Not the Biggest Kid on Every Block, by Robert Gore
Before he was elected President Obama expressed some skepticism towards Pax Americana. Coming from the promisor of $2500 in insurance savings and keeping your medical plan and doctor, that skepticism was probably just another lie to solidify support among his party’s dwindling antiwar wing. Whatever his true feelings, Obama is now just as captured by the neoconservatives and the military-industrial-intelligence complex as his predecessors. Syria brings out Obama’s dithering and dissembling worst. If he does decide to play ball with Putin, the complex will regard it as a tactical retreat, not a sea change, and will do everything in its power to keep the flickering flame of global empire lit. There is too much money and power at stake to let it die.
Putin understands what they do not: while the power exists to destroy the world, that same power prevents any nation from ruling it. Unfortunately, delusion about the latter could lead to the former.
This is an excerpt. Please click the link above for the full article.
Putin understands what they do not: while the power exists to destroy the world, that same power prevents any nation from ruling it. Unfortunately, delusion about the latter could lead to the former.
This is an excerpt. Please click the link above for the full article.
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Thank you for sharing that most excellent parable.
Isaiah's Job, Albert J. Nock.- ..."The Remnant are those who by force of intellect are able to apprehend these principles, and by force of character are able, at least measurably, to cleave to them. The masses are those who are unable to do either... Anyone who liked might listen; anyone who liked might pass by. He knew that the Remnant would listen; and knowing also that nothing was to be expected of the masses under any circumstances, he made no specific appeal to them, did not accommodate his message to their measure in any way, and did not care two straws whether they heeded it or not." "Digito monstrari et dicier, Hic est!"... Prophet of the Remnant..."It is a good job, an interesting job, much more interesting than serving the masses; and moreover it is the only job in our whole civilization, as far as I know, that offers a virgin field." "Sat patriae Priamoque datum." Well done.
It is another example of the truth behind the saying that "the more things change, the more they stay the same."
Here is a link for anyone interested. https://mises.org/library/isaiahs-job
Regards,
O.A.
Putin understands what they do not: if he can keep the Muslims in the Middle East killing each other, then they won't be killing Russians, even if he has to use the American military to do it.
As alluded to elsewhere here, Putin is playing chess while O is still figuring out checkers.
If they let him do what we have seen what makes you think they will acknowledge that his policies were unbelievably stupdi; which they are?
If Syria runs amok, do we really care? Terrorists are like whackamo... kill one, and 2 more pop up it seems like. Trump is right, seal the border and let the jihadis fight it out, then figure out what is left after the carnage. Maybe airdrop some whiskey, hookers, and guns into the combat zone to fuel the disarray. (Muslim men will always partake if no one is looking it seems like).
You start that by pulling the military forces defending us closer to home (our hemisphere), focus on the enormous security problems we already have here in Central America, stabilize that region and start building their economies, which will in turn amp ours up and reduce our illegal immigration woes.
Reduce the military presence in the Middle East to basically an expeditionary force... having overwhelming military power in the area has done nothing to tip the balance in our favor, but keep some tactical nukes on standby to re-open a closed Suez Canal, etc.. We probably have some ongoing commitments in Afghanistan to rebuild them, but I think we're done in Iraq. They can figure it out from here.
Close our bases overseas and return them to the host governments... we really don't need them, with the exception of maybe Yakota, Diego Garcia, Wake, Incirlik, Germany, Aviano, and a few other key locations that forward deploy logistics in the event of another major conflict and stage reconnaissance overflights, the rest is just outdated. The hosting allies can use it as an excuse to rebuild their own national defense and pick up that large ticket item themselves... and they can choose between Bernie-style free PhD's and national healthcare and dental, or defending against the hoards.
Expand and modernize the Navy and Air Force - between our satellite espionage systems, and a very mobile and lethal military, we really don't need much else. The military should resemble what the Russians have as a strategy, but not the pile of rusted junk that they use. Make very real cuts and elimination of bases and weapons systems that are obsolete to the new strategy.
Replace the worldwide military infrastructure with lower taxes, business incentives, industrial capacity, and 'monetize' the empire. Put severe limits on public welfare, "phony disability" payments for life, and curtail spending on social programs (a roaring economy doesn't need subsidies). Roll the revenues forward to reduce the national debt clock, and get the numbers running in the right direction.
Greater industrial capacity means we don't necessarily need such a large standing army, a big case for a standing army is the argument that we can't readily replace pieces lost quickly on battlefield in a major conflict. Rather than housing the equipment, it's support and maintenance forces, bases to keep it in, and soldiers to operate it, just build the capacity to build more in a hurry.
It is true the largest most experienced military in the world is useless without the will to use it. When it's sent to do some job of military work and not supported the lack of will is even more evident. That's the operating method of the side that claims one sort of victory in numbers of US War Dead (since WWII) 18 to 1 as compared to the formerly independent Republicans in 'wars the at each have started.
But here's the part they forget. Given the right leadership and the support of the country our 'not very peaceful and very warlike nation' wins wars and reduces casualties in short order.
It's being sent out there by the turncoats who vote for something then join the other side that causes the long term problems.
And I don't want to hear that 'we were lied to garbage.' Two thirds of WMD were in fact found. The rest of the reasons stated for going into Iraq in fact existed. The only fact that counts is the left once again joined the other side after voting to send us to war., The rest is BS.
In truth ...The nation itself has no will besides starting a game and finding the reset button doesn't work. Think about it are you worth fighting for?
Why does he engage in these "kinetic military actions"? Because through them he can deplete our arsenals of weapons and force changes upon our military through social policy. Remember, he is the Commander-in-Chief, but its much more difficult to issue directives without an actual conflict to justify them. He has already said that he wants a private army that answers only to him. That army would be in direct conflict with the US Armed Forces who take an oath to protect the Constitution - not the President. Obama's actions are to demoralize our own armed forces and discourage patriotic Americans from joining the armed forces - debilitating them. He knows that's far more effective than simply reducing funding - though he has done that as well.
Today we are but few that even know of the Monroe doctrine.
Obama is playing checkers... or maybe golf... Putin is playing Chess like Kasparov.
Another great article for the archives.
Regards,
O.A.
It didn't die. It just got sick. It was called the Vietnam Syndrome. There was a full recovery, and it's back to looking for dragons to slay.