the situation is different though. the united states combined military spending is by far the biggest about $400 billion a year! the united states is far more powerful today compared to other militaries compared to ww2. during ww2, the united states was relatively equal to Germany and Japan, probably a bit weaker in the earlier stages due to the technological inferiority compared to the latest German and Japanese military gadgets. situation different from ww2, japan was expansionist invading china and other countries. japan was very powerful at that time and had arguably the most powerful navy in the early stages of the world. their naval fighters were the finest, had the best aircraft carriers and had the best trained navy pilots and navy personnel. if it weren't for their strategic stupidity and unnecessary very complicated and confusing battle plans and late decision to design better planes, it might be different today. china even though has considerable amount of state of the art weapons and getting much better, isn't powerful enough to fight the u.s. in a long war due to the economics. it ain't interested in fighting the u.s. either, why bother?? they have trade with the u.s...they ain't expansionist either and is only concerned with Taiwan, which is legally, culturally, and historically their territory. north korea is dirt poor, it can't fight south korea and no way can it threaten the u.s....not even close. they won't use nukes......they can be crazy but ain't that crazy either....
Deckhard, I really respect your views and the way you discuss on lots of interesting issues. However, it seems to me, whenever it comes to China, then people referred to history and US foreign policies etc, you always sound a little bit defensive to me. Of course, it could be my bias or wrong impression. Please make no mistakes, lots of people envy American's freedom and democracy, they don't hate it as some believe. I believe some Asian American argue with you about asia policy etc, they love America (I believe), otherwise, they or their parents wouldn't have tried that hard to live as immigrants. There is no ill-intention, I just somehow it would be in everyone's interest, that the whole world can get along with each other. I believe, you as a liberal, you want the same thing. It's kind of funny that you brought up Afghanistan, I guess you do know that most of the countries and peoople are behind US in fighting with Al Queda. After 9/11, Bush had the world wide sympathy and support, no one could ever dreamed of, but instead of being a true world leader, and a uniter as he claimed, he just blew the golden opportunity by lying to the world and invaded Iraq. Even hated French had the mesage on front page that "we are all Americans today" after 9/11. What happens now? Nobody says that US policy is all bad, but it's based on its own interest, rightfully so. When posters here debate on Iraq, there are always certain posters have to reach to Afghanistan, by saying it was all correct and US did a good and justified job in Afghanistan. Then they will ask you whether you support war on terror. I remember you and some other fellow posters were really frustrated about it: what are we talking about? Iraq or Afghanistan? Isn't that obvious? Iraq wasn't part of war on terror etc etc. Don't you think it's ironical that your reply has so much resemblance? Conservatives or Liberals, when it comes to deal with China (evil communists), they are all the same. National interest is their common goal, rightfully so. Now, the only question is, is the view correct? Is there possibility that Americans are misled by certain bias?
Fair enough. I didn't like my tone of replying, and asking questions isn't a great way to make a point. Since it's a matter of me digging up old reports, I'm going to take my time regarding your and other posters relevant points. I'm lazy and it's the weekend, so yea.
Why are Chinese posters, which is what I have to go by here, assuming some are either Chinese, or have a Chinese ethnic background, so sensitive about criticism of China? You and, I'm sure, many others, have seen me blast my own government, as represented by the Bush Administration and the Republican controlled Congress, more times than one could count. Many of us aren't shy about it, just as conservatives, Republicans, and many Democrats blasted some of Clinton's actions while in office. I missed out on expressing my opinions about Clinton here because I wasn't registered, although I started reading the BBS before Francis was drafted. I've thought that invading Iraq was a huge mistake, before the act was done, because it was the wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time. I was never against, at some point, taking out Saddam, although I would have preferred to have had it done far differently than it was. We already had our hands full in Afghanistan and in tracking down those behind 9/11. We had North Korea developing nuclear weapons and needing to be dealt with, one way or another. We had Iran actively pushing forward their nuclear program. We had, and still have, nuclear weapons from the old Soviet Union unaccounted for after it's breakup, a very serious problem. We had no business invading Iraq. Not until those things, and much else, were taken care of. I'm defensive about China? Don't you mean to say that I'm defensive of US policy and interests in regard to China? If you find criticism of China for not taking a firmer hand with North Korea, which it could have when they were clearly developing nuclear weapons, then I am guilty. If you find criticism of China's policy towards Tibet a problem, then I am guilty. If you find criticism of China's saber-rattling and huge military buildup aimed at Taiwan... making a huge potential conflict between it and the US an ever increasing possibility, then I am guilty. I'm guilty of being pro-American, and for continued ascendancy of my country, in a dangerous world, as the greatest military power. I have enormous problems with the actions of the current American government, but I didn't vote for it, and it doesn't mean I'm not a patriot. I don't think of myself as "defensive" in the context that you are using. Maybe we are talking past each other. Keep D&D Civil!!
perhaps it has something to do with what the west has did to china. the chinese have never done any wrongdoing to westerners or at least pale in comparison to what westerners have done. look at the crap westerners have done to the chinese: british fought a war with china over opium trading rights,and taking hong kong away from the chinese, barging into the imperial grounds and smashing/destroying tons of chinese statues, ancient buildings, symbols of chinese culture, western troops stationing in china and "claiming territory, spheres of influence" when the chinese wanted to kick foreigners out of their country, treating chinese people as garbage in their own territory, and the chinese getting a century of disgrace and humiliation. and now that it is rising, many chinese see some western nations, especially the u.s. trying to do something to slow/prevent that rise. if china ever reunites with taiwan peacefully, the chinese will be that much more powerful economically. some chinese see unnecessary u.s. interference to dwart eventual reunification....and in reality trying to support taiwan independence. perhaps history is why chinese don't like excessive criticism from the west and suspicious. regards to constant western bashing regarding democracy, some chinese see that if china moves to a full fledge democracy right now, it wouldn't work, there would be too much chaos and complaining, disagreeing, and for a nation of 1.3 billion people that is too much headache and slow its progress down. i personally don't think it is ready for a full fledge democracy. limited village democracy with basic human rights? yes, that is good and that is happening right now, local village people get to get together and complain and what action they should take and local officials listen. but it ain't ready for a large scale u.s. style democracy. even american democracy really sucked in the beginning with only rich white men getting to vote. it is interesting that the u.s. complains every year that china isn't a democracy yet it is not advocating democracy for countries like Saudi Arabia to be one...... rightfully so because the talk of spreading democracy and freedom to iraqis, claiming weapons of mass destruction while invading/bombing their country is hilarious. if you are going to do that at least get international support and legal backing. the point is you don't have to invade and occupy a country to kick saddam out and spread democratic ideas and liberty....you know what i mean? even iraqis who hated saddam and who supported american presence initially are now irritated by american troop presence and believe the whole talk of democracy and freedom is just a cover for more dominance in the middle east and its resources. now what does that tell you? north koreans ain't nuking anyone period. they are crazy and paranoid but they ain't that stupid....china's policy towards tibet.....have you seen the rising living standards and improvements in Lhasa, Tibet? you know that even the Dalai Lama changed his stance and say it is good that tibet is part of china. china/taiwan...chinese internal affairs. should be none of america's business when they are at the other side of the planet.
just an interesting question: Since some here advocates that although Iraq war is not the right war, but taking out Saddam would have met no objection, would you, who held that view, against some country, say France, or Russia, or China, whatever take out Mr Bush, who by fighting a wrong war, an unjustified war is abviously danguous to the world peace -- (not that for a realistic scenario)? answer that, so you would have a better understanding of who you really are.
You just lost me there, are you actually suggesting that the Neocons' policies have been beneficial to our country as a whole?
Well, that's good. I did feel the debate started getting more intense. And trying to argue 20 points in one post is awfully hard. I look forward to your posts.
I'm glad there are posters like you keeping D&D civil. Anyways, I don't think he did a very good job at all. I feel like most of the work stabilizing the nation was done by other civil servants or just worldly influences. Like economically, some 'people' like to say George Bush's tax cuts helped, but it really didn't. It was just the housing boom. Add in the fact that China bought our debt and we are just a balloon waiting to pop. Domestically, he enacted laws that reduced our civil liberties and ignored many findings by scientists and other committees on topics such as global warming and Iraqi-Al qaeda connection. Foreign policy wise...I'm not going there. This is by no means a complete list or a thorough review. But seriously, what did Bush do right except for the few decisions that were fairly obvious?
saddam treated some of his people as garbage and murdered his way to power. he should be executed. i was all for him to be out of power, but not the invasion and america go it alone way. bush should also be kicked out of office......bring back clinton...at least clinton knew how to speak properly and know what he is doing.
