View Single Post
Old 03-25-2012, 23:38   #8
akv
Area Commander
 
akv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: USA-Germany
Posts: 1,572
We are what we are

I enjoy VDH's books, other than a good rant what is his message here? We are what we are, and that is currently the world's greatest empire. America is the world's only global military power and our economic might produces 25% of the world's wealth on an annual basis. Our impact on the world is disproportionate to our population and a function of our balanced economic, and military strength, we need to accept this. It has been this way since the Soviets collapsed.

The world will not hate or envy us less if we go isolationist, in fact it could easily become more dangerous. We have no allies only shared interests. We nation build only for our own safety and should not expect gratitude, neither Japan or Germany has been a threat since 1945, that was mission accomplished. America was not the world superpower when Thomas Jefferson and Washington were warning about foreign entanglement, yes we need a cohesive foreign strategy, but isolationism would fit US interests right now as well as a grown man trying on shoes from his childhood.

We act as a spoiling state, we defend the status quo, and we will have setbacks. The Arab Spring for all of it's hype was basically to date a non-event, a changing of the guard in Egypt, and Libya only from NATO military intervention. Other than Turkey the Islamic world doesn't seem to care much for Democracy. AQ was trying to reform an Islamic Caliphate by demonstrating the weakness of the US who supported existing Muslim regimes. We went in to Iraq and showed the world, despots beware, you can chirp, but we are willing and able to replace you if you get out of line, so choose the status quo over this new Caliphate, which they are doing. We needed to get UBL in Afghanistan, and ensure the country is no longer a safe haven for attacks on our soil, if building schools there makes us safer, nation build away. Nothing less is worth the blood and sacrifice of so many young American troops.

With the exception of nuclear proliferation, which is unnaceptable, we have to come to terms with what we are, these are the costs of being the world's empire. Our greatest threat is internal, historically at some point empires often cease to be republics, and in the process lose their justice and balance, until someone is powerful enough to get past the US Navy, this is the greatest threat to America.
__________________
"Men Wanted: for Hazardous Journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.” -Sir Ernest Shackleton

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” –Greek proverb
akv is offline   Reply With Quote