America's Empire and Endless Wars Are Destroying the World, and Ruining Our Great Country

[ensho]

http://www.alternet.org/story/148094/america%27s_empire_and_endless_wars_are_destroying_the_world%2C_and_ruining_our_great_country


For more than 50 years, Washington has subscribed to the absurd notion that America can police the world with military action. All we've managed to do is bankrupt our country.

(not only "absurd" but stupid)


this is a book review/interview.

we have to get out of the Empire business.

close down the money stealing pentagon.

[NewJeffCT]

1. it was a huge fight just to cut one program for an extra jet engine

for the pentagon's latest plane... that was an EXTRA engine, mind you.

I don't see Congress having the willpower to seriously cut defense any time in the near future.

Now, cutting down our presence abroad - Germany, South Korea, Japan/Okinawa - is more do-able, but would still be tough. I would think they'd want some bases around the world, but how many places in the Pacific west of Pearl Harbor/Hawaii do we really need?

[ensho]

2. we don't need bases in other countries

that's just asking for trouble

nobody is going to attack america but the neo cons

[NewJeffCT]

7. We don't need bases in other countries

However, I don't think going from 100+ bases around the world to 0 is realistic. I think cutting the number in half is more realistic. Just getting out of Iraq & Afghanistan would save $100 billion/year.

[Cal33]

8. Ahem - May I suggest a change in the use of the future tense "is going to attack"

to the present tense "is already attacking" America? They are already
going all out to turn the USA into their fiefdom. Or do you have any doubts
of their intentions?

[speppin]

3. add Iraq to your list.

[ensho]

4. our military totally destroyed Iraq. they have had enough of militaries

to last them several life times. and they have to live with our largest in history embassy.

they need love, caring, healing and money (from us, the quilty party) not military bases.

[opihimoimoi]

6. KnR we need more music....not munitions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8qLp2r7lkk

Its Rieu from Europe

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommend

Thanks for the thread, ensho.

[Cal33]

9. You do realize that you are saying that we must curb the

ambitions of the Military/Industrial Complex - a worthy cause,
but a very tall order!

[ensho]

10. well, I'm up for tackling "tall orders"

how about you?

[Cal33]

11. I'm for it in principle. The question is how? The Democratic

leadership does not seem to be willing. So the next thing to try would be
to start a movement.

[Raster]

12. For more than 50 years, Washington has blatantly broadcast the Amerimeme that America can and MUST

...police the world with military action. And like most memes, the actual truth is quite another matter. The Military/Industrial Complex, for all practical purposes, controls American government. More money is spent on weapons and other implements of war than anything else in the American national budget. Weapons and warfare infrastructure are now the number one export of the United States. Again: the MIC controls American government. The Amerimeme of the American military making the planet a safer place to live is an inflated lie designed to prevent the American public from realizing that far from making the world safer, the adventures of American empire have made the world a much more dangerous place. The only thing made safer is the MIC bank accounts. The Pentagon/MIC and their Congressional collaborators are bleeding this country dry--literally. There will be no peace or safety for this country until the MIC is brought to heel and the foolish exercise in failed empire building is brought to a close.

We cannot look to our politicians for assistance. Even the most noble knows the score. The MIC has the weapons and the means to eliminate anyone or anything that comes between it and its precious profits.

[TBF]

13. K&R nt