Ralph Peters: AMERICA'S BURDEN. Next Prez will shape World

New York Post ^ | Novemebr 3, 2008 | Ralph Peters

[Tolik]

WE'RE condemned to lead.

No matter which presidential candidate we choose tomorrow, his decisions to act or not to act will determine not only the safety of our country but the future of the world.

Allies and non-aligned states kick and complain, but expect us to make their boo-boos go away. Ignore the nonsense about America's (oft-predicted and yet to be witnessed) decline: We remain the indispensable power.

When we act, we'll be called a bully. When we fail to act, we'll be mocked as weak. No president can enduringly please foreign powers and populations. Our might - which remains unparalleled - was resented, is resented and will be resented. That's human nature.

Nor will we ever have the luxury of withdrawing from the world.

[Tolik]

Nailed It!

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[austrian]

No matter which presidential candidate we choose tomorrow, his decisions to act or not to act will determine not only the safety of our country but the future of the world.

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sorry but if the author of this report would take of his patriotic glases he would realize that the american elections (they are important that´s right, but) do NOT determine the future of the world. the world does not stand or fall because americans elects a republican or a democrat president. it will have (short term) an impact on forreign realtions between america and SOME countries but that´s all.

[MSSC6644]

Excellent. Why can’t people just use their common sense?

[Red Dog #1]

“It's just that today's irresponsible media amplify every negative event.”

Well said and applicable to much more than foreign affairs.

[himno hero]

If Obama wins, Amerika will not be labeled as a bully as it will be responding in ways consistent with the ISlamic world. The worlds whiners will quieten. They already endorse, anticipate and are celebrating his win. Africa too!

Never will it be a bully, never will it be strong again and some will weep for the loss of America while the mideast revels in the success. Politically and Economically, the America we knew will fail.

Go figure.

[austrian]

Allies and non-aligned states kick and complain, but expect us to make their boo-boos go away.

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spoken like a true idiot. sorry but this “report” cracks me up. earth to reporter HELLOOOO???? Who to hell (i´m talking about the sane people and not about a very small bunch of retards which every country seems to have) would expect america to make their boo-boos (is the author 3 years old or something because he uses this “words”) go away?

[Retired Greyhound]

Good, except I don’t want either of these guys shaping the world.

[penowa]

Interesting what you wrote. Do you really believe that your country would exist and that you would have the freedom you enjoy today if the U.S. decided not to lift a finger if you or any European country were threatened? I would suggest that you remove YOUR rose-colored glasses instead of Peters removing his “patriotic” ones.

[austrian]

Interesting what you wrote. Do you really believe that your country would exist and that you would have the freedom you enjoy today if the U.S. decided not to lift a finger if you or any European country were threatened? I would suggest that you remove YOUR rose-colored glasses instead of Peters removing his “patriotic” ones.

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you are jokening aren´t you? i have a question for you do you really believe that america is the leader of the so called “free world”???? i´m not asking if you think that america is the leader of the world (which is a joke far away beyond reallity). don´t get me wrong this is not some “european” anti american rant. this is just reallity. In todays world america hase some influence on some countries (but i guarantee you this are not the countries you might think) that´s true. and if you want to take “my” country for example. yes america has not lifted a finger for us (btw. no one ever would have expected or wanted this) and still we exist. so? are you bad because of that? NO. do i have to admire you because of that? again NO.
i know this will be hard to admit for a patriotic american but in the end you are just a country among others in this world for the normal european. more powerfull? or more influece in this world instead of austria? shure. but so is russia. so what? i guarantee you for example the only dirrect influence your president Bush had in my country during his overall presidency (he was not liked, this is for shure) was that some streets of vienna have been restricted for about 2 hours because of his visit and the demonstrations against him. but again i don´t live in vienna. again i´m not anti american. why should i? i´m only telling you that you are not that important for us as you may think. so elect your president the way you want but don´t believe this patriotic crap that he will change (or has the power to do so) the world.

[penowa]

"Boo-boo" may be an appropriate word, although I tend to think the austrian sounds more like a rebellious teenager than a temper tantrum throwing pre-schooler. Not only do we have to spend our $ to keep the Euroweenies under our umbrella of protection, but we must also listen to them bitch and moan about "What have you done for me lately?" and how the U.S. President actually inconvenienced him and his countryman by making a visit there.

Care to tell us the %age of GDP your country spends on its own defence?

Trust me, austrian, most Americans are more than fed up with the cowardly socialist bloodsucking Euroweenies like you who are unable to stand up for yourself, are totally dependent on the U.S. to protect your very existence and want to give us an ear-beating and criticize us about how we don't do enough and what we do is never to your liking. Many of us would LOVE to cut you loose as, at best, you are very bad allies who can be counted on for next to nothing, but since you've been on the dole and unable to even defend yourself, it would not be the responsible thing to do.

By the way, just what is a socialist doing posting on a CONSERVATIVE website? I'm sure you would be in company more to your liking at D.U.

[austrian]

first wrong is that you think that america spends only a single dollar to keep “western” europe under its defence umbrella. america only acts selfish (again don´t get me wrong i do not find this is bad, this is just like all countries in this world are running). i only find it bad for europe. again i don´t care what maybe your media predents you, fact is you do NOT protect europe any more (there was a time when you did this “again because of mostly self interest but i agree it payed out for both “players” in this game about cold war). But this times are over. it may boost your personal ego but in reallity NO one in western Europe still thinks that america protects us. You can take this for granted. btw. you really do not protect us. if you really think this way please explain me
against whom american soldiers (btw. this little force still there could not protect any one)protect the germans? the swiss? because this is the only not EU country which borders germany.for example you protect us against the russians??? btw. most “western” EU countries (btw. the countries which have the money) would side with the russians before they would side with the US any more (thanks to Bush). do you really think we fear russian tanks rolling over our countries? no we do not believe me. You think europe will stay in nato forever? just wait untill galileo is online. Nato will be killed in days (at least by the EU) because there is no need to involve america any longer. just to remeber we are no allies any longer. EU and US are rivals on global stage. (still people have friends among each other and we share some kind of culture). and we do need each other to a different kind of view. that´s for shure. but if you really think america has only a single voice in decision made by the EU you are dead wrong. again
i´m not anti american.

[penowa]

"fact is you do NOT protect europe any more..."

That's good to hear that you Euroweenies actually believe without any defence budget except for G.B. that you can protect yourself because if Obama is elected, it won't come as a shock to any of you if your socialist buddy Barack feeds you to The Bear. Many Americans, including me, will be thrilled when you are under their boot heel with no protection, screaming for help and nobody in the White House answering your calls. You do know that once the Russians get their financial house in order with commodity prices on the rise again, they will be coming for you, don't you? You do know they won't be satisfied with only gobbling up E. Europe this time, don't you?

"...most 'western' EU countries...would side with the russians before they would side with the US any more..."

That's excellent news that you would rather be part of the Russians than have U.S. protection. I don't believe that G.B., the only military of any consequence will be coming to protect you, so it's good that you want to be slaves of Russia and perhaps, the Chinese.

"EU and US are rivals on global stage."

ROFLOL! It will be a pleasure to see how your protecting yourself works out. How long has it been since any of you Euroweenies except G.B. had a military? 60 yrs.? And you want rid of pathetic, scrawny NATO with your puny ridiculous unionized soldiers who refuse to fight to even protect themselves? Good Luck! Polish up your Russian because Barack will be only too happy to abandon you to your new masters.

[austrian]

sorry but you really have no clue how europe or the world is running. america protects us? my ass. we fear the russians???? joke of the year. hey only because you are stuck in a cold war time warp does not mean that the rest of us are. you do really believe that american troops are welcome or needed in europe? LOL. go on to the next joke.
hey american troops are in parts of europe because some governments (not the people) do the US a favour but shure not for our protection. again against whom do you protect us? germany against the swiss or what? btw. EU spends more than russia on defence (a lot more) only the US spends more in this world. and again maybe you think off the russian as enemy most of us don´t nor do we have reasons for this. (and please don´t start mentioning georgia for example because this was not really important for the EU).for example russia is important as a trade partner. as i said before Nato is only important untill galileo is operational. (btw. it´s the US who doesn´t want to dismantle nato and this is from an american point of view a very rational decision ). we cannot protect our self? LOL where is the enemy who could attack us (and win). north korea or what???? maybe you should take a look at a european map. where are our “enemies” located? shure not along our borders. you think you could find a single european who would lose one single tear if all US troops leave? come over and talk to the people if you don´t believe me. sorry normaly i stay polite (and don´t bust your american ego bubble) but all this “Euroweenie” crap is
so ridiculous that i will give you a little dose of reallity. (now listen close because you won´t hear this on Fox news). first the standart european just can´t stop laughing every time when you or some one else try to tell us that you are protecting us and we even get tears in our eyes when you still mention some old WWII stories if you run out of arguments. sorry but how can you believe we could take anyone serious who mention this old stories and you even expect respect for this? i mean HELLOOOOOO?????? leader of the free world? we allways are rolling on the ground because of laughing every time an american tells this. hey believe what you want if it helps your ego but i guarantee you outside off your borders this is a freaking running gag. hey i´m not anti american in generall because there is no need for this (i had a girlfriend from america some time ago) but someone should really open your (and SOME of your fellow citizens) eyes and give you a little dose on reallity. you think someone from europe respects or admire you because you are an american? you think we all want to live in your country? you think you are more important to us than an other country? get real. be polite show some respect and you will be respected. and Please STOP thinking that you defend us all. i mean it´s funny to read this the first times. but after laughing about hundred times because of this it´s getting boring. Again if you need this to boost your ego repeat it for your self every time you want. but outside of your country this is just a joke.

[MHGinTN]

Got burka, doofus?

[penowa]

Why are you on a CONSERVATIVE website posting your Euroweenie socialist garbage? Read the rules. You would find much better company at the D.U.mp. There are plenty of America Haters who will agree with all your idiotic nonsense.

[austrian]

Why are you on a CONSERVATIVE website posting your Euroweenie socialist garbage?

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ever heard of freedom of speach?

[Boris99]

Penowa, austrian is what passes for a conservative in Europe now a days. As a matter of fact you have to look no further than Free Republic to find “conservatives” from the UK, Canada, Australia, NZ etc who will be more than happy to tell you what a sorry, worthless, unimportant country the US is. You know we got into WWI and WWII late so the hundreds of thousands of American boys buried on European soil don't mean $#%!. That Marshall Plan and Berlin Airlift thing? Hey who gives a &*^%. The Cold War? Well if it wasn't for us and our nuclear proliferation then the Russians would have just played nice.

[penowa]

I thought the D.U.mp was reserved for America Hating teenage trolls, and FR was for conservative posters. My mistake, apparently.