2014-08-05, 04:05 | Link #1241 | |
On a mission
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They are both right wing. I'm sure a lot of people over in Europe would share this observation. I almost feel that the GOP exists to make the Democrats look good. I don't want to go into left good, right bad or some kind of crap, but it's definitely skewed in a certain direction. The GOP I do consider pretty much a party that should die sooner rather than later. Would I support Obama over the GOP? Yes, I would. I would never vote for a GOP member today. But I do not think they have moved away enough from the Bush administration, and in fact have continued certain policies. We still allow drone strikes of so called "unlawful combatants". It is sensible if some would say Obama and co have been blocked by the scum that is the obstructionist GOP legislature. But at the same time, I feel that complying too much with this kind of stuff makes them complicit to some degree. We could always do better to promote peace and the well-being of our own citizens. I assume that you're not a US resident, and I guess I'll ask anyone else who isn't as well. How much safer do you feel concerning the US and world peace with the Obama administration? In any case, I think we could at least agree that the US should not base its policy on fighting simultaneous wars like it is 1900. We would not need an equivalent force to deter an attack on American territory. Indeed, when the US themselves cannot pacify Iraq and Afghanistan, the notion that we need an enormous overwhelming force to guard our borders is absurd.
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2014-08-05, 07:45 | Link #1242 |
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Hamburg
Age: 54
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Understood. To be honest... from the outside I had already developed the same impressions, and when I recently was in Las Vegas for 3 weeks of vacation, I experienced your problem firsthand.
When I was driving to a friend in Salt Lake City, I was listening to various radio stations for several hours. What struck me was the _anger_ which was seeping through several channels. As if it was the explicit intention of the channel to _enrage_ people. Something like this would be unthinkable in Germany. Controversial discourse notwithstanding - if you are dead set to treat your political opponent not as a fellow American with a different opinion on what to do, but as a traitor to the people, a menace of everything American, and combine that with your political system which _requires_ the search for a consensus as minimum, I find it hard to see how this deadlock can be resolved. |
2014-08-05, 08:52 | Link #1243 | ||||||||
Meh
Join Date: Feb 2008
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You can substantially reduce the military’s capability if you want, but at the same time you’ll have to be prepared to lose that capability for a very long time – just look at NASA and their struggle to get back out beyond LEO. If it was that easy to develop military capability, China would have SEA in its bag already. Quote:
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What do you think will happen in Europe (especially eastern Europe) and east Asia if the US withdraws completely? You’d have instant arms races in those regions, probably a few that’ll be nuclear. Quote:
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2014-08-05, 09:08 | Link #1244 | |
(ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
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Join Date: Mar 2006
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When your military stops being a defensive force and instead becomes about "projecting power", it gives the wrong people an useful tool to do very bad things with it.
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2014-08-05, 09:27 | Link #1245 | ||
Meh
Join Date: Feb 2008
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In today’s day and age, a military without the ability to project its power isn’t worth much to a major power. Why do you think China is in such a hurry to build a blue water navy? Also, maybe it’s just me, but I get the impression that some thinks if only the US would pull back, things would get better. I’m sorry, that power vacuum isn’t going to stay empty, there would be a race to fill that both globally and regionally. |
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2014-08-05, 09:29 | Link #1246 | |
Moving in circles
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 49
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If anything, Asia-Pacific countries (barring one, very notable exception) would likely welcome much more robust action from the Obama administration to back up his so-called "Asian pivot". Yet, at the same time, the people in charge over here are pretty clear about the limits of American power, and probably prefer the measured nuance of Mr Obama's foreign policy over the cowboy antics of his predecessor. When there's only one sun in the region, all nearby planets have no choice but to fall into orderly orbit around it. Another sun offers an alternative orbit. It may be a little bit more chaotic, due to the different gravitational pulls, but having a choice is better than none. |
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2014-08-05, 10:04 | Link #1248 | |
(ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
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Join Date: Mar 2006
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But wag the dog and all that. Sometimes looking behind the curtain and seeing who is pulling the strings is scary...and disgusting. Especially when you see those "bitter opponents" laughing about it at a state dinner or a golf vacation.
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2014-08-05, 11:17 | Link #1249 | |
Not Enough Sleep
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: R'lyeh
Age: 48
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The Military Industrial Complex wants more money.
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2014-08-05, 11:45 | Link #1250 | |
Meh
Join Date: Feb 2008
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As for isolationism, regardless of how one may came to feel that way, it doesn’t change the fact that such a move is not only self-defeating, but practically impossible in today’s world. If someone wants isolationism, they’d better start with the destruction of the internet and all modern telecommunication/transportation infrastructures. That kind of characterization is about as useful as saying a report about increasing poverty and income disparity = lazy bums want more government hand-out. |
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2014-08-05, 11:47 | Link #1251 | |
I never hid my hurts.
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Where the wild things are--Hell.
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See: how much we are spending on defense/"national security".
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2014-08-05, 11:51 | Link #1252 | |||||
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Join Date: Oct 2007
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Many politicians ain't entirely patriotic without being selfish, therefore, money is a useful tool. It has an effect on the healthcare policy(as we can clearly see), it also has an effect on foreign policy/military spendings. Indeed, it doesn't prove that the report is biased, and it's jumping to conclusion to accuse it of such. But Xello's not entirely pointless in his statement. Quote:
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And oh yes, everyone miscalculate occasionally. <-Obligatory comment to save you the trouble of stating the obvious. Last edited by maplehurry; 2014-08-05 at 12:47. |
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2014-08-05, 12:13 | Link #1253 | |
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
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Maintaining a military is no easy task, especially when your opponents have switched to asymmetric warfare; where police units are more viable than military units.
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2014-08-05, 13:19 | Link #1254 | |||||
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Join Date: Feb 2008
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In short, Japan was able to do what it did because of US support, it would be impossible for the US to go a similar route, as there is no one to support the US in a similar fashion. Quote:
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2014-08-05, 13:29 | Link #1255 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2007
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It's like they want to preach "Justice" and stuff to the public for domestic stability, but since you need a different mindset of foreign politics, they shy away from educating the public about it. Take ww1 for example, the German leaders really wanted war because they thought if they don't do something, Russia would overtake them. But what they told public was simply that they were allied with Austria, therefore, they had to get involved to defend Austria. |
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2014-08-05, 13:39 | Link #1256 | |||||
On a mission
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We've already opened a can for the last 70 years that can never be closed again. Is it okay to take a step back though? Quote:
Well, that is probably why this debate is an issue to begin with. To say that the world is in the hands of some very dangerous people is an understatement. Quote:
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2014-08-05, 13:43 | Link #1257 | |
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
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Back when my country was having problems with Malaysia about the 3-sen water (google it), they actually printed pamplets to be issued in school with "truths and myths" section. I remembered I was sent outside of the class for asking for the original water agreement that was signed during the British Colonial times. Having said that, it is about keeping the general public on your side so you have a consistent backing even on the foreground of international politics. Given the expansion of the internet, governments may be able to find support in their opponent's homebase, and opposition in their borders. Then it is all about "media management". It is good to be a journalist today.
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2014-08-05, 14:38 | Link #1258 | ||
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2014-08-05, 14:44 | Link #1259 | ||
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
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2014-08-05, 19:12 | Link #1260 |
Gamilas Falls
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Republic of California
Age: 46
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Oh the tone of Saddam, do recall that the first time was because he invaded Kuwait and the US and others went in there to stop him, then left him to stew with an air space restriction and heavy observation for 12 years. Then we decide to go kick his ass after 12 years of nonsense.
Not exactly a quick process.
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