Posted on 05/31/2015 1:12:59 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
9-11 happened.
Obama's de-develop, transform America (nationally and internationally) happened/happening.
..The Obama administration has been trying, in one fashion or another, to respond in all of those areas — among them Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and the South China Sea — but without, it turns out, the capacity to prevail in any of them. ....
Obama and his party have hamstrung the U.S. and is giving the world a opening big enough to drive a Mac truck through; he's turned his back on our allies.
Anyone who believes that the clock can now be turned back to 2002, when U.S. strength was at its zenith and the Iraq invasion had not yet depleted American wealth and vigor, is undoubtedly suffering from delusional thinking. China is far more powerful than it was 13 years ago, Russia has largely recovered from its post-Cold War slump, Iran has replacedthe U.S. as the dominant foreign actor in Iraq, and other powers have acquired significantly greater freedom of action in an unsettled world. Under these circumstances, aggressive muscle-flexing in Washington is likely to result only in calamity or humiliation.
Time to Stop Pretending
Back, then, to our original question: What is a declining superpower supposed to do in the face of this predicament?
Anywhere but in Washington, the obvious answer would for it to stop pretending to be what it’s not. The first step in any 12-step imperial-overstretch recovery program would involve accepting the fact that American power is limited and global rule an impossible fantasy. Accepted as well would have to be this obvious reality: like it or not, the U.S. shares the planet with a coterie of other major powers — none as strong as we are, but none so weak as to be intimidated by the threat of U.S. military intervention. Having absorbed a more realistic assessment of American power, Washington would then have to focus on how exactly to cohabit with such powers — Russia, China, and Iran among them — and manage its differences with them without igniting yet more disastrous regional firestorms.
What do you want to bet, that if the next U.S. president doesn't remain cowering in the corner, or doesn't continue to sell off the country to the highest bidder, that there will be another 9-11 (against a country greatly weakened by Obama and the leaders in the Democratic Party)?
This propagandist for the demise of a strong America doesn't fool anyone about Obama's involvement in the country's demise.
And note, twice he exempts Rand Paul from criticism.
I can partially agree with this. It still is a superpower but will not be on its current path in less than 5 years.
All according to plan, of course.
Take a few minutes to read it (apologies if you read it earlier somewhere else).
His argument, conveniently, has serious holes.
My thoughts...
- America still has the world’s strongest military—by far.
- $813.9 billion for defense in FY 2015, 22% of budget.
- Defense spending is not bankrupting the USA. Social welfare programs are.
- President Obama wants to see America diminished. He’s succeeding.
- We need to walk softly and carry a big stick.
- If the big stick is unleashed, supreme victory is the only legitimate goal.
- No more expeditionary wars unless a vital US interest is at stake.
Worthless
No it is still but America is lossing every thing for that
Imagine France has the same economic power then america for a country little bite large then two US states as well French people have give every thing for that even their shoes and pants
Giving Iran the nuke, Putin a free hand to reassemble the USSR, China the green light on Asian dominance - we can’t juggle all those conflicts with a shrinking military and with allies who have had to turn to others (China, Russia, Iran, etc) for their own survival.
Not worthless.
Always watch what they say and what they do.
Welcome to FR.
Are you living in France?
:-)
American have never work enough to make that money where is it coming from ?
We have to reverse OBozo first!
Our decline, while real, is not inevitable. We just need someone in charge who knows that the hell they are doing.
- No more expeditionary wars unless a vital US interest is at stake.
I agree with both the above. I would add, supreme victory, accompanied by swift withdrawal. No more nation building or democracy building.
Yes!
Sorry, but our military is not as strong as it used to be. And with its focus on political correctness instead of might, it will continue to weaken.
I’d like to know where all that money for defense is actually being spent. I’m guessing it goes to such baloney as sensitivity training or teaching that Muslims are our friends and Israel is our enemy.
Put the blame squarely on political correctness, we are now too worried about hurting someone’s feelings than doing what needs to be done.
Libs think that power comes from military strength....they leave out the fact we still have a constitution that allows us a few freedoms....more than China, Russia and several other states combined. Imperial? Hardly. American free society and it’s influence on the entire globe? Yes..a major if not the only power.
You’re right and why Obama is dictating with EO and giving the IRS and the EPA raw power.
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