[A Navy Vet]

One of the biggest mistakes the US made in the Mexican-American war was giving back to Mexico the conquered land. The US had beat them all the way to Mexico City. Imagine if America had annexed all that land and resources. Our problems with the Cartels, illegal immigration, and US business moving to Mexico would be almost non-existant.

What ever happened to the "spoils of war"? Why does the US always give nations that we defeat their country back? We could have owned Japan, western Germany, Italy, Iraq, etc. Then, we always have to re-build them on our dime. Yes, I know that we prefer not to be an empire, but why not? Think about how many of our problems would have never occurred by annexing those nations. Think of the power, the geo-political influence, the reduced tensions in the ME by owning Iraq, alone.

[Oatka]

One of the biggest mistakes the US made in the Mexican-American war was giving back to Mexico the conquered land. The US had beat them all the way to Mexico City. Imagine if America had annexed all that land and resources.

I posted a tongue-in-cheek response to one of the "You stole our land!" types. Told him that in 1847 the land on both sides of the border looked identical. We turned our side into a generator of wealth and prosperity while they turned theirs into one of drug-ridden corruption and poverty. Had we kept ALL of Mexico, the place would be as prosperous as Texas.

Finished by telling him that next time, we won't give back half but take everything clear down to the Guatamalan border.

Thought there would be shreiks of outrage, from him, if not the rest of the zoo, but - nothing.