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  • #31
    OoE,

    bowing before the Japanese Emperor did not help in this matter.
    OTOH...such silliness hasn't damaged the relationships we have with other countries, either. US-ROK, US-JPN, US-PHL, you name it--- all of these relationships have gotten stronger since 2008, primarily because China has been throwing her weight around...and the US was well positioned to take advantage of it.

    And gave the world an impression that the Chinese now have a say in domestic American economic matters and silenced American criticism of Chinese ill economic practices.
    not sure which serious policymaker thinks that. re: Chinese crappy economic practices, reason why RMB re-evaluation isn't talked about much is because...that's precisely what the Chinese are doing. RMB hit a record high rate against the USD in august.

    This is the kind of bull that I find sickening. There is no clean way to fight a war. Wars are dirty, unpredictable, and damned expensive in both blood and treasure. The only way to avoid it was to avoid the wars all together ... and you can't tell me that we could have avoided Afghanistan.

    Iraq was poorly thought out but to this date, no one has ever counter-argued that getting rid of Saddam was not a strategic imperative.
    it's not bull at all. both you and i know that the planning/political interference in the execution of the afghanistan/iraq wars verged on disaster. blame for this lies within both the military and the political establishment.

    so, again, i don't think it's an exaggeration to say the bush administration's amateur hour resulted in both wars being significantly more costly than they had to be. these are costs that the US...and her coalition partners...and the iraqis...and the afghanis...paying to this very day.

    That's because the US is also a second rate power.
    if the US is a second rate power, then there is no "first rate power".

    the US, of all the western powers (with the possible exception of germany) emerged from the financial crisis stronger than before. her long-term fundamentals are better than all of her allies...and all of her potential enemies.

    A strategic necessity, especially after 11 September.
    the wars were a strategic necessity. bungling the wars was not.

    Instead, we're letting the likes of North Korea, China, and Iran dictate the picture of their own regional peace and war.

    Both Obama and Hillary were adamant that Iran would not be allowed a nuke. Too late.
    frankly that's what they were doing in 2002-2008, as well. past the initial scare in 2003, Iran/China/NK were laughing all the way while hundreds of thousands of US troops were fighting sunni/shia insurgents in the streets of Ramadi and Fallujah for nine long years. Iran was busy fighting the US down to the last of sadr's muppets.

    the point is that presidential strength isn't the end-all be-all when it comes to international affairs. even less so today vice twenty or thirty years ago. hell, even then, the US survived jimmy carter. and had a few things gone bad (Able Archer 83 comes to mind), we might not have survived reagan!
    There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."- Isaac Asimov

    Comment


    • #32
      Originally posted by Officer of Engineers View Post
      The Chinese, Koreans, and the Taiwanese.
      China is not an ally of US. Korean is a lesser weight and relies on a US division to anchor S. Korea's defense and same thing with Taiwan. They can grow up and it is time for them to grow up. WWII is nearly 70 years ago and the last generation to experience the horrors of WWII are dying out. Let the past go.

      The Republicans.
      That ain't much of an argument. It is a non-sequitur.

      The Iraq War was launched from Kuwait, not the KSA.
      And the KSA still holds the world's largest reserves and carries great weight on OPEC, something not matched by any OPEC member. Only Russia can rival KSA in oil reserves non-shale.

      Yes. There has been no talk of re-evaluating the reminbi since Obama came to power.
      And China will pay for it. Free market rules.

      Hardly. Chinese still run rampant in their capital expenditures contrary to American desires. Re-evaluating their currency, tariffs, and IP violations are still in the Chinese favour.
      All done in violation of free market rules and they will come to rue their excess spending.

      On the contrary, it saw Russia solving the mess without getting invloved. There is not one Russian trooper overseeing Assad and Assad is given the power to solve his own problem.
      There are Russian soldiers on Syrian ground. See that naval base (forgot name and too lazy to look it up)

      That is so much bull in this re-evaluation that it makes me sick. Both Afghanistan and Iraq were wars that needed to be fought. Maybe the wars could have been fought better. It certainly could have been fought far worst. To say these wars were broken pottery without any meaningful benefits ignores the fact that 3000 of our citizens died and it taught Saddam how to hurt us.
      Aghanistan war needed to be fought but could have been handled way better. Based on recent intelligence reports on Saddam not having WMDs and the cost involved, it was not worth it. Of course you would say it was worth it because it is not your tax dollars and the blood and sweat of your countrymen that made Iraq War possible.

      Yeah, how did the Brits do with the Syrian war cry?
      They rejected and not doing anything with Syria but wants US to do something because they don't want to pay for it. Not a good example of leadership.

      Bowing before the Japanese Emperor did not help in this matter.
      Oh gawd who gives a frick? All japanese people bow out of sign of respect. George herbert Bush bowed to Japanese PM when he came over and he puked all over the Japanese PM but nobody cares.

      And gave the world an impression that the Chinese now have a say in domestic American economic matters and silenced American criticism of Chinese ill economic practices.
      Anybody who believes that is a good potential customer for sales of bridges in Florida.

      That's because the US is also a second rate power.
      That is because the people of US doesn't want to pay the piper's bill to be a first rate power. US is not a second rate power in terms of naval capability. US navy still outfirepower the next 13 navies combined without breaking a sweat. You only think of US as a second rate power because US refuses to be embroiled in wars everywhere. That is the fastest way to become a third rate power.

      Instead, we're letting the likes of North Korea, China, and Iran dictate the picture of their own regional peace and war.
      Ok then pay up the money necessary to dictate the peace and war in those three regions.

      Both Obama and Hillary were adamant that Iran would not be allowed a nuke. Too late.
      Then by your standards, it was already too late when Obama took power. Then the blame lies with Bush.

      Comment


      • #33
        Originally posted by Captain Worley View Post
        And Grover Cleveland didn't know what was going on? Riiiiiight.

        OK, we've established we can both be silly.

        Obama knew exactly what he was doing. He doesn't like America being 'high and mighty' so he decided to step the US down to the Saudi's level. I think it was a bad move. Why bring a superpower down to the level of a middle eastern country?
        Or he could be responding to criticisms and complaints that US was being arrogant and high mighty so he paid respect to the king as a way to show sensitivities to the Muslim world.
        His idealism once again runs into the reality, and once again catches the losing end of it. He's done far more than Bush da Second ever did to lower the nation's status in the world.
        Now you are being hyperbolic and in your own reality distortion field. Bush the second did way much more than Obama could ever to lower the nation's status in the world.

        Bush's bungling in the Afghanistan theater pretty much ensured that the Taliban would remain and come back and exhausted American's staying power. Same thing with Iraq and Iraq is not the shining beacon of democracy in the Muslim world as we wanted it to be like Germany or Japan.

        Comment


        • #34
          Originally posted by Captain Worley View Post
          Yeah, I fully expect the government to bizzitch slap industry for responding to a problem the government created.
          I fully expect the government to bitchslap the industry for obstructing the very spirit and purpose the law was created for. The problem was not created by the government but by its own circumstances when healthcare costs were spiraling out of control and threatened the nation's financial system.

          The healthcare system was a huge mess before Obama came on the scene and Obama is trying to get a handle on the mess with the Affordable Care Act. So instead of being obstructionists, why don't companies and Republicans work with the system and make it work instead of gaming the system?

          Comment


          • #35
            About the Bowing silliness.

            When President Eisenhower bowed before Charles De Gaulle did it make us weak in the eyes of the world?

            When President Nixon bowed while meeting Japanese Emperor did it make us weak in the eyes of the world? Or when he bowed to Mao?

            When Reagan bowed to the Queen of England did it make us weak in the eyes of the world?

            When Clinton bowed to the Japanese Emperor did it make us weak in the eyes of the world?

            When President Bush kissed and held hands with Crown Prince Abdullah did it make us weak in the eyes of the world? Or when he bowed when meeting the Premiere of China? Or when he did it when meeting the Pope?

            I won't even try to imagine how we looked when President Bush Sr threw up while eating with the Japanese Prime Minister.

            Much to do about nothing

            Comment


            • #36
              Originally posted by Gun Grape View Post
              About the Bowing silliness.

              Much to do about nothing
              Yeah I've always thought there was plenty else to worry about Obama than his bowing. Cheney bowed before the Saudi king as well IIRC. BFD.
              “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

              Comment


              • #37
                Originally posted by Gun Grape View Post
                About the Bowing silliness.

                When President Eisenhower bowed before Charles De Gaulle did it make us weak in the eyes of the world?

                When President Nixon bowed while meeting Japanese Emperor did it make us weak in the eyes of the world? Or when he bowed to Mao?

                When Reagan bowed to the Queen of England did it make us weak in the eyes of the world?

                When Clinton bowed to the Japanese Emperor did it make us weak in the eyes of the world?

                When President Bush kissed and held hands with Crown Prince Abdullah did it make us weak in the eyes of the world? Or when he bowed when meeting the Premiere of China? Or when he did it when meeting the Pope?

                I won't even try to imagine how we looked when President Bush Sr threw up while eating with the Japanese Prime Minister.

                Much to do about nothing
                See here: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2...ows-revisited/

                http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/...all-the-others

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jocQgIBjPzc

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyKWAv-6WEA

                OOE, based on the above if I were to go by your standards, then President Bush W. would be even more gayer and effeminate than President Obama because he kissed a man on the cheek.
                Last edited by Blademaster; 31 Oct 13,, 00:51.

                Comment


                • #38
                  Originally posted by Blademaster View Post
                  I fully expect the government to bitchslap the industry for obstructing the very spirit and purpose the law was created for. The problem was not created by the government but by its own circumstances when healthcare costs were spiraling out of control and threatened the nation's financial system.

                  The healthcare system was a huge mess before Obama came on the scene and Obama is trying to get a handle on the mess with the Affordable Care Act. So instead of being obstructionists, why don't companies and Republicans work with the system and make it work instead of gaming the system?
                  Why?

                  The government didn't do it before, why do you expect it now?

                  When those laws were passed on the phone companies, telling them to provide this and that service, who ended up paying for it? The public with this and that fee. When the AWB bill was passed in the 90's, the companies modified what they were selling to be in the letter of the law but still be able to make a buck. When voters tell a government no we won't let get bonds for this new project, what I am saying with my vote is make do with the money you have, what happens? They go off and find money elsewhere and build it anyway.

                  Between one side or the other, spirit of the act seems to have very little impact when it comes to the big boys. It doesn't matter to the people who find ways to get around the letter of the law and the people who are passing the acts seem to never learn that if what they are writing is not popular, those they are writing it on will pass it on to another.

                  What would possibly make anyone think that any retribution is coming for those big boys who aren't in spirit with it?

                  Quite frankly, any corrective action will probably be felt more by the same people it usually is, the little people.................us.

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    Originally posted by Blademaster View Post
                    Or he could be responding to criticisms and complaints that US was being arrogant and high mighty so he paid respect to the king as a way to show sensitivities to the Muslim world..........
                    Given the massive divide in philosophies in the Muslim world, I would say that such a summary of an event with such a conclusion..............is really not understanding the magnitude of a situtation.

                    That is, "so he paid respect to the king as a way to show sensitivities to the Muslim world" IS NOT showing sensitivities to the Muslim world. It may be showing sensitivities of some kind to some section of the world, but, long story short, if that king's policies are in contradiction to a significant part of the Muslim world, it is probably more a slap in the face to that part instead of showing sensitivities.

                    Don't take one part of a world and assume it applies to all of it.

                    Comment


                    • #40
                      Originally posted by astralis View Post
                      OTOH...such silliness hasn't damaged the relationships we have with other countries, either. US-ROK, US-JPN, US-PHL, you name it--- all of these relationships have gotten stronger since 2008, primarily because China has been throwing her weight around...and the US was well positioned to take advantage of it.
                      Not because of anything the US has done and American leadership is still lacking. Instead of a united Taiwanese-Japanese-South Korean stand, it is an American stand with three individual agenda ... which the bowing did no

                      Originally posted by astralis View Post
                      not sure which serious policymaker thinks that. re: Chinese crappy economic practices, reason why RMB re-evaluation isn't talked about much is because...that's precisely what the Chinese are doing. RMB hit a record high rate against the USD in august.
                      Nowhere near its real value which is what we should have been pushing all along. There is a danger approaching that the US sees but the Chinese do not ... and no one is doing a damn thing about it, especially the Americans - the rise of Chinese unemployment.

                      Originally posted by astralis View Post
                      it's not bull at all. both you and i know that the planning/political interference in the execution of the afghanistan/iraq wars verged on disaster. blame for this lies within both the military and the political establishment.
                      You missed my point. Can you name me one occupation in earth's entire military history that was easy? Can we expected a better outcome? Initially yeah but historically? It is most likely on par with all other occupations in history ... unless we took a second genocidal campaign. Do recall that the Mongols also did not resort to genocide until the population resisted.

                      Originally posted by astralis View Post
                      so, again, i don't think it's an exaggeration to say the bush administration's amateur hour resulted in both wars being significantly more costly than they had to be. these are costs that the US...and her coalition partners...and the iraqis...and the afghanis...paying to this very day.
                      I don't buy that. The ISAF has rotated through all major NATO military commands. The Germans, Canadians, British, French, Turks, Italians did no better than the Americans. The point here is that Afghanistan could be as well as could be expected short of a Mongol solution.

                      Looking at Iraq, the divisions within the population were bound to surface. If Egypt, Libya, and now Syria could not avoid internal civil strife, it would be too much to ask of the Iraqis not to do the same.

                      Originally posted by astralis View Post
                      if the US is a second rate power, then there is no "first rate power".
                      How far have we fallen when we fear going to war with the likes of Iran and North Korea.

                      Originally posted by astralis View Post
                      the US, of all the western powers (with the possible exception of germany) emerged from the financial crisis stronger than before. her long-term fundamentals are better than all of her allies...and all of her potential enemies.
                      And here is where American leadership is lacking. What happens when China goes through her own bubble crisis ... and we all know it's coming. Banks can only pay for empty cities only for so long. Before Obama got a lecture from the Chinese, Washington was busy trying to minimize the Chinese downturn, modernize the bank system, put in a modern social net, ... and the pressure to do so was American economic buying power ... gone.

                      Originally posted by astralis View Post
                      the wars were a strategic necessity. bungling the wars was not.
                      Name me one war that was not bungled. Go through the WWII threads, the starch reality was not anything that anyone done right. Hell, deep battle is completely idiotic. You have to be strong everywhere. The starch reality is that who bungled less.

                      Can you tell me what UNPROFOR gain for Canada?

                      Originally posted by astralis View Post
                      frankly that's what they were doing in 2002-2008, as well. past the initial scare in 2003, Iran/China/NK were laughing all the way while hundreds of thousands of US troops were fighting sunni/shia insurgents in the streets of Ramadi and Fallujah for nine long years. Iran was busy fighting the US down to the last of sadr's muppets.
                      You heard this from me before. Iraq was a half war and Afghanistan was a side theatre.

                      Originally posted by astralis View Post
                      the point is that presidential strength isn't the end-all be-all when it comes to international affairs. even less so today vice twenty or thirty years ago. hell, even then, the US survived jimmy carter. and had a few things gone bad (Able Archer 83 comes to mind), we might not have survived reagan!
                      Jimmy Carter gave away Asia.

                      Originally posted by Gun Grape View Post
                      Much to do about nothing
                      GS,

                      This



                      vs this



                      Obama's bowing is doing nothing towards what the Americans really need in Asia -a Japanese-South Korean-Taiwanese alliance.

                      Comment


                      • #41
                        Originally posted by Officer of Engineers View Post
                        Obama's bowing is doing nothing towards what the Americans really need in Asia -a Japanese-South Korean-Taiwanese alliance.
                        So Obama is responsible for the lack of such alliance?

                        Something specifically forbidden in the Japanese Constitution

                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Originally posted by Gun Grape View Post
                          So Obama is responsible for the lack of such alliance?
                          If it's his idea to shift American strategy, then pissing off his two other biggest allies in the region ain't a good idea. Then, there is the Daiyou dispute. Obama let it be known that he would have no choice but to defend Japanese interest if it comes to war between China and Japan over these rocks.

                          Left unsaid but hear very clearly in Taipei, the US would goto war against Taiwanese claims in the area also.

                          Not a very good start.

                          Originally posted by Gun Grape View Post
                          Something specifically forbidden in the Japanese Constitution
                          Give their lawyers 24 hours to find the wording.

                          Comment


                          • #43
                            Originally posted by Officer of Engineers View Post
                            If it's his idea to shift American strategy, then pissing off his two other biggest allies in the region ain't a good idea. Then, there is the Daiyou dispute. Obama let it be known that he would have no choice but to defend Japanese interest if it comes to war between China and Japan over these rocks.
                            Japan is an ally of US while China is not and making a statement of defending Japanese sovereignty is not standing up but pissing off China? This stands in direct contradiction to your statement
                            How far have we fallen when we fear going to war with the likes of Iran and North Korea.
                            Left unsaid but hear very clearly in Taipei, the US would goto war against Taiwanese claims in the area also.
                            Taiwan is not even recognized as an official country and US has toed the line so how can Taiwan make such claims? Moreso, if it does, then it would be China making the claim through its proxy. You cannot have the cake and eat it. Your logic makes no sense.

                            Not a very good start.
                            Actually it is a good start. it sends a strong message to the area that US would defend Japanese sovereignty and South Korea knows this and Taiwan knows this and China understands this and Obama is not the first one to do so. You just want to find fault or blame in every action of Obama's. You come across as very biased.

                            Give their lawyers 24 hours to find the wording.
                            So your proposed action is to do nothing and say nothing and get his head in the sands? Reminds me of the saying, Do something and you are damned; Do nothing and you're damned.

                            I have come to the conclusion that you just don't like Obama plain and simple and will find fault in everything he does even it stands contradicted to your principles of leadership or actions based on prior presidents.

                            Comment


                            • #44
                              Originally posted by Officer of Engineers View Post
                              Not because of anything the US has done and American leadership is still lacking. Instead of a united Taiwanese-Japanese-South Korean stand, it is an American stand with three individual agenda ... which the bowing did no
                              That is not the fault of Obama and you even admitted it readily. Your recent posts has revealed that they said thanks but no thanks when Obama administration proposed an alliance. those two countries do not want any kind of alliance with Japan and that is the fault of them not Obama.

                              Nowhere near its real value which is what we should have been pushing all along. There is a danger approaching that the US sees but the Chinese do not ... and no one is doing a damn thing about it, especially the Americans - the rise of Chinese unemployment.
                              Only a fool would decry about something that is not in his control. A wise man would do something that is in his control. US cannot dictate the policies of China and every time US did so, it was told to mind its own business. US just shrugged off because if China goes down, US won't get that affected and can move its production bases to other countries. You expect US to do everything.

                              You missed my point. Can you name me one occupation in earth's entire military history that was easy? Can we expected a better outcome? Initially yeah but historically? It is most likely on par with all other occupations in history ... unless we took a second genocidal campaign. Do recall that the Mongols also did not resort to genocide until the population resisted
                              Germany and Japan became two of the most prosperous societies and 15 years into post WWII, their economies were strongly taking off and moving in a good direction. Contrast it with Iraq and Afghanistan.
                              I don't buy that. The ISAF has rotated through all major NATO military commands. The Germans, Canadians, British, French, Turks, Italians did no better than the Americans. The point here is that Afghanistan could be as well as could be expected short of a Mongol solution.
                              Non-sequitur. The combined troops of those countries you mentioned amount to less than a division and US had more than 3 divisions worth in Afghanistan. Americans were in control. They just had different generals from other countries as a propaganda thing but the real control lies with Americans.

                              Looking at Iraq, the divisions within the population were bound to surface. If Egypt, Libya, and now Syria could not avoid internal civil strife, it would be too much to ask of the Iraqis not to do the same.
                              Then why get involved with Iraq in the first place when you know that Saddam had no WMD program in place?

                              How far have we fallen when we fear going to war with the likes of Iran and North Korea.
                              Maybe because those countries are in deep shit holes and resemble something of a mudpit very hard to get out? A wise man knows when to stay out of the mudpit that has no real gains. You even admit that S. korea doesn't want to get into a war for the very reason it would have to inherit the mess. Why should US inherit the mess for S. Korea's benefit. Even China doesn't want to invade North Korea.

                              Same thing for Iran. Now US is making inroads into alternative fuel technology and I predict that once Telsa starts producing 400+ mile electric cars, US's need for oil will strongly go down and the benefits of invading Iran becomes even less. Better off to contain Iran and save your dollars to strengthen your IP base and economy and whatnot. US does not have to get into war everywhere. That is not good leadership.

                              And here is where American leadership is lacking. What happens when China goes through her own bubble crisis ... and we all know it's coming. Banks can only pay for empty cities only for so long. Before Obama got a lecture from the Chinese, Washington was busy trying to minimize the Chinese downturn, modernize the bank system, put in a modern social net, ... and the pressure to do so was American economic buying power ... gone.
                              No real leadership is putting something to place so that when the shit hits the fan, you won't get affected by the fallout badly. US or EU has no say in China's domestic policies or internal affairs and China is not about to let them to, torpedoes be damned. So why waste your breath and energy when it could be used to strengthen your own economy and improve your situation and create plans to isolate the fallout.

                              Name me one war that was not bungled. Go through the WWII threads, the starch reality was not anything that anyone done right. Hell, deep battle is completely idiotic. You have to be strong everywhere. The starch reality is that who bungled less.
                              That's easy. Gulf War I, Panama invasion, Grenada invasion, Indo-Pak 1971, Falklands War, etc.

                              Can you tell me what UNPROFOR gain for Canada?
                              Then why do you expect US to go to war in Iran or North Korea? Now you see the problem. what is the gain for US by going to war against Iran and North Korea?

                              Everybody is decrying Obama's lack of leadership because he refuses to fall for the sucker's line that going to war would benefit US when it actually benefits other countries and not US itself. That is not a good criticism of Obama's leadership. He is just being smart to the BS going on around. US would be stuck with the butcher's bill and taxpayers bills. The people of US is not about to do it again and I don't blame them.

                              You heard this from me before. Iraq was a half war and Afghanistan was a side theatre.
                              Then why do you say those wars were strategic necessities in the first place? If it was a strategic necessity, it is not a side theater but a war or front itself, not a half war.

                              Jimmy Carter gave away Asia.
                              Please back up this assertion. Did Jimmy Carter pull out American presence in Japan or S. Korea? Did he reduce the USN's footprint in the Pacific Ocean? if you are gonna go by that standard, then I can safely say that Nixon and Ford gave away Asia, too. After all, Nixon went to China and agreed to PRC as the real China and tacitly accepted communism or one party rule in China and betrayed Taiwan. Ford told S. Vietnam to fuck itself and saw it overrun by N. Vietnam.

                              This



                              vs this

                              See this:

                              Obama is not the first one.

                              Obama's bowing is doing nothing towards what the Americans really need in Asia -a Japanese-South Korean-Taiwanese alliance.
                              And S. Korea and Taiwan said no on many times to Clinton administration, Bush administration, and Obama administration. So why the blame on Obama?

                              Comment


                              • #45
                                OoE,

                                to simplify matters, i'll compress the argument down.

                                -bowing: i work military international affairs for a living, and specifically in east asia. i have yet to hear a single conversation which went, "we would have worked more closely with you if it wasn't for the fact that your President bowed in front of the Japanese like a lackey."

                                instead, the conversation goes: "thank god you guys are finally paying more attention over here. how do we get more american equipment/training/more exercises because we have a big neighbor whom may or may not be friendly to our interests." as i said, each one of our allies is closer to us today than they were 5 years ago. i think it's a bit much to ask that US leadership can wave a wand and make our allies closer to each other.

                                i find it highly, highly unlikely that if we had President McCain or Romney, that suddenly Japan-ROK-Taiwan would all be allies or even close partners. they weren't all throughout the cold war; why would they be today?

                                - the iraq and afghanistan wars.

                                yeah, it's war; $hit happens. but think about the timing of the war, how many troops were used, the complete lack of post-war planning.

                                that's not "unpredictable $hit happens", many of these issues were brought up in advance. the political leadership took a deliberate blind eye. THAT is why it's the bush administration's amateur hour.

                                You heard this from me before. Iraq was a half war and Afghanistan was a side theatre.
                                from a military capability standpoint. from a political standpoint, there was no way bush was going to strike either North Korea or Iran without something -extremely- egregious.
                                There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."- Isaac Asimov

                                Comment

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