Originally Posted By DAR We throw our weight around, along with England, Australia and few other countries because we have to. Other countries like Russia or China could step in every now and then. It's not selfish ask for a little tat.
Originally Posted By disneydad109 Dar old bud, Don't you think that we have been going out of our way since WW2 to try to be a good neighbor and help the world ? I know that I feel that way.I am getting just the least bit sick of being treated badly when we are the only hope for the whole world.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Don't you think that we have been going out of our way since WW2 to try to be a good neighbor and help the world<< No. In fact, we are the reason the world is in the economic mess it's in today. We haven't been "treated badly" yet. You don't have any clue what being "treated badly" entails, and you better hope you never live to find out. Cause it could easily start any second now. There are half a dozen countries who could squash our economy like a grape if they so chose, and there's nothing anyone could do about it because we just elected a gridlocked government that won't be able to do anything about anything.
Originally Posted By disneydad109 those would be the ones we saved after WW2 .It's nice to know they remember who they turned too went they were down and out going down for tthe 3rd time.
Originally Posted By disneydad109 I would really like to know which are the 6 or some economies ? I not trying to be a wise guy,I just wondered who they may be .
Originally Posted By Mr X China, for one. Japan could certainly wreck havoc if they were of a mind to, simply by recalling all their loans and re-aligning with some other power (perhaps even China itself). There's two for certain...I'm not sure which others Maw is referring to (even India might be on the list or getting close...why do you think the President focused so strongly on developing better relations with them this week?).
Originally Posted By mawnck Throw in a few Middle Eastern countries who set our oil prices and you have your six. And World War II ended 65 years ago. We are not the same country that (allegedly) helped win WWII.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>We are not the same country that (allegedly) helped win WWII.<< Oh I'd say "helped win" is pretty accurate. The Cold War just conveniently forgot about the Russians, who helped a little bit more. Okay, maybe a lot more.
Originally Posted By Mr X As a youngster, I was shocked to learn in some history class or another that Russia was actually NOT fighting against us along with Germany and Japan...I was utterly convinced (cold war upbringing and all) that they certainly MUST have been "the enemy" then as they always have been.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Japan could certainly wreck havoc if they were of a mind to, simply by recalling all their loans and re-aligning with some other power (perhaps even China itself). >>> Or how about cutting military ties? There's no way that the US military could project the force it does in the Far East nearly as effectively if it didn't maintain the facilities it does in Japan (two large USAF bases, two large US Navy ports, numerous Marine Corps bases and smaller installations).
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Don't you think that we have been going out of our way since WW2 to try to be a good neighbor and help the world ? >>> Such as by spreading freedom and democracy in Iraq?
Originally Posted By ChurroMonster mawnck: "And World War II ended 65 years ago. We are not the same country that (allegedly) helped win WWII." "allegedly"? Really? We ARE the same country that helped win WWII. WWII transformed the US and our military is still acting in the world police role we accepted at the end of WWII. Until our forces are withdrawn from Europe and Japan we are still in post-WWII mode.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Don't you think that we have been going out of our way since WW2 to try to be a good neighbor and help the world<< We are not perceived as a "good neighbor" around the world. I have lived overseas and can assure you that we are seen as a ham fisted bully that gets what he wants, especially since the cold war ended. People around the world cheered when 9/11 happened, as it was seen as our comeuppance, something we had coming to us. I know that this is hard to see from the Country Club, but we are not loved around the world. There was a Simpsons episode where the Simpsons go to Brazil. In one scene Homer is wearing a Tshirt with an Uncle Sam that is devouring the Earth with the caption "Stop us if you can". That is how we are perceived. I'm not joking.
Originally Posted By fkurucz "And World War II ended 65 years ago." Correct. Most of those people we helped are long gone. We are now a very different country than back then.
Originally Posted By disneydad109 I am a simple person ( place rude comments here) but I love the USA and if other countries don't like us thats to damm bad.If they want to do better thats up to them not us.I care about me and mine. the 3rd world is in the shape it's in due to the folks who rule those pest holes. I been there and most of the folks are to lazy to get out of their own rut. "People around the world cheered when 9/11 happened, as it was seen as our comeuppance, something we had coming to us".AS I posted early they are not our friends,thanks for making my point.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Oh I'd say "helped win" is pretty accurate<< Oops, yes I would too. I meant "allegedly won" but must've gotten distracted in the middle of my edit. The US has an overdeveloped sense of how important their contribution was in WWII, but we certainly did help.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder So, honest question. Who here thinks WWII would have had the same outcome had we sat it out?
Originally Posted By disneydad109 lets see , we saved the brits,saved the french , beat the japs,freed the known world.I guess it is easy to think we did much.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>lets see , we saved the brits,saved the french , beat the japs,freed the known world.<< I'm starting to suspect that EVERYTHING you know is wrong.
