Chump for President

[mrsleeve]

apparently the airfield that was struck is still operational.

wtf guys; you spend millions of dollars and can't put a couple holes in the flight line?

Kinda think the strike was to destroy equipment, ordinance, and get the message across that we are really not playing, around, not fuck up more infrastructure, asyad has been doing a good job of that hI'm self

[cale]

Im headed to Alaska again this year, they also make it a point to daily, fly right on the edge of russian/US airspace border. Not sure what the hell for, maybe to let us know the planes still work?

Test response times, push the limits, puff up their chests. Canada scrambles and intercepts on the regular as well. Pilots race up there, give each other the finger (they actually do) and the Bear's head back.

[LBJefferies]

You're soooo edgy man. I bet there's not a single other basement dwelling 17 year old that thinks like you. You're so enlightened.

Where are you from? Because you've either never been to America or never left America so you have no frame of reference between American civilization and civilization, or lack thereof, in 95% of the rest of the world.

Most natives died of disease long before they ever saw a European and were themselves slavers, murderers, etc. They were humans right? And slaves didn't build America. They picked cotton and Tobacco in the agrarian South. Modern industrial America was built by free men on free soil.

Go fuck yourself.

[Farbin Kaiber]

I'm wondering if the US tanks entering Syria from Jordan and the US fleet heading toward NK news I'm reading has any truth to it.

[Grand525]

The analysis below explains why all empires and “Imperial Style” governments have failed throughout history, and why our Empire-USA faces the same fate.

The only question is whether the people and government of the USA have the wisdom and will to engage in a “Managed Decline” by terminating the empire and imperial conduct on their own schedule, rather than by chaotic crash of the US Dollar, economy, and lifestyle.

Take notice of the “Solutions” section in Part C below.

Part A: Key Points

• An Empire is a nation that: 1) Owns colonies, and/or 2) Controls, or has great influence over, other nations. Empires require economic and military strength to start and maintain, and this is expensive.

• All Empires fail, and for the same reasons:
  1) Expense of military abroad, and subsidies at home.
  2) Decline in domestic productivity (spoiled, parasitic citizens).
  3) Corruption (illegal conduct) and decadence (unethical and immoral conduct) by leaders and citizens.

Empire-USA: Our deal to other nations is: We will be the world’s policeman and protect you, but you must accept our fake money and “influence.”
The USA is far into Phase 3-Failure.
Look around you for the symptoms shown in Part B-3 and Part C below.

Chart Height Shows Combined Military and Economic Strength (Power and Wealth)

Part B: Events/Symptoms in each Phase

Phase 1 — Growth

• Land: Gain territory by “discovery” (too bad for the natives), or conquest.

• Strength: Start growth of economic and military strength. Sound currency (precious metal, or convertible paper and convertible base-metal coins).

• Government: Local and central government acts as a servant to protect the rights of citizens. No entangling alliances with other nations. New land is governed as a colony or part of homeland nation (becoming a sovereign republic may require a revolution). The army consists of volunteers protecting their homes and families, with no professional or standing army.

• Ethics: Most government people and citizens are hard working and honest. Government is a servant.

Phase 2 — Maturation

• Land: Add contiguous land, or remote colonies, by conquest or negotiation.

• Strength: Become a world leader in both economic and military strength. Homeland receives cheap imports from colonies. Currency is debased to allow more government spending, without raising taxes.

• Government: Grows stronger, more corrupt, and acts as boss, manager, nanny, owner, etc. Elected officials will do almost anything to retain their jobs. Power is used to manage other nations to impose/protect the Empire’s interests. The central government increases control (superiority) over local (city and state) functions, often based on its power to create money to fund local projects. A standing army is created and consists of mostly conscripts, and professional careerists. Wars become more oriented to building and defending the Empire.

• Ethics: Corruption and decadence grow due to decline in personal responsibility caused by nanny state.

Phase 3 — Decline and/or Failure

• Land: Lose colonies, or control of other nations, by revolution or voluntary release (due to expense and unrest).

• Strength: No longer a world leader. Power declines by 50% or more, especially in foreign matters. Value of fake currency crashes in purchasing power by 50% or more. Default on debt (or pay off with low value paper money).

• Government: Becomes weak, more corrupt, and desperate. Leaders try to gain power (decrees, martial law, etc.) to survive citizen discontent. “Bread and Circuses” grow, now called grants, subsidies, stimulus, and entitlements. The army consists of mostly professional careerists, and volunteers, many of whom join because they can’t find work elsewhere. Standards are lowered (criminal records, non-citizens, health issues) to aid recruiting for wars of empire (non-defense). Use of mercenaries and contractors grows toward 50% or more of total staff, and their loyaty is to their Generals (or Corporate officials), and original homeland, not the country that pays them.

• Ethics: Corruption and decadence are rampant in both social and government conduct. Failure occurs as either: A) Nation survives, but at a reduced level of strength and standard of living (England, France, Italy, Spain, and Russia are examples; see list in Part D), or B) Ceases to exist due to takeover by other nations or groups.

Part C: Empire-USA is in Phase 3: Decline and/or Failure

Problems:

• High Expenses: The expense to maintain bases, and fight wars, worldwide exceeds the monetary and political benefits. The US has over 800 military bases, with troops (not counting embassies), in over 125 countries, and the US acts as the world’s policeman to protect its interests, and impose influence. Resistance by our “subjects” is building. Military expenses are a drag on the economy, and the troops get less than ideal equipment due to cost problems. Host nations are unhappy having our occupying troops.

• High Debt: The US is a bankrupt Empire by any measure. It cannot hope to pay back over $13 trillion in national debt, or the about $50 trillion unfunded future obligations of domestic programs (Medicare, Social Security, etc.). Interest payments are huge. The US Dollar (USD) is still the world’s reserve currency (held as if gold by other nations; it can be viewed as a share in USA Inc.), despite the fact that the US is also the world’s biggest debtor, but doubts are rising in other countries who use and own dollars for trade. This combination has never occurred before in history! Thus, since all US government debt is denominated in USD, the government can create new low-value dollars out of thin air to pay its debts! A new form of default! The USD is in a precarious position due to excessive expansion of the money supply (inflation) and the USD could crash in value at any time. The extreme is hyperinflation, when the money becomes almost worthless. As with heroin, lots of fake money (the Federal Reserve Bank calls it liquidity) feels good at first, but has withdrawal pain called recession or depression. Since the Federal government never runs out of money, it often becomes the funder for state projects (with strings attached), and states’ rights wither. This gives vote-getting power to Congressmen, and acquiescent State officials suck it up to avoid taxing to raise state funds.

• Enemies: The US claims to be a world leader, but this is often a cover to be a bully to control other countries with an occupying force to gain land and resources. This started in 1812 with the failed invasion of Canada, then 1845 with the Mexican-American War, and 1898 with the Spanish-American war (which led to occupation/acquisition of the Philippines and Hawaii). The World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and others followed. The recent Balkans, Afghan, and Iraq wars are primarily about; 1. Control of oil (The US wants it all; no easy-cheap Mideast oil for India and China), 2. Defense of Israel, 3. Land for bases to control the Mideast, and 4. Continuation of oil sales in US Dollars by Iraq and Iran. The US entered/started all of these wars based on lies by leaders. What a disgrace and ripoff of the people! Trust and respect for the US has declined in the eyes of its citizens and other nations. This meddling foreign policy contributed to 9-11 and terror. The Federal government grasps for new, unconstitutional power.

• Corruption and Bad Ethics: Ethics and social conduct are on the decline in the US. Corruption is rampant in both the government and business. Shady conduct is considered normal (gang theft by vote, “earmark” pork handouts, lying, etc.). Prime-time TV is now riddled with sexual content, cursing, glorification of misconduct (The Sopranos, Desperate Housewives, etc.), and violence (NASCAR, cop shows). Sports are riddled with violence (the fans like it!) and cheating, condoned by coaches and team owners that want to sell more tickets. Little or none of the above occurred in the ‘50s.

SOLUTIONS

Of the two ways to end the inevitable Phase 3 of an Empire (Decline or Failure), it is far less painful to engage in a “managed decline,” or “nation restoration,” compared to a massive depression. England and France are examples. A managed process would entail prompt action to:

1. Invoke a major change in foreign policy by:
   A. Terminating Empire-USA, and its role as policeman and bully of the world, and focus on homeland defense.
   B. Reducing spending and conflict by closing most, or all, overseas bases, and keeping only a minimal standing army (primarily State-controlled National Guard).
   C. Stop meddling in the affairs of other nations by force, sanctions, or bribery (no preemptive wars or occupations).
   D. Promote free trade.
2. Invoke a similar change in domestic policy where:
   A. Federal spending is reduced by 50% or more.
   B. Creation of new fake money is ended.
   C. Sound money is introduced (paper is convertible to precious metal), and the Federal Reserve System is abolished.
   D. The Constitution and law are adhered to (with repeal of recent bad laws).
   E. Market intervention (favors to firms, unions, people) is ended, and free enterprise capitalism is used.

These steps would help bring the government back to its proper role to, “Protect the personal and property rights of citizens, as individuals, from threat or violation by others.”
With this approach, the USA and its citizens would enjoy a future of peace, prosperity, justice and good ethics.
It always works!

[rhE-30]

I'd like anybody to point out another time in history when the objective of a military strike on a target was to let the target continue to do the same thing they were doing prior to the strike.

[decay]

as a radical leftist, i would like to tell you that you're not helping.

nothing you're posting is even relevant to the current events being discussed.

[decay]

Kinda think the strike was to destroy equipment, ordinance, and get the message across that we are really not playing, around, not fuck up more infrastructure, asyad has been doing a good job of that hI'm self

well seeing as the shit is still running, that objective was not achieved either, but i stand by the point that military strikes should be intended to destroy or at least reduce the combat readiness of the target.

if you get to claim authority on pipelines... this one's in my lane. :)

[mrsleeve]

Lol fair enough, but. Is did see photos of several melted and chared up migs and destroyed dog houses around them. That does reduce force projection and air capabilities

[decay]

Lol fair enough, but. Is did see photos of several melted and chared up migs and destroyed dog houses around them. That does reduce force projection and air capabilities

and it looks great on the news.

take out the airstrip, and that pretty hardware and materiel is useless.

that's what patton or eisenhower would have done; but it wouldn't have resulted in such interesting pics.

that's my point here.

[mrsleeve]

I don't disagree, just pointing out why one might chose to destroy only hardware vs infrastructure. Or maybe there might be plans that involve using that airstrip

[Farbin Kaiber]

http://www.cfr.org/military-operations/vision-trump-war/p38967

Long but good read. Interesting insight.

[ajhostetter]

http://www.cfr.org/military-operatio...ump-war/p38967

Long but good read. Interesting insight.

Thanks Farb. Very good read. Funny/sad that one of the few places I can go for reasoned, thoughtful debate/discussion on what's happening today is R3v.

[dereliiict]

As someone who is currently in the Middle East:

The strike was much less about limiting Syria's strike capability and much more about demonstrating that America still has a backbone. This is the perception of the locals.

Globally, this is the most important aspect as Obama's so called "red line" was outed as spineless rhetoric that the former President could not follow through with.

Hard men do not respect weakness and hesitation in leaders. These people have an absolutely different world view, one not pampered and plugged with news outlets and video games.

They respect what they can see, the region has a general feeling that they all soon will be like Syria, and how can we give them hope when they have watched the most powerful nation roll over to a greedy despot? It's easy to sit in an air con room and type away that these moves mean so little due to this or that. But you lose your perspective, if you ever had it in the first place, and perception is 9/10 of the law.

Most of you will never see true hopelessness, and to those who have, you should spend time reflecting about the greater picture and feel shame most of all, because you know better.

[mrsleeve]

^

Thats a very good point, that I had not considered even a little bit in this instance.