The Bush Doctrine: Selective Bullying

[Sandpiper]

I disagree with libertarian economic views, but they've been calling Bush on his imperial ambitions from day one.



The Bush Doctrine: Selective Bullying
by Harry Browne

Now that the election campaign is over, the Bush administration is unleashing the dogs of war again. This time the dogs have Iran in their sights. Even Colin Powell is barking.

The Iranian government says it is using uranium for peaceful energy purposes. The Bushies say it's being used to develop nuclear bombs. To show good faith, the Iranians have suspended their atomic energy program for the time being. Of course, that's not good enough for the U.S. war hawks – any more than Hussein's protestations that he had no WMDs prevented an invasion of Iraq.

The Bush people don't deal in facts; they deal in hysteria. Lynch mobs are their weapons of choice.

<snip>

The "Bush doctrine" of foreign policy is really very simple: Attack any country that can't fight back, but don't rock the boat with any country that might be able to attack the United States.

This doctrine isn't original with George Bush. It is the strategy employed by every schoolyard bully in the world: attack the weak but steer clear of the strong.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/browne/browne9.html

[shoelace414]

1. I think of this

http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/ArmsTrade/Spending.asp

In Context: U.S. Military Spending Versus Rest of the World

Consider the following:

* The US military budget is almost as much as the rest of the world's.
* The US military budget is more than 8 times larger than the Chinese budget, the second largest spender.

[gennifer6]

2. from a proud Libertarian, thank you for sharing.....

The Libs have had ol' George's number for some time, its great to see it explained in an arguement even the Repunklicans could comprehend.....

[Kazak]

5. Repunklicans!

Good one. :)

[proudbluestater]

3. So true, always beat up those who haven't the means to fight back

In Context: U.S. Military Spending Versus Rest of the WorldConsider the following:

The US military budget is almost as much as the rest of the world's.
The US military budget is more than 8 times larger than the Chinese budget, the second largest spender.
The US military budget is more than 29 times as large as the combined spending of the seven “rogue” states (Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria) who spent $14.4 billion.
It is more than the combined spending of the next twenty three nations.
The United States and its close allies account for some two thirds to three-quarters of all military spending, depending on who you count as close allies (typically NATO countries, Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan and South Korea)
The seven potential “enemies,” Russia, and China together spend $116.2 billion, 27.6% of the U.S. military budget.
http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/ArmsTrade/Spending.asp#WorldMilitarySpending


My personal favorite link. Actually, the link shown has been removed. I know because I used the original all the time at Kerry's old forum.

World's Largest
Military Budgets:
($U.S. Billions)
United States 416.0
Russia* 65.0
China* 47.0
Japan 42.6
U.K. 38.4
France 29.5
Germany 24.9
Saudi Arabia 21.3
Italy 19.4
India 15.6
South Korea 14.1
Brazil* 10.7
Taiwan* 10.7
Israel 10.6
Spain 8.4
Australia 7.6
Canada 7.6
Netherlands 6.6
Turkey 5.8
Mexico 5.9
Kuwait* 3.9
Ukraine 5.0
Iran 4.8
Singapore 4.8
Sweden 4.5
Egypt* 4.4
Norway 3.8
Greece 3.5
Poland 3.5
Argentina* 3.3
U.A.E.* 3.1
Colombia* 2.9
Belgium 2.7
Pakistan* 2.6
Denmark 2.4
Vietnam 2.4
North Korea 2.1
Czech Republic 1.6
Iraq 1.4
Philippines 1.4
Portugal 1.3
Libya 1.2
Hungary 1.1
Syria 1.0
Cuba 0.8
Sudan 0.6
Yugoslavia 0.7
Luxembourg 0.2
Source: www.cdi.org.

[sendero]

4. There is one problem..

.... with this analysis. Iran can and will fight back. They will not roll over like Iraq did.

If we do go into Iran, it will be Bush**'s waterloo. He's truly delusional if he thinks we can militarily steamroll Iran.