Pax Americana

[CrusaderFrank]

After much consideration over the latter part of my adult life, I am now a firm believer that it in is the best interest of the USA to exercise some degree of control and influence over any part of the world that is of interest to us. To ignore an area, to let them to their own devices is the height of foolishness and downright dangerous to us.

Our government was modeled Rome, so should our military strategy. I was taught that is was inappropriate for us to flex our power, that George Washington warned us about foreign intervention. We were a weak sister then and were better off not tangling with France or England. Today, France and England both rest comfortably knowing that the firepower aboard a single US Aircraft Carrier can destroy the entire armored strength of the USSR without resorting to nuclear weapons.

Rome never had any qualms about letting its neighbors know who had the big stick. When an area became of interest and importance, the Legions were dispatched. Once subdued and under Roman rule, they prospered from trade and protection. The Germanic Barbarians in the North were never subdued and they lived worse than pigs. The civilized world knew true peace because the leader was not afraid to let the world know it was a safe and dependable leader, it should be no different today.

 

[LadyGunSlinger]

Great thread.. The same goes with all governments that fall.. They show signs of weakness. The last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas Romanov allowed the woman he loved, as well as his son's medical condition to cloud his critical policies and thought process which in turn brought to an end, Imperialist Russia and saw the Romanov Dynasty wiped out in it's entirety with the family being slaughtered in the dark of night.. It's a lesson that has been repeated over the ages by foolish men and the FOOLS who enable them.

 

[LadyGunSlinger]

I love history.. If anyone is interested there are great books on the Romanov Dynasty to include the tragic fate of the last Tsar and his family.

Again, great thread with relevant historical insight.

 

[1ManRev]

At least you admit that the U.S behaves like an empire. What you fail to understand is that most of our enemies today were motivated by previous unnecessary interventions on our part. Iran may very well be a stable ally today, had we not decided to overthrow Mohammed Mossadeq, and turn the country into an unoffical American colony in 1953.

Rome collapsed because of overexpansion, not because they were weak. Seeing how we outspend the rest of the combined world in military spending, I'd say we're on track to meet that same fate.

"Today, France and England both rest comfortably knowing that the firepower aboard a single US Aircraft Carrier can destroy the entire armored strength of the USSR without resorting to nuclear weapons."

Someone might want to let them know that the USSR is no longer of concern. Seriously though, this reminds me of another peeve on the subject: why are we obligated to protecting every country in the world from one another? The negatives are similar to those of welfare. As a country, I could say "Why have a military? If someone attacks us, the U.S will have our backs."

 

[Mac1958]

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Precisely what gives us the right "to exercise some degree of control and influence over any part of the world that is of interest to us", especially when this exercise affects the affairs of another sovereign country?

.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

.

Precisely what gives us the right "to exercise some degree of control and influence over any part of the world that is of interest to us", especially when this exercise affects the affairs of another sovereign country?

.

Same thing that gave Rome that right

 

[Mac1958]

.

Precisely what gives us the right "to exercise some degree of control and influence over any part of the world that is of interest to us", especially when this exercise affects the affairs of another sovereign country?

.

Same thing that gave Rome that right

Which is what?

Precisely?

.

 

[beretta304]

Great thread.. The same goes with all governments that fall.. They show signs of weakness. The last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas Romanov allowed the woman he loved, as well as his son's medical condition to cloud his critical policies and thought process which in turn brought to an end, Imperialist Russia and saw the Romanov Dynasty wiped out in it's entirety with the family being slaughtered in the dark of night.. It's a lesson that has been repeated over the ages by foolish men and the FOOLS who enable them.

"Speak softly and carry a big stick."

 

[CrusaderFrank]

At least you admit that the U.S behaves like an empire. What you fail to understand is that most of our enemies today were motivated by previous unnecessary interventions on our part. Iran may very well be a stable ally today, had we not decided to overthrow Mohammed Mossadeq, and turn the country into an unoffical American colony in 1953.

Rome collapsed because of overexpansion, not because they were weak. Seeing how we outspend the rest of the combined world in military spending, I'd say we're on track to meet that same fate.

"Today, France and England both rest comfortably knowing that the firepower aboard a single US Aircraft Carrier can destroy the entire armored strength of the USSR without resorting to nuclear weapons."

Someone might want to let them know that the USSR is no longer of concern. Seriously though, this reminds me of another peeve on the subject: why are we obligated to protecting every country in the world from one another? The negatives are similar to those of welfare. As a country, I could say "Why have a military? If someone attacks us, the U.S will have our backs."

Mossadeq is a perfect example of why we must act to protect our interests. He was a Socialist who nationalized the oil industry and the CIA coup against him failed

So how has letting the Islamist run Iran been working for us?

 

[Toro]

After much consideration over the latter part of my adult life, I am now a firm believer that it in is the best interest of the USA to exercise some degree of control and influence over any part of the world that is of interest to us. To ignore an area, to let them to their own devices is the height of foolishness and downright dangerous to us.

Our government was modeled Rome, so should our military strategy. I was taught that is was inappropriate for us to flex our power, that George Washington warned us about foreign intervention. We were a weak sister then and were better off not tangling with France or England. Today, France and England both rest comfortably knowing that the firepower aboard a single US Aircraft Carrier can destroy the entire armored strength of the USSR without resorting to nuclear weapons.

Rome never had any qualms about letting its neighbors know who had the big stick. When an area became of interest and importance, the Legions were dispatched. Once subdued and under Roman rule, they prospered from trade and protection. The Germanic Barbarians in the North were never subdued and they lived worse than pigs. The civilized world knew true peace because the leader was not afraid to let the world know it was a safe and dependable leader, it should be no different today.

This has been the foreign policy of the United States for the last 65 years. It is the foreign policy of almost all of the world's great powers.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

.

Precisely what gives us the right "to exercise some degree of control and influence over any part of the world that is of interest to us", especially when this exercise affects the affairs of another sovereign country?

.

Same thing that gave Rome that right

Which is what?

Precisely?

.

Being the richest and most powerful nation on the planet

 

[beretta304]

"Realpolitik refers to politics or diplomacy based primarily on power and on practical and material factors and considerations, rather than ideological notions or moralistic or ethical premises. In this respect, it shares aspects of its philosophical approach with those of realism and pragmatism. The term realpolitik is sometimes used pejoratively to imply politics that are coercive, amoral, or Machiavellian. Balancing power to keep the European pentarchy was the means for keeping the peace, and careful Realpolitikers tried to avoid arms races."



"Realpolitik is related to the philosophy of political realism, and both suggest working from the hypothesis that it is chiefly based on the pursuit, possession, and application of power. Realpolitik, however, is a prescriptive guideline limited to policy-making (like foreign policy), while realism is a descriptive paradigm, a wider theoretical and methodological framework, aimed at describing, explaining and, eventually, predicting events in the international relations domain."

 

[Mac1958]

Same thing that gave Rome that right

Which is what?

Precisely?

.

Being the richest and most powerful nation on the planet

That's it? We're bigger and richer than others, so we can just do as we please?

Holy crap.

And we act surprised when we learn some people hate us.

.

 

[G.T.]

I don't think that you truly believe in the ideals of America(i.e. Freedom, in its essence) if you also believe that the behavior of the rest of the world should be dictated by our sword.

 

[Mac1958]

I don't think that you truly believe in the ideals of America(i.e. Freedom, in its essence) if you also believe that the behavior of the rest of the world should be dictated by our sword.

Bingo, well put.

.

 

[TakeAStepBack]

And then Rome imploded. So go on and finish the narrative of comparison and how it ends, Frank.

 

[JWBooth]

And then Rome imploded. So go on and finish the narrative of comparison and how it ends, Frank.

Only after they spent themselves into oblivion..had devalued their currency down to nothing, and relied on foreign mercenaries to make up their legions.



um....nevermind...

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Which is what?

Precisely?

.

Being the richest and most powerful nation on the planet

That's it? We're bigger and richer than others, so we can just do as we please?

Holy crap.

And we act surprised when we learn some people hate us.

.

Yes, they hate us simply because we're rich and powerful -- and being pussies won't make them like us.

 

[JWBooth]

Actually, I think Frank is pulling our chain....

 

[CrusaderFrank]

And then Rome imploded. So go on and finish the narrative of comparison and how it ends, Frank.

Yes, Rome imploded; after lasting how long? How many centuries did Rome last as the most powerful nation on the planet?