Big Ol' Smitty

Hey, that Mike guy sucks I hear.

good thread

n/t (see sig)

Finland really messed them up. Simo Hayha ftw.

It's looking less likely.

Another problem in this thread is that most of us are arguing about whether gay marriage should or should not be legal white Atticus Chaos is arguing about a strategy for making it so.

Your privateers are at it again, XC. http://warisboring.com/?p=1839

I wasn't actually advocating for either of these things, btw. I apologize if it came off like that. Isolationism is, to my mind, just as wrong-headed and pernicious as imperialism. Both of them ultimately grow out of the injurious Us vs. Them line of thinking, and it's that line of thinking that I'm ultimately opposed to. I fully agree that America has a huge role to play in combating those threats I mentioned, and with our resources it's only logical that we lead the charge. The problem comes when we equate "leading the charge" with "telling other countries what to do." We need to engage the globe on its own terms, not just on ours Completely agree here.

I think so, yeah. It would take a massive ideological realignment in the country, and a concerted effort to understand the world in a fundamentally different manner than we do now. But I think it's possible. The fact is, we really cannot keep going the way we're going. As long as we stay on this path the threats that are already manifesting themselves (terrorism, climate change, economic collapse) are only going to intensify and newer, more dangerous threats are certain to arise. I think the problems you're referring to actually require strong US leadership a la Bush I and Clinton (in grand strategy parlance, engagement). A Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich type turn by the US would be antithetical to solving the three problems that you've mentioned. Again, I have to disagree. I think most of George HW Bush's & Clinton's foreign policies were pretty successful, from stopping Iraqi aggression against Kuwait to stopping genocide in the Balkans. I don't want to go into list mode again and tick off gtd, but I don't think your statement is accurate with respect to those two presidencies. Bush II and Reagan, yep. I guess you're referring to the drone strikes in Pakistan here? I agree that these are problematic and are pissing off Pakistanis. But it seems pretty clear that Zardari wants the strikes and just criticizes them for show. These areas are being used as a haven for terrorists, and the drone strikes are a much better option that sending in US troops. The Pakistani military or intelligence services obviously aren't going to anything about it, so I think right now it's the best of many bad options we have.

One small quibble for Nightwing: I'm pretty sure we did back the coup against Venezuela in '02.

The Economist is really damn expensive, but it's weekly and fat.

Come on, friend. 1. There was that whole 258-years-of-trading-millions-of-African-slaves thing. 2. Before the Spanish-American War, the US conquered the Native Americans, Mexicans, and Hawaiians. The slave trade ended by the early 1800s in the US. I guess American attacks on the Native Americans could be considered acting internationally, but in nothing more than a regional role--same with Mexico. The Hawaiian overthrow and annexation was around the time period I mentioned. But I agree that all those things were bad. I think my point pretty much stands.

Hey, you didn't have to [sic] me, you can spell the word for the principles and practices of the National Socialist Workers’ party under Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945 both ways, you jerk!

Hey, just wanted to say good points all around, King.

Montell Jordan- "This Is How We Do It" Snoop Doggy Dogg- "Gin and Juice" Tough decision on that one. Warren G. (ft. Nate Dogg)- "Regulate" Fiona Apple- "Criminal" Very easy decision on that one. Nirvana- "Heart Shaped Box" Smashing Pumpkins- "1979" Battle of the "mehs." R.E.M.- "Losing My Religion" Blind Melon- "No Rain" Skee-Lo- "I Wish" 2Pac- "California Love" I'm all about Skee-Lo's cinderella run. Dr. Dre (ft. Snoop Doggy Dogg)- "Nuthin But a G Thang" Red Hot Chili Peppers- "Under the Bridge" New Radicals- "You Get What You Give" Faith No More- "Epic" Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories- "Stay" Meat Loaf- "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)"