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To: AmericanVictory
Your post indicates little identification with American founding values or its Commander-in-Chief.

Really? Look whose side I'm on . . .

So likewise, a passionate attachment of one Nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite Nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest, in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter, without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite Nation of privileges denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure the Nation making the concessions; by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained; and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens, (who devote themselves to the favorite nation,) facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country, without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation.

As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent Patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practise the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the Public Councils! Such an attachment of a small or weak, towards a great and powerful nation, dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter.

Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens,) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove, that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of Republican Government. But that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defence against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation, and excessive dislike of another, cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious; while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.

The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connexion as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop.

. . .

Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people, under an efficient government, the period is not far off, when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality, we may at any time resolve upon, to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.

Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?

It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But, in my opinion, it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.

--- from George Washington's "Farewell Address," September 17, 1796

51 posted on 03/31/2004 8:41:56 AM PST by Alberta's Child (Alberta -- the TRUE north strong and free.)
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To: Alberta's Child
Washington's Address is routinely trotted out by those who don't understand its significance. He (actually Hamilton) was warning of the dangers of secession instigated by the republicans love affair with France. THAT was his concern as the Address clearly shows- secession.

Not only that but one cannot understand it unless one places it within its historical context. That context was that our infant nation was not prepared for military adventures in a global European war between empires. It was NOT a call for permanent isolationism as the misunderstanding perpetually claim. Certainly Washington and Hamilton would not have any problem with President Bush's actions in defending freedom.
They would clearly understand the dangers modern technologies pose in the hands of nutball terrorists supported by rogue nations.

There certainly is no "imaginary common interest" between the US and Israel but there is, indeed, a real common interest. We are both on the front lines of a titanic struggle between civilization and Islamic lunacy. And just as certainly it is not Perle etc. who are betraying our national interests but the RATmedia opposed to Bush and his team. Too bad you appear to be joining its attack.
57 posted on 03/31/2004 10:23:43 AM PST by justshutupandtakeit (America's Enemies foreign and domestic agree: Bush must be destroyed.)
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To: Alberta's Child
You don't seem to be on ours. Nor do you seem to bear, in your opinions, any resemblance to George Washington, who warned against entangling alliances, not against defeating your enemies. In fact, he had those who supported the other side shot on a number of occasions. I don't buy off on those who seek to prevent us from being victorious and who undermine our troops being anything other than deliberate betrayers who wish our defeat, colluding today with the same odious characters that they did at the time of the Viet Nam War plus a whole new cast of racist, odious Islamofascists. How does it feel to be helping out the likes of Kim Jong Il?
68 posted on 03/31/2004 6:23:15 PM PST by AmericanVictory (Should we be more like them, or they like us?)
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