ATG wrote:
The original objectives of eliminating Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein have developed into a grandiose plan to transform the Middle East — to force democracy on Islamic countries at the point of a gun.
The Bush administration, with a bipartisan cooperation in Congress, has boosted spending from an already obscene $1.86 trillion annually to over $2 trillion in a single year, 2001 to 2002, and a predicted $3 trillion for 2008.
In addition to 160,000 troops deployed in Iraq and another 26,000 in Afghanistan, we have more than 100,000 American troops stationed throughout the world including Germany, 59,000; Italy 10,000; England 10,000; Japan, 33,000; and South Korea, 27,000.
On top of this, we have an empire of more than 700 foreign bases in 130 countries.
with help from this source.
Excellent Post and I would like to comment on a few things you just touched on. The first thing is that the war in the Middle East was about many things and National Security was the foremost as you know. Not only did GWB have to bring security to the region to protect the oil supply, but he also had to insure that the OPEC nations would not stop accepting the dollar for their oil and destroy the value of the American dollar.
Two do this he not only had to get rid of Sadam but he had to keep a Military presence in the the Area to insure security of oil fields while at the same time controling the Iraqi government and thus bearing pressure on decisions they make concerning oil production and sales. GWB decided obviously to do this through " Nation Rebuilding " in hopes to create an Oil producing Ally linked at the hip to the US for years to come. Doing so has actually benifited the US greatly at a time when the US dollar was greatly at risk, but as you point out his strategy is also creating a situation that will result in the US most likely suffering a slow painful recession into a Canadian like existance in the Global economy and leadership.
Ron Paul had it right, but what he advocated would have screwed the American economy. This is due to the Position that American leaders have gotten us into with their policies. The American Dollar will fall, the rich know it and are preparing for it, and the whole world will feel the results of its demise as the rich protect their assets and power.
I hear what you are saying and I don't know how realistic it is to have a leader come into power and say " The US is about to be F#ck'd, I am going to do things that will target helping the working America's weather the storm instead of enabling the Super Elite protect their wealth and status ". Globalization is basically the term for " How will I protect my wealth and power when the US dollar collapses ( US dollar meaning the current system of manipulation by the Elite ".
During WWI and WWII the US established its spot as world leader by projecting its strength into a conflict that left an area of the world shattered. The US was islolated from the war and built up its ability to Manufacture ( create wealth ) while Europe destroyed its ability to Manufacture ( create wealth ) and this secured the US dollar as the world's currency which gave it huge economic leverage which the US has successfully used to keep it the wealthiest society on Earth. The US is not going to be isolated during the worlds next struggle and infact is now a big target. I really doubt another World War will help America come out on top after the next World recession.
The only thing I see giving America a chance at continued greatness is the creation of wealth through the development and control of advanced technologies and more specifically those concerning renewable energies and food production. These will be the big deals as the world continues to overpopulate.
I don't see Obama as that man. Perot I saw as that man, and he is the only one so that is who I will vote for in the general election. It does not matter if he is alive or dead, but I will write his name in until I see a person that I can have faith in like I did him.
Sorry, I am at work and have typed this fast with interuptions so sorry grammar and incomplete thoughts.
Last edited by Lotta_Drool (2008-03-22 11:28:46)
