OT (or is it?): American Imperialism

[TerranC]

StrategiaInUltima said:
So far, North Korea hasn't been that much of a worldwide influence.

That's because Nork nukes have a limited range. But there are about 2 billion people and some influential countries who are directly or indirectly affected by the North Korean Crisis. If North Korean nukes could reach Europe, you wouldn't be saying that.

[Nodachi]

Right now North Korea's missiles have an estimated range of 3600 miles. That is why China is pushing so hard for them to discontinue their nuke program.

Speaking of China, they are the next potential threat. If they were to switch their production over to a war footing it would make the US's WWII war machine look like kids playing with blocks. It really is just a matter of time before China starts trying to expand. When they do none of their neighbors will be able to stand up to them in a conventional war. If the US steps in to stop them it will (yet again) be the bad guy in the eyes of the world sticking their nose in where it doesn't belong. Yet if the US does nothing the world will cry foul that the US is 'allowing' China to act aggressively.
We catch Hell either way.

[dogscoff]

I have just one thing to say on this. The fact that much of the world has the right to chose their way of life at all, is do in large part to the actions of the United States. How soon the ungrateful will forget.

Seems to me the America of the 1940s bears very little resemblance to the america of today. I mean, no-one expects the Germany of today to be the same as it was 65 years ago.

I've always found it interesting that with all the money the US spends overseas (look at our trade deficits) it seems to be one of the most hated countries of the world.

Woo. Money. Yeah. That's OK then.

We've never heard any important news from {afghanistan} in over a year. For as far as I know, Afghanistan is now a peaceful, free country.

Or the exact opposite. Ah, the short attention span of the media...

[Puke]

i was talking to a friend the other day, and we were discussing that modern day america is probably the last empire the world is likely to see, and that this is probably the end of it.

i mean, not like its going to come crashing down tomorrow, but the era of imperialism is on the wain. after we succumb to ignorance, corruption, and decadance, i dont think anyone else will ever achieve the same things. i dont think any one nation will ever dictate global policy in the same way, nor will other nations plant military bases all over the world. none others do now.

but for all that, it does not much feel like we (in the US) are living in a great empire. it feels pretty mundane, like any other place.

or does it? Japan and Hongkong are both very modern, industrial, first-world places - by any measure. citizens enjoy a high standard of living, and you can find some of the most expensive realestate in the world there. But many things are not like you would expect to find in the US. toilet water is sea water, and is not desalitinized. paper napkins in restaurants are very small and thin sheets. if you want hot water, you have to turn on your own water heater and wait for it to get hot - it does not run all the time. so its an extra 5 to 10 minutes when you want to take a shower, and you usually wont bother with the heater just to wash your hands.

In the States, i flush my fecies down the toilet with fresh drinkable water. i could take a gulp from the back tank of the toilet if i was so inclined, and it would be more sanitary than the real drinking water in most of the world. I can be a pig at a restaurant, and use as many danm napkins on my greasy fingers as i want. and I have hot water whenver i want it, a big heater is running round the clock just incase i get the urge to wash my hands at 01:00 in the morning.

supermarkets here are better stocked with produce and all manner of foodstuffs. it might not be as fresh as what you could get in a european maret, but we sure as hell have more of it. year-round, too. you can buy things in the states even outside of their growing seasons, thanks to hydroponics, genetic engineering, and farms in places with all kinds of weather. I can go to the market in the dead of winter, and buy as much citrus fruit as i can carry.

and those are just a few small examples of the luxuries that we overlook. sure, we dont have seargent pepper parrading his company up and down the square for the pomp and glory of our empire. but undeniably, this is an empire - and our great-grandchildren will probably never see another one like it.

[EvilGenius4ABetterTomorro]

We are already developing advanced Hypersonic aircraft that don't need forward bases. I bet they probably won't need pilots either. Looking forward to that new E.U. Swift Reaction force. Let's see Europe do some world policing for a change. I get a little tired of others always yelling at the U.S. for not getting involved/getting involved. I guess when your on top, all that heavenly backlight makes for a good silhouette to take shots at.

The American Empire: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.