Posted on 01/04/2020 3:50:22 PM PST by rintintin
Otto von Bismarck famously declared the Balkans weren't worth the bones of a single Pomeranian grenadier. He knew that fractious, feuding part of Europe would soak up as much blood as the Germans cared to spill. Because Bismarck's successors forgot his wisdom, the Balkans ended up claiming the bones of millions, in what was naively called the Great War before it was eclipsed in bloodshed and horror twenty years later. Neither Germany nor her European adversaries have ever recovered.
The same could be said of the Middle East. The whole wretched place isn't worth the bones of a single Alabamian Marine. America has no vital interest there except oil. And, regarding the oil, whichever nation sits atop it has no choice but to sell it on the global market, since there is no other way for the backward economies of the region to generate sufficient revenue.
It is long past time for a definitive American withdrawal from that fractious, feuding part of the world. The attack on our embassy in Baghdad came about because we are contesting the Iranians for influence in Iraq. Invading and occupying Iraq has brought the U.S. nothing except flag-draped coffins, burgeoning VA wards, and fiscal ruin. Let someone else claim that so-called prize, and let us instead devote American lives and American treasure to promoting America’s interests.
Imagine how much better off we would be if the Americans killed and maimed in Iraq and Afghanistan were instead alive and vigorous, and if the hundreds of billions, even trillions, spent as a result of our Mideast misadventures had instead been devoted to productive economic activity, improving America's infrastructure, and solving American problems.
(Excerpt) Read more at chroniclesmagazine.org ...
Pretty sure he won’t lose either. And no one negotiates better than Trump. He just won’t let our people get murdered and slap the murderers’ hands over it. He’s not in favor of shrugging his shoulders and saying “Oh well. So sorry for your loss, folks.”
The United States is honor-bound to protect and defend Israel. The 1948 Treaty that created Israel, also named the US as the guarantor of that nation’s independence.
maybe I am old fashioned, but the honor of our nation means something and it is not to be thrown away so carelessly. IMO
Using the false meme that we have no interests in the area is a dead giveaway - the author probably supports Bernie’s efforts to pass a bill where if the Congress decides we shouldn’t defend ourselves, then the military gets no funds...more proof he ain’t fit to be Commander in Chief.
A government that pisses away thousands of lives and trillions of dollars on military campaigns in Islamic sh!t-holes halfway around the world while facilitating an invasion of Third World peasants here at home has no moral claim on any loyalty from its citizens anymore.
Please cite that provision in the 1948 Treaty for us here, would you? Thanks.
“The United States is honor-bound to protect and defend Israel.”
I am not aware of any mutual defense treaty between Israel and US. Did the Senate ratify this treaty? I think you’re misinformed.
In any case, if a war against Iran would be about Israel’s interests - which you seem to be implying - will Israel commit troops, planes and ships? If not, I don’t think it’s really about Israel’s interests.
You are correct, it was not the 1948 treaty. The United States pledged to support and defend Israel on 23 July 1952 with the mutual logistic support agreement.
source: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf
I think we killed this guy to protect our own people, among others. How many has he killed? And what do you suppose he was doing in Iraq?
Do you think we should have left this terrorist alive, when we had a good opportunity to rid the world of him?
When Iran gets the atom bomb they will bring the war here to the USA and kill millions. I was hoping Trump would stop Iran once and for all but it looks like he is pushing it off to another president. My hope is Israel is more realistic and will kill the Iranians leaders and destroy the nuclear program.
If interests in Cuba or Venezuela were actively and determinedly picking-off my people, I’d have no problem with the President, on verifiable intelligence, sending a drone after them, or sending troops to defend our interests.
A refusal to take any action is the same flaccid approach that has allowed many who foment terrorism and murder to continue their evil long after they could have been squelched, or at least seriously dented.
(Benghazi?)
“If interests in Cuba or Venezuela were actively and determinedly picking-off my people, I’d have no problem with the Presiden”
That’s not what I said. I said that there are neoconservatives who want us to invade Venezuela NOW. If you don’t favor that, then I guess to them you’re an “isolationist”
You’re the one who calls people who don’t agree with your foreign policy preferences, “isolationists.” You need to accept that you’re one too.
I think I answered your original question adequately.
You are trying to conflate the recent action against a singular terrorist with ‘hypotheticals’ which haven’t taken place and perhaps never will. If they do, they will be under entirely different circumstances, and subject to different judgment.
Do you disagree with the President’s action against Soleimani, and do you believe that the President isn’t within his rights to do the same wrt another similar terrorist?
Long day in church was it?
Time to go to bed old man.
Make sure you put on the overnights. Don’t want to mess the bed. Again.
nothing like a cogent argument...
Didn’t I ask you to go to bed and leave me alone?
You are the one responding to a thread from days ago. Just because I embarrassed you and exposed your lack of intelligence, you take 2 days to come back at me with a response that does not even resemble a sentence?
Please, go watch schoolhouse rock. I am sure there is one about grammar and sentence structure.
After two days that’s the best you can do?
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