Of or Apostrophe Hi, there Which sentence is correct? "It  would  be  tantalizing  to  downplay  such  involvement,  since   the  former  metropolises’  or  the  Western  States’  military  outreach  –  or  even  that  of  Russia   and  China  –  are  substantially  more  ambitious  than  Brazil’s." ....or..... "It  would  be  tantalizing  to  downplay  such  involvement,  since   the  military outreach of the former  metropolises  or  the  Western  States  –  or  even  that  of  Russia   and  China  –  are  substantially  more  ambitious  than  Brazil’s. Should I say "the  former  metropolises’  or  the  Western  States’  military  outreach" or "the military outreach of the former  metropolises  or  the  Western  States ? Thank you very much