“Liquidating the Empire” (Pat Buchanan) Food for thought.

[jody]

“Liquidating the Empire” Even a blind hog finds an acorn once in a while!

Our Navy exceeds in firepower the next 13 navies combined. We have 100,000 troops in Iraq, 100,000 in Afghanistan or headed there, 28,000 in Korea, over 35,000 in Japan and 50,000 in Germany. By the Department of Defense's "Base Structure Report," there are 716 U.S. bases in 38 countries.

Chalmers Johnson, who has written books on this subject, claims DOD is minimizing the empire. He discovered some 1,000 U.S. facilities, many of them secret and sensitive. And according to DOD's "Active Duty Military Personnel Strengths by Regional Area and by Country," U.S. troops are now stationed in 148 countries and 11 territories.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It is preposterous to argue that all these bases are essential to our security. Indeed, our military presence, our endless wars and our support of despotic regimes have made America, once the most admired of nations, almost everywhere resented and even hated.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Indeed, how do conservatives justify borrowing hundreds of billions yearly from Europe, Japan and the Gulf states -- to defend Europe, Japan and the Arab Gulf states? Is it not absurd to borrow hundreds of billion annually from China -- to defend Asia from China? Is it not a symptom of senility to borrow from all over the world in order to defend that world?

[redqueen]

1. It's called the MIC, Pat. Do catch up. (nt)

[harkadog]

9. He has been saying this stuff for years

There are many more out there who need to catch up more than he does.

[redqueen]

10. He is asking how it happens, it's quoted right there in the OP...

so we'll have to agree to disagree.

[mmonk]

2. It probably will be liquidated in the traditional way of implosion

like the USSR. I see no evidence to the contrary.

[old mark]

3. True. The former USSR had huge numbers of advanced aircraft

and no money to buy the fuel to fly them or to pay the pilots. Everything literally collapsed under the weight of expense of their military. Now, thanks to George W. Bush's 2 unfunded wars, we may be facing a similar situation.


mark

[mmonk]

4. Too bad the people in charge of this country can't draw it

down properly and spare us the more painful path. But they are paid to be blind I suppose.

[NNN0LHI]

5. They couldn't afford to bring the cosmonauts they had in space at the time back home

I think we ended up paying for that?

Don

[invictus]

6. K&R

[Bonhomme Richard]

7. "how do conservatives justify" Because conservatives are an

inherently fearful bunch. They are afraid of everything and constantly fearful that someone will take something away from them. Whether it' their property, religion, money, guns, freedom, race supremacy, or country they do not care how much is spent protesting them.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Because they're not conservatives, they're corporate supremacists

and the military industrial complex must be fed, if that means consuming the national infrastructure and/or the American People, so be it.

They've expanded Smedley Butler's meme of "War is a Racket" to include "peace" but the "peace" isn't geared toward the nation's best interests; so much as corporate ones.

Thanks for the thread, jody.

[Kyril Enko]

12. K&R

[eridani]

13. Right wing American anti-imperialism is about as old as the left wing version

Back when Twain et al were railing against the conquest of the Phillipines, Andrew Carnegie offered to buy the country and set it free. Left wingers opposed incipient imperialism on the grounds of solidarity; right wingers because an imperial government is of necessity a big government.

[jeanpalmer]

14. Not a chance that Repubs will reduce

military spending. They love war. He's dreaming. Dems love military spending for the jobs and earmarks. War has become the ultimate jobs program.