada as well. With a military that is basically built for continental defense, not for projecting power overseas.
But an America that is what they were until 1898 - one that has big interests in North and South America only and only overseas in very selected places like possibly Iran and Kenya - i.e. nations that owe the US big time from the Twilight War. I..e they may have a very limited presence in the two countries and possibly Korea and the UK as well - but beyond that the rest of the world is left to their own devices.
And I dont see the French as they were in 2300AD. Sorry not going to happen. They just dont have the resource base to do that - and Africa is not going to be of much use to them for a long long time as screwed up as it will be, most likely down to 10-15% of its prewar population and with its cities and transport networks gone.
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