We don't seem to care about any other country as much... and at a rate of $100B a yr, we not only get access to these resources, but also get to build a oil pipeline from the Central Asian states to the Arabian Sea.
I am cynical. Why should we care about other countries, except where self-interest dictates it? This may well pay for the war and some of the debt.
We've lost our backbone for adventure as we've continued to reinforce the entitlement mentality that is draining our country dry of resources.
If the Nordic countries can run some of the most competitive free market economies in the world while assuring poverty does not become a leading cause of death, I'm sure the Greatest Nation on Earth can manage to manage.
Defence is more than a last moment scramble to the anti-aircraft guns. Defence is a whole policy.
Korea was started by the communists, so that was defence. The first Gulf War was started by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, so that was also defence. Bangladesh and Vietnam were fought because the administration believed, rightly or wrongly, that a Soviet-backed independence movement in South Asia or a communist South-East Asia would endanger America in the long run. I would argue Afghanistan was started at 9/11.
Iraq was for the oil, and the American administration lied to its own people and the rest of the world about the WMD. Still, oil is central to the defence of the realm. Having the largest stationary army, navy and air force in the world is worth zilch. I don't blame America for trying to secure oil; I blame them for doing it so clumsily.
They didn't listen when the public said "no" to the bailouts. They didn't listen when the public said "no" to the stimulus.
Sometimes, I'm plain glad they don't listen to the public. A lot good it would have done the economy to have the financial sector fail and have a drawn out depression.
I had a blog where I wrote all sorts of articles about things from computing to history to literature. Things I personally liked and all that. Pretty tame, homely blog. 20 hits on a good month, but meh, who cares. It's not like I'm Tom Friedman. Then one day I wrote a post on scientology (basically, it's hypocritical to criticise it as a religion if at the same time you're okay with all the others).
Boom! 300 page views that month. A dozen comments. Flamewars and fans.
If I'd been earning money from that blog, you bet I'd have taken a hint and continued to write things about how Obama is a commie, Glenn Beck should head an armed invasion of those baby-eating godless socialists in Europe, minorities are shifty, oil companies are conspiring against hamsters, and gays are actively plotting against our way of life every time they go Satan-worshipping on moonlit nights. Real me wouldn't stand for any of those, but real me - the regular guy who lives and lets live - doesn't sell as well.
Fox and MSNBC are more attractive investments than middle-o'-the-road CNN. The New York Times is doing all it can to survive, while the Sun and the National Enquirer sell on like it's 1970. Trash sells. I blame the man, but I also pity him. Only human, and as LotR says, the hearts of men are easily corrupted.
Slashdot Mirror
Yes, I'm sure your communication is of immense interest to the Government of India.
Hotmail was built by an Indian, so special privileges.
'Soluble' can be used w.r.t. problems as well.
But, I haven't seen Apple's Steve throwing chairs....
Can't. Lift. Too. Heavy.
Mod parent up.
People are supposed to be too dumb to figure out what direction a battery ought to go in?
If you'd sold millions of copies of Vista, wouldn't you think that too?
Mod parent up 'Informative'.
Unless you're suggesting that NASA will kill a third crew upon the completion of the program...
Well with NASA you never know....
I for one would welcome this. It's more important for the world to have America return to some semblance of prosperity than Afghanistan.
All education isn't the same. I doubt very much Osama had a liberal, secular education.
We don't seem to care about any other country as much... and at a rate of $100B a yr, we not only get access to these resources, but also get to build a oil pipeline from the Central Asian states to the Arabian Sea.
I am cynical. Why should we care about other countries, except where self-interest dictates it? This may well pay for the war and some of the debt.
It is once you damage property or kill someone.
and we are very much part of 'the western world'. Right there next to you. A little to the north. There you go.
Since this was clearly a conspiracy by evil Bond villains who enjoy dipping gulls in crude.
What about common decency? Or is that only for Americans too?
"And in Baghdad, children can be shot without remorse." There, FTFY.
If mankind could always defeat viruses, what would that mean for biological freedom?
It is exactly this kind of dehumanisation that the OP was talking about.
We've lost our backbone for adventure as we've continued to reinforce the entitlement mentality that is draining our country dry of resources.
If the Nordic countries can run some of the most competitive free market economies in the world while assuring poverty does not become a leading cause of death, I'm sure the Greatest Nation on Earth can manage to manage.
So he served the interests of his country's economy by compromising those of other countries. Bravo, I say.
Defence is more than a last moment scramble to the anti-aircraft guns. Defence is a whole policy.
Korea was started by the communists, so that was defence. The first Gulf War was started by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, so that was also defence. Bangladesh and Vietnam were fought because the administration believed, rightly or wrongly, that a Soviet-backed independence movement in South Asia or a communist South-East Asia would endanger America in the long run. I would argue Afghanistan was started at 9/11.
Iraq was for the oil, and the American administration lied to its own people and the rest of the world about the WMD. Still, oil is central to the defence of the realm. Having the largest stationary army, navy and air force in the world is worth zilch. I don't blame America for trying to secure oil; I blame them for doing it so clumsily.
I see your One True God and raise you 330 million!
And this isn't a drawn-out depression?
No, and I hope it doesn't get there.
Of course you're going to get a 5.7% increase in GDP - someone has been making money off the Wall Street surge.
And of course, no or'nery people are allowed to earn money off the Street. Silly me.
But all that is over now. Wait until you see what 2 trillion dollars bought you... you're going to be mad.
Who, me? Oil reserves + sanely regulated banking = Her Majesty's Frozen Prosperity, eh.
They didn't listen when the public said "no" to the bailouts. They didn't listen when the public said "no" to the stimulus.
Sometimes, I'm plain glad they don't listen to the public. A lot good it would have done the economy to have the financial sector fail and have a drawn out depression.
What better way to celebrate Pi day/Einstein's birthday?
I had a blog where I wrote all sorts of articles about things from computing to history to literature. Things I personally liked and all that. Pretty tame, homely blog. 20 hits on a good month, but meh, who cares. It's not like I'm Tom Friedman. Then one day I wrote a post on scientology (basically, it's hypocritical to criticise it as a religion if at the same time you're okay with all the others).
Boom! 300 page views that month. A dozen comments. Flamewars and fans.
If I'd been earning money from that blog, you bet I'd have taken a hint and continued to write things about how Obama is a commie, Glenn Beck should head an armed invasion of those baby-eating godless socialists in Europe, minorities are shifty, oil companies are conspiring against hamsters, and gays are actively plotting against our way of life every time they go Satan-worshipping on moonlit nights. Real me wouldn't stand for any of those, but real me - the regular guy who lives and lets live - doesn't sell as well.
Fox and MSNBC are more attractive investments than middle-o'-the-road CNN. The New York Times is doing all it can to survive, while the Sun and the National Enquirer sell on like it's 1970. Trash sells. I blame the man, but I also pity him. Only human, and as LotR says, the hearts of men are easily corrupted.