Posted on 03/24/2021 9:49:07 AM PDT by RandFan
@RandPaul
ICYMI this morning I joined the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The idea that we can eradicate an ideology or pacify a populace full of discontent is foolhardy and naive at best.
Video...
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He say dat ‘cause he raciss.
Sure we do, it should be a place we send millions of people who hate the USA each year after they give up their citizenship.
Funny how Red China does. Anti-American empires are on the march.
He's mostly correct. But I wouldn't say we have zero interest in Africa. Hearts and minds do matter but won't be gained at the end of a rifle barrel. Then there is the cold war chessboard theories of blocking access to your rivals being 'good for the national interest' but that is debatable.
Goldwater believed that our mission to bring democracy to the world was a fool's errand. He said there are some peoples who are not ready for democracy, and for religious or cultural reasons they would never be ready for democracy. The best we could hope for was a benevolent dictator, preferably one loyal to the US and not the Soviets.
My cousin is who might be called an “old Africa hand” doing business for years in Nigeria and West Africa. The phrase he and others invoke when looking at the latest mess is WAWA—West Africa Wins Again. It always wins.
Rand said there are 6,000 US troops there!
Madness.
Chicoms-anybody remember the railroad they built in Tanzania? What did it buy them?
I like Ran Paul, a lot. And, I think the point he’s trying to make here is worth listening to. But, there’s a lot of stuff buried on the African continent that is invaluable in a variety of industries.
Rare earth elements are called ‘rare’ for a reason and Africa - in a bit of irony - has some of the biggest deposits of them.
I think the De Beers family would disagree with Rand.
1. Its position in the middle between us, our allies and our opponents. See what happens the moment we leave the Horn of Africa/the Red Sea. See what happens if we no longer have influence over the seaways around Africa.
2. Strategic minerals: we need them. China's carving large parts out for themselves now - we need to out maneuver the Chinese and keep ourselves supplied.
Looks like you people need a little schoolin' - only to happy to discuss this with Sen. Paul.
I think he’s 100% right, given our recent history.
In theory, it is true that our security will, under certain circumstances, justify our involvement in foreign conflicts.
But in order to distinguish whether those circumstances exist in a given case, and justify an action, there would need to have been pre-established policy, and a long record of strict and consistent application of those policies.
That has not been the case since WWII. We get tangled up in one mess after another.
We have become far too eager to get involved and meddle in other people’s conflicts. Instead, we should be extremely reluctant, so that the burden of proof rests squarely on the shoulders of those who would get us involved.
"Cradle of _______ civilization!"
no, we do not.
Africa and South America should be put back under colonial control. They’ve generally tried playing the sovreign-country game for awhile now, but it doesn’t seem to be working out.
Strategic minerals? UN votes? Safe Havens for Islamist terrorists like ISIS and al Queda? Effective control by Communist China? Disease control (like Ebola or AIDS)? Suez Canal? Piracy? Trade? Immigration control?...
Japan just discovered a huge cache of scarce rare-earth minerals in the Pacific.
The US would be wise to partner with friendly Japan to secure our r/e needs
China is the world's biggest producer of rare earths.....but is hoarding them.
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