Jeff Allen Myers
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8/13/2008 3:52:17 PM
---- Updated 8/13/2008 3:55:32 PM
I could not disagree with you more Holo. I believe Strength keeps us out of wars, and the unquestionable reality that we will not hesitate to act. I agree diplomatic solutions should always be the goal and first resort, but a show of strength and resolve will always be needed. If this is not apparent, there is no doubt we will be tested by both rogue and friendly nations.
I think rogue nations and terrorists fear McCain and want Obama elected. He does not present an aura of strenghth in my opinion. Sure they will come to the table and listen to his eloquent speeches, but they must respect and fear him...period. Obama must be willing to act if need be, and our enemies must not question that resolve. The world has, and will always be governed by the threat of consequences. We have not evolved to the point where negotiation will solve all our problems. I wish this was not the case, but sadly we have a long way to go. If you disagree with this, you are living in a different world then I am.
We did not win the Cold War by negotiation. We won it by being stronger, and the Russians never doubted that Reagan meant business.
A wise person on this thread alluded to Neville Chamberlin and his fatal flaw in thinking Hitler respected anything but Power and brute force. The negotiation was a farce, and the Munich accords were worthless. Hitler knew Europe was weak, and he invaded Poland and France a year later.
As a Nation I would rather be Respected then liked...
The United States did not invade Iraq in a day, it went through international channels and approached the United Nations. Our Congress voted to go to war...the United nations passed a resolution. You can argue the international community was duped with false information, but I find it hypocritical of those who bash the intelligence of the Bush Administration and call the man an idiot, but grant him the ability and the competence to dupe the United States Congress as well as the International community. I do not agree with the war because I believe we could have kept Saddam in check.I also agree the war was mismanaged from the beginning. However, I do not agree with revisionist history that paints the United States as a brutal imperialistic nation with no regard for the international community. No one talks about the good the United States does, only the negative.
Sam, yes we screwed the Indians...I have no arguement there. However, progress was bound to occur, I am sorry it occured in such a shameful way. Its no consolation, but at least they are getting something back with Casino Gambling on their reservations. :)~ The Trail of tears was a travesty, and the United States Government lied time and Time again.
Whoever our next President is, he must be strong....and yes he must be feared. He should also be respected for his compassion, intelligence, and honesty. Its a huge job, and the person is often thrust into no win situations. The world is getting more complicated everyday, and make no mistake the United States will always be a target. It will be reviled, feared, and yes...many will respect and have a great fondness for it. The United States is in a World Leadership position, with it comes great responsibility. The stakes have never been higher.....
Of course these are just my personal opinions.... I have my Health, My Integrity, and my opinions :) If you read through my diatribe, I thank you. If you disagree with me, thats ok....I am just one simple man. Good Luck to us all!
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Jeff Allen Myers
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8/13/2008 4:59:01 PM
---- Updated 8/13/2008 5:03:37 PM
Sam,
Perhaps you would like to ride the range hunting Buffalo with no electricity or a real roof over your head? Who am I kidding, I think you would Sam :) ...this is the progress of which I speak. The Indians could not hold on to the miles and miles of open land, I am sorry it could not have been shared in a more civilized way. As I stated It was shameful.
War is complicated, it cannot be reduced to one liners and accusations. World War two was just, and we had to fight in my opinion. Korea and Vietnam were about preventing the spread of communism, Make no mistake, retraint was used to our detriment in both as both conflicts could have escalted o a world war. Russia was always the enemy..... as it turned out both wars were ill advised and proved little, but I can't speak for those who were making the decisions. Truman, Kennedy, LBJ...... Iam not a historian, but I know it is just not as simple as War is wrong and "Fuck War"
Humans have been at War for as long as they could throw a fricken rock......
The world can do far worse then having a democracy holding the leadership position. What if Hitler had won? If Russia had prevailed in the cold war? what if radical terrorists get nuclear weapons? Chavez in South America? What of North Korea, Iran, or a Russia who wants to assume the power it lost?
Sam I respect your opinions, and you have a personal scar in the Iraq war, and what I say is not meant to dminish your sadness and anger. However, we have an all volunteer army, and those who enlisted knew of the potential consequences. I am 43, and have been lucky in that I never had to fight in a war, I pray my Son ...or anyones Son never does. The Vietnam war ended over thirty years ago, and the current war...by historical terms can barely be termed a war. We have lost over three thousand brave souls in this conflict. Each is incredibly special and Vital.
I am thankful we have so far been able to avoid another world war. I believe the strenghth of the United States has helped to avoid one. Here are the estimated numbers of people lost in the last World War....The numbers are staggering.
MILITARY CIVILIAN TOTAL
GERMANY 3,500,000 700,000 4,200,000
JAPAN 2,000,000 350,000 2,350,000
ROMANIA 300,000 160,000 460,000
HUNGARY 140,000 290,000 430,000
ITALY 330,000 80,000 410,000
AUSTRIA 230,000 104,000 334,000
FINLAND 82,000 2,000 84,000
SOVIET UNION 10,000,000 10,000,000 * 20,000,000
CHINA 2,500,000 7,500,00 10,000,000
POLAND 100,00 5,700,000 5,800,000
YUGOSLAVIA 300,000 1,400,000 1,700,000
FRANCE 250,000 350,000 600,000
CZECHOSLOVAKIA 200,000 215,000 415,000
UNITED STATES 400,000 — 400,000
UNITED KINGDOM (ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES, AND NORTHERN IRELAND) 326,000 62,000 388,000
NETHERLANDS 12,000 198,000 210,000
GREECE 20,000 140,000 160,000
BELGIUM 12,000 76,000 88,000
CANADA 37,000 — 37,000
INDIA 24,000 13,000 37,000
AUSTRALIA 23,000 12,000 35,000
ALBANIA 28,000 2,000 30,000
BULGARIA 10,000 10,000 20,000
NEW ZEALAND 10,000 2,000 12,000
NORWAY 6,400 3,900 10,300
SOUTH AFRICA 7,000 —
ETHIOPIA 5,000 — 5,000
LUXEMBOURG 5,000 — 5,000
MALTA — 2,000 2,000
DENMARK 400 1,000 1,400
BRAZIL 1,000 — 1,000
EST. TOTAL 20,858,800 27,372,900 48,231,700
FOURTY EIGHT MILLION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED!!!!!!
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