Now, let me step away from that for a second to highlight the phenomenon I’m talking about; the one referenced in the title. Occasionally throughout history—both ancient and modern—one nation finds itself sandwiched between two growing powers. Often enough, those two states on the make seem to be on a collision course, leaving the in-between nation or people in a tough geo-political quandary. Namely, which side to support? Or, if it’s too difficult to choose one or the other, can they somehow stay out of the coming conflagration altogether?