Why Nemesis is at the US's door

[GKLCPA]

A thought provoking article:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/IB01Aa01.html


An excerpt from the article:

"History tells us that one of the most unstable political combinations is a country - like the United States today - that tries to be a domestic democracy and a foreign imperialist.

Why this is so can be a very abstract subject. Perhaps the best way to offer my thoughts on this is to say a few words about my new book, Nemesis, and explain why I gave it the subtitle The Last Days of the American Republic. Nemesis is the third book to have grown out of my research over the past eight years. I never set out to write a trilogy on America's increasingly endangered democracy, but as I kept stumbling on ever more evidence of the legacy of the imperialist pressures we Americans put on many other countries as well as the nature and size of our military empire, one book led to another.

Professionally, I am a specialist in the history and politics of East Asia. In 2000, I published Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire, because my research on China, Japan and the two Koreas persuaded me that US policies there would have serious future consequences. The book was noticed at the time, but only after September 11, 2001, did the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) term I adapted for the title - "blowback" - become a household word and my volume a best-seller.

I had set out to explain how exactly the US government came to be so hated around the world. As a CIA term of tradecraft, "blowback" does not just mean retaliation for things the government has done to, and in, foreign countries. It refers specifically to retaliation for illegal operations carried out abroad that were kept totally secret from the US public.

These operations have included the clandestine overthrow of governments various US administrations did not like, the training of foreign militaries in the techniques of state terrorism, the rigging of elections in foreign countries, and interference with the economic viability of countries that seemed to threaten the interests of influential US corporations, as well as the torture or assassination of selected foreigners. The fact that these actions were, at least originally, secret meant that when retaliation does come - as it did so spectacularly on September 11, 2001 - the US public is incapable of putting the events in context. Not surprisingly, then, Americans tend to support speedy acts of revenge intended to punish the actual, or alleged, perpetrators. These moments of lashing out, of course, only prepare the ground for yet another cycle of blowback..."

[cpone]

Another America is evil article.
Wonderful

[Idrewfelix]

I guess people cant take that we are the new 21st century Roman Empire.

Hail the United Empire of States!

[Big Andy]

Originally Posted by Idrewfelix

I guess people cant take that we are the new 21st century Roman Empire.

Hail the United Empire of States!

And look what happened to the Roman Empire....

[cpone]

We as the United States must become completely Isolationists Immediately.

Show further weakness because that is the key to our survival. Look as weak as possible.
-------------------

I ask you all again.
If you believe the US is the next Roman Empire and that it is soooo evil and corrupt then why do you contribute to it daily by living here? If it is sooo horrible and the end is near why are you sticking around to see the downfall?

[4evDev]

America is like a nosy neighbor, it needs to mind its own business! Let the rest of the world solve their own problems!

[Idrewfelix]

Originally Posted by cpone

We as the United States must become completely Isolationists Immediately.

Show further weakness because that is the key to our survival. Look as weak as possible.
-------------------

I ask you all again.
If you believe the US is the next Roman Empire and that it is soooo evil and corrupt then why do you contribute to it daily by living here? If it is sooo horrible and the end is near why are you sticking around to see the downfall?

The US will never fall (at least in my lifetime), there are several reasons for that. No immediate bordering threat, a stable government, a strong police-state force, and national unity (thanks to the republicans).

As for supporting my country, I do so every way I can. I gladly pay my income tax and sales tax, knowing they will be spent on every bullet, bomb, and ballistic armour for our troops to conquer.

Why do Americans complain when we live with a GDP of $43,000, huge houses, strong middle class, most advanced army, and television?

Foreign nations just hate on us because they're run by crazy liberals.

Originally Posted by 4evDev

America is like a nosy neighbor, it needs to mind its own business! Let the rest of the world solve their own problems!

When their own business starts flooding over to our turf (ie. 911 attacks, illegal immigration, etc.) then we have to do something about it. Im sure if Canada got bombed by insurgents, they would do something as well.

Originally Posted by Big Andy

And look what happened to the Roman Empire....

Yup, considered one of the most advanced empires that ever spanned the globe, only compared to Khans and the British Empire. Im just glad the United Empire won't fall so easily as the Romans did. Seeing as we have no immediate military threat against us (as the romans did with the Germanic Tribes).

[Big Andy]

Originally Posted by Idrewfelix

Yup, considered one of the most advanced empires that ever spanned the globe, only compared to Khans and the British Empire. Im just glad the United Empire won't fall so easily as the Romans did. Seeing as we have no immediate military threat against us (as the romans did with the Germanic Tribes).

Yeah all good points but don't forget the Roman Empire didn't really fall through external forces - it crumbled from within. While they were looking outwards for enemies they ignored what was going on at home. Empires rise and all Empires fall eventually, it's the natural order like night follows day. I'm sure the Chinese are readying themselves to take their place in the sun.

[4evDev]

When their own business starts flooding over to our turf (ie. 911 attacks, illegal immigration, etc.) then we have to do something about it. Im sure if Canada got bombed by insurgents, they would do something as well.

What does that have to do with Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq the second time? I know, as a Canadian I can't go to Haiti, because the people there hate us for our peacekeeping presence. Just the fact the we (foreigners) were in their country, was enough to piss them off that much. Our "help" did nothing except alienate them.

I guess i'm just a crazy liberal. I guess it's just crazy to want to live in a peaceful nation.

[cpone]

No immediate bordering threat, a stable government, a strong police-state force, and national unity (thanks to the republicans).

No immediate threats?
What do you call Venezuela to the south. Iran in the Middle East and North Korea to the west. Not to mention the sleeping Giant China and Russia being the seller to all these nations with arms.

What do you call the LAX security to the south where it is a JOKE no thanks to the GOP, either.

National unity?

You must have been facetious with that whole comment.

[Idrewfelix]

Originally Posted by cpone

No immediate threats?
What do you call Venezuela to the south. Iran in the Middle East and North Korea to the west. Not to mention the sleeping Giant China and Russia being the seller to all these nations with arms.

What do you call the LAX security to the south where it is a JOKE no thanks to the GOP, either.

National unity?

You must have been facetious with that whole comment.

Venezuela? Iran? North Korea? You really think those nations are immediate threats to the US? It would be a joke on their part to even wage war against the United States. Air supremacy is what wins wars; and seeing how the US is isolated from any of those countries, they are not a threat.

China and Russia are selling them junk that have been recycled from the Cold War.

And Im not really referring to any terrorists attacks; no matter how many there are in the US, it doesn't mean the US will be jeopardized as a country.

[cpone]

I wish I had your optimism Regarding all these countries.
America is weaker and weaker and increasingly being seen with nations leaders like these as a Lion with NO TEETH.
And I beg to differ that Air Supremacy wins wars.
If that was the Case Iraq would have been done and Vietnam would have been a win as well.

Also in today's world you do not have to be next to a nation to wage war.

You should do some more research on the supposed "junk" as you call it they are selling them.

[mmarshall]

Originally Posted by Idrewfelix

Foreign nations just hate on us because they're run by crazy liberals.

Not all liberals are "crazy", of course, but there IS a lot of truth in your statement. There are good and sensible leaders overseas in countries like England, Australia, Poland, Israel, and others who DON'T hate the U.S. and who do acknowledge our leadership in many areas. Tony Blair...a superb Prime Minister.....is probably the best example.

[Idrewfelix]

^^^ yes, Tony Blair is one of the few leaders that have cognitive thinking, and therefore he has my utmost respect.

Originally Posted by cpone

America is weaker and weaker and increasingly being seen with nations leaders like these as a Lion with NO TEETH.
And I beg to differ that Air Supremacy wins wars.
If that was the Case Iraq would have been done and Vietnam would have been a win as well.
Also in today's world you do not have to be next to a nation to wage war.

Air Supremacy wins total wars. The only thing that stops it, is the media who show civilian casualties and the rediculous rules of engagement. If we had the greenlight to bomb the hell out of iraq, the war would have been won already.

The main problem with any nation trying to start war with the US is the two huge oceans that are separating them from us. You can't win a war against a nation with defenses that outnumber and out surpass you when you're trying to transport units through the air, it fundamentally doesn't make sense - if it did Im sure NK or Iran would gladly have declared war already.

Originally Posted by cpone

You should do some more research on the supposed "junk" as you call it they are selling them.

They are junk compared to the defensive weaponry of the United States. The most advanced weapons they are selling at Mig 29/33/35's. Although a force to be reckoned with, they are alas nothing compared what the US has (F15, 16, 18, 22).

[GKLCPA]

Originally Posted by cpone

No immediate threats?
What do you call Venezuela to the south. Iran in the Middle East and North Korea to the west. Not to mention the sleeping Giant China and Russia being the seller to all these nations with arms.

What do you call the LAX security to the south where it is a JOKE no thanks to the GOP, either.

National unity?

You must have been facetious with that whole comment.

Actually, the biggest threat to the primacy of the United States is ourselves and our thinking; the threat from the nations you mentioned is overstated in comparision to the threat we present to ourselves. It is this internal threat from an unsustainable economic situation that is looming; specifically our current account deficit that is being financed abroad along with significant foreign ownership of US treasuries. Much of our effort in finding enemies, fighting wars and sponsoring interventions has to do with shoring up our perilous economic situation.

Due to the rampant inflation of the 60's and 70's, Nixon was forced to take the US dollar off of the gold standard. Due to a 70's era agreement with OPEC in the aftermath of the Arab oil embargo, oil is priced and traded in US dollars which means that our currency is essentially backed by oil. Since oil is a commodity that everyone needs, every nation must hold dollar reserves to acquire it. This results in the US dollar being effectively backed by oil resources that don't belong to us and allows our federal reserve to print dollars without the attendent consequence of inflation. Any move to trade in any other currency would have a HUGE impact on inflation in our own nation because all the dollars currently being held by other countries would fly home because they'd no longer be needed to buy oil. The likely impact would be steeply higher levels of inflation with the stock, bond and housing markets being roiled as well. A true economic disaster. We now have a currency that has arisen that will be competitive with the US dollar; the Euro.

The other shoe that can drop is related to our trade deficit, which is at a record in comparision to the US Gross Domestic Product. The trade deficit measures what we export versus what we import. Since we import far more than what we produce for export, dollars wind up in the hands of our major trading partners (mainly China and Japan). Because they have dollars earned from their exports to us, they have to do something with them. Some of the dollars are retained to buy oil while the remaining dollars are held in reserve for certain other transactions. Those dollars maintained in their reserves have to be invested somewhere and the investment of choice is US Treasuries (i.e. government debt). Since we run a budget deficit where tax revenues are less than government expenditures (mainly due to republican "supply side" economic philosophy where taxes on the rich are cut without any thought to controlling expenditures), China, Japan and others are funding our prolifigate spending habits, including, of course, our wild military spending. This happy state of affairs can be ended at any time if they get tired of financing us.

The crux of the matter that keeps all of this in place is the tie between our currency and oil. Effectively, most oil producing nations are our vassals. Those in the know here know that as well as those who finance us. That is why we do so much fighting in the middle east and why the policies are as they are. The tie between oil and our currency must be maintained if we are to sustain the economic situation. Failure to do that will result in economic collapse. On the flip side of the coin, those nations that oppose us know what's at stake as well and they'll be targeting this situation.

It is much easier to tell folks they're fighting for freedom or that we're surrounded by enemies like Iran, Venezula and etc. Most people have enough of a problem sending their sons and daughters to die for even that. They'd have even more problems dying to defend the dollar or oil.

The reasons for policies, wars, interventions and etc. are always much deeper than the surface reasons given to folks. It is not a simple matter of "fighting for freedom" and etc. People are told that because it's simple enough for them to understand.