by Andrew J. Bacevich Not an anyone bashing thread. How can we look at the world as it is, not the way we want it to be, or through our own filtered glasses? How many of us are hypocrites, out of touch and living in delusion as described in the book? How can we return to the pragmatic and humility land again? Maybe never? And we are continue to lose morality and continue to be despised by the whole world? Another question is why the heck US is spending so much money on so called defense, when US is geographically and militarily the safest country in the world and there has never been a real war happening in the mainland since the civil war? Don't tell me 911 is a real war as Bush wanted you to believe.
I haven't read the book, so I don't know what is in it. I honestly don't know how someone can look at the world in a completely subjective manner. I've never met or heard of a person who didn't have on glasses in some form or another. Sometimes we take a pair off, only to put on another color. Even saying that, it could be wrong/misguided, because I can only speak from my experiences up to this date. The person in a house 2 blocks down might feel the world is completely different. (And then again... maybe this isn't what the book was talking about....?) I know I'm a hypocrite. I think I first found out, when I realized what I despised most in other people were the very same traits that I was often quite guilty of possessing. (Damn you, Brad Pitt, for being so handsome! ) The loss of morality? Could you please tell me when this nation was supposed to be the at its moral peak, and what caused the decline? I look back in time through the history books, and I don't see a time that I think that the citizens/colonists were 'moral'. (Hi to you, Native Americans and Africans!) Please don't say the 50's. Morality, like our glasses is something that is subjective. (For some reason, I want to make 'is' plural in that last sentence.) I don't foresee a time that we are no longer despised by someone, somewhere. If we pull back all troops/efforts in the outside world and become reclusive, we'll be hated for not helping. Hell, I'll hate America for not lending a hand in certain situations. Do we increase our efforts? Kill em all? Then we no one will be left to despise us! (Again, I'll hate us.) Maybe we should just brainwash the masses? McDonalds and Wal-Marts for everyone! Soon they will love us and despise themselves. So called defense? Yeah, until 1947 it was called the Department of War. Defense is just a PC/PR name. We still have it, because we like to meddle/defend our interests overseas/sometimes lend a helping hand to others. See WWI and WWII for further justification for the time being. Maybe watch Hotel Rwanda. (I cried several times in that movie. Damn you, Don Cheadle, for being so amazing! How I despise that in you...)
How about put your feet into THEIR shoes? Don't do things to them as you wish they don't do the same to you. Be not a Narssissist and don't think you're as handsome Brad Pitt (if he is) . let others judge to their taste. Don't conform to Mr. Paul Krugman and ask other countries to control their carbon emission when you're doing nothing on your own part. Don't pretend YOUR FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY are what others need, like the Iraqis. Just say you want the whole middle east as your critical geopolitical spot and you don't give a damn what they want. You know US army being in Iraq is not to help the common Iraqi people. Morality is NOT totally subjective and DOES have some universal aspects, like don't kill innocent, don't steal and don't rape. The masses have already been brainwashed, and very successfully, by the media, Sir. And in the name of liberty, freedom and universal values. Well you may tell me that's implanted in human genes. People want a certain idea they want to perceive. I agree with you on that McDonalds and Wal-Marts are garbages, which never should have been made that big. Don't mix World I and II with current situations. US has gone to another level of hegemony compared to then. It alienated itself from even most of it's then allies. Maybe you're not one bit ashamed of obeying jungle rule. I'll not getting into a true lasting civilization coming out from USA. Those being said, we should be worried about how America will maintain a powerful state if the current policy is continuing. Is it sustainable or is it going to the destiny of Roman Empire II?
Not exactly one to praise the American political or economic system, but I have to say that it is a hell of a lot better then anything Iraq and especially Afghanistan were running. No one likes people imposing certain rules (and I'm a cynic at heart so the base motivations behind this whole thing are in question), but I have to say, from an objective viewpoint a couple of changes in Iraq and a LOT of changes in Afghanistan have been for the better.
Your reply seems overly hostile, maybe I'm being paranoid. /shrug I'll assume it wasn't, and I'm just misinterpreting the repeated use of 'you'. Again, me putting my feet into their shoes would be, *MY* past experiences clouding how I think they want to be treated. I'd still be wearing glasses. I hate to go there, but how would *YOU* put your feet into the shoes of Osama and the members of Al Qaeda? He wants the destruction of all non Muslims. Would you compromise and become a Muslim? Just because we enact the golden rule, doesn't mean they'll reciprocate. (See Hitler/Reason for 'Defense') You should see my abs though! OK. Sounds good to me. OK? Pretty much in agreement. I don't think you'll get much argument that Cheney and company were not at the height of honesty, in regards to their intent in the Middle East. Past events like Vietnam were conflicts between USSR/USA on different stages throughout the world. Cheney and company seem stuck in that mindset. I personally don't like Democracy. And here is where I quote MiB! "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." We don't even have a true democracy, so that these dumb, panicky people don't enact their mob rule. To counteract the use of a MiB quote, I'll bring out Jefferson, “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” I'd prefer communism, but it doesn't have the best track record. :/ But, I'll repeat myself from my first reply: The loss of morality? Could you please tell me when this nation was supposed to be the at its moral peak, and what caused the decline? I look back in time through the history books, and I don't see a time that I think the citizens/colonists were 'moral'. Don't kill innocent/steal/rape universally moral: OK... so? Why are you bringing this up with nothing else? Sunshine, daisies, and kitten kisses! Are you trying to say the US now has a higher morality level? Seriously, open up a history book. The US past indiscretions aren't pretty. So, who are you comparing us to? OK, so then there is your answer. Brainwash the rest of the nations, and everyone will be happy. Where's my soma? I'd like to be an Alpha, please. But WWII is precisely why we're at the level we are. (Well, it and the USSR afterwards.) I don't understand what you're referring to in my post? USA will be passed by China in my lifetime. But, now you're talking about power. So, are you now saying it is OK to be immoral, if the US continues/increases its power? (I'll refrain from commenting on the morality of China.)
1. That's funny you feel hostile when some facts you don't want to see were merely stated and some conclusions were drawn from them, while USA and its crowd point their fingers at almost every corner of the planet. You wonder what others are thinking? Friendliness? Intimacy? Be cool, sir and this a just a internet forum. 2. You don't have to put your feet into Osama's shoes, you can perceive he is just an evil soul(assume he conspirated 911 indeed), but if you don't listen to the voice from the Arabic world, and continue to be controlled by the Israeli lobbying group, the US mid-east policy will continue to fail. The military action there can not go on forever. 3. Keep humble. Humility is a nice trait for human beings. It makes you more likable. Remember the whole basketball world is hating on the arrogant Lakers? (Too bad they are beating on the Rockets ) 4. China is a non-issue here. We are talking about how America should right its own ship. 5. Communism was never really enforced, but just stated in some countries. Even the Chinese called the formal soviets pseudo-communists when they had conflict of interests. Bad political systems are the norm, you know. Don't tell me capitalism is better under any condition and any country. It's funny how come some dumb people are still calling countries communism. America takes pride in "China's adaption to capitalism under their suggestions"(Ha I am superior than you after all). China should be called a pragmatic political body actually. 6. So your point is America is not founded on the basis of some sort of morality? I was talking about the rule America obviously has been obeying: jungle rule.
I think it has a lot do with those two wars and cold war. The framework and the overall tone have carried over. A lot of politicians in D.C. wouldn't know what to do if an enemy doesn't exist.
1. The hostilities were a result of your writing style. Like I previously stated. It is your constant use of 'you', after first saying 'we' and then having absolutely 0 contributions. It still even seems aggressive. Facts I don't want to see stated? Like what? So far you haven't really said anything. You have shown a complete lack of any knowledge on the subject. Did you even read the book? Or just read the blurb on some blog? I did a quick google on the author and the book, The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism. He even talks about the current foreign relations being a byproduct of the Cold War. How can you just ignore WW1, WW2, and the Cold War when each conflict was the result of the previous hostilities? 2. OK, so we're supposed to abandon Israel and ally with Iran? Sounds good. How would you enact the golden rule as our foreign relations standard with Iran or the other countries in the Middle East? 3. I have to assume English isn't your 1st language. The Brad Pitt/abs thing is a joke. It is a form of self deprecation. (OK, not really, I'm dead sexy, and Orlando Bloom has nothing on me!) 4. But, China is an issue. I didn't want to compare the two. Hell, I said i wasn't going to! Why is this a numbered response? But, honestly.... you should compare the two. Who else would take Rome's place once it falls? China. Why not compare the current King of the Jungle with the Sleeping Dragon? Especially since you want us to return to 'the pragmatic humility land' again. What the hell do you mean by that? You still haven't answered me. 5. I don't like capitalism, regulated or unregulated. I mentioned communism, and you go off on China? Wait, I thought China wasn't the issue here? 6. My point is, what do you and the author want the USA to return to? You refuse to respond. You can say the USA can do better. Sure, I won't disagree. But, that isn't what you said. You used the played out, 'return to' never never land.
Americanese? We are talking about a book written by an American exclusively on America. It talks about the current crisis happening in US now: economic, political and military. What does that have to to do with the damn Chinese?
I read the Chinese translation of that book, which I assume you are not capable of. Not that's related, just saying and I'm writing English here. Probably not to your taste and I don't even understand your Pitt joke. How stupid I am! The points in the book are plain and simple which are easily understandable common sense, even if you don't try too hard reading into it. It's just that most people in this country turn their blind eyes from them. They don't want to see those except that we are the greatest country in the world. What do I want America to return to? For America's sake, mind your own business, pull the army from overseas, save more, try to understand other people and culture(the pretending diversity doesn't cut it), and change the attitude towards the education system(remember "nerd" is not exactly a shining word). US still has the most resources on the earth uncomparable by any other country. Just don't be over-greedy and over-expanding. If that's an agony, too bad, but that's not sustainable. What can I say about your standing on Israel? Nothing. We can differ on our opinions and I understand how powerful the propaganda machine controlled by the lobbying group is in this country. But the current policy will not change anything for good. Do the American public have the balls to overthrow the current political economic system and start over? Or maybe I am insane.
Brad pitt? Orlando bloom? I guess I'm not the only one that was watching TROY on FX during the rockets blowout. =( And yes I agree... American foreign policy sucks, just like the sequels to 'war of the worlds' on the scifi channel.
Playing around a gun is fun to me. It's good for self defense and it's just also so convenient for people to go off with one. It's always a double-edged issue. I don't have further opinion on it. Too bad the public can not own nukes and missiles
If you have the cash you can build as many missles as you want. I dunno what your last sentence means.
