Obama: U.S. can't act alone in world

Obama: U.S. can't act alone in world

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_obama_security

WEST POINT, New York (Reuters) – President Barack Obama declared on Saturday the United States cannot act alone in the world and pledged to shape a new "international order" as part of a national security strategy to seal his break with Bush-era policies.....



Bush in 2002 laid out the "Bush Doctrine" asserting the right to wage pre-emptive war against countries and terrorist groups deemed a threat to the United States, part of a policy he called a "distinctly American internationalism."

What followed was the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq despite the lack of formal U.N. authorization.

Since taking office last year, the Obama administration has fueled speculation that the president's new strategy will officially back away from that controversial concept.

wrong place

Private business screws things up, and it is the government's fault once again. Heck, everything that has been proposed is subject to criticism.

The fact of the matter is that when the shit hits the fan, even Bobby Jindal, who opposed expenditures for disaster preparation, is suddenly screaming for government help.

In other words, what can the government possibly do that is not currently being done?

Also, our equipment is worn to shit and that is going to be expensive as hell to fix. What we really need to do is pull out of Europe and to a lesser extent Japan and eventually Korea. We have way too many troops around the world protecting everyone elses ass on our dime. It's way past time we jettison that nonsense.

However I don't ever see us totally closing bases and pulling troops out in Korea or Japan. It is possible we will draw down more troops (I believe Korea has 25,000 the last I heard, but that number maybe outdated and I have no idea about Japan but I'm sure the number is higher). Considering the fact that North Korea is still a threat, we would be bound to leave a min force in both countries.

The thing about Japan is that it still has limits on its military abilties from WWII, which would have to be repealed and I believe other countries would have to agree to allow Japan to build beyond a defensive posture. If this is done you have the very real possiblity of setting off an arms race in Asia between Japan/Korea(North and South)/China which have little trust for one another because of countless invasions and occupations throughout history. While yes, that's unlikely to happen again, they have a real hatred for one another (just ask a Korean or Japanese about Dokdo/Takashima dispute). I personally don't think Japan should be given that power. Right now, they have very strong diplomatic power and along with the US the power in Asia is kept in check. Now, if North Korea collapsed and became democratic and was working toward reunification with the South I think the scale would change.

"America does not fight for the sake of fighting. We abhor war. As one who has never experienced the field of battle - and I say that with humility, knowing, as General MacArthur said, "the soldier above all others prays for peace" - we fight because we must. We fight to keep our families and communities safe. We fight for the security of our allies and partners, because America believes that we will be safer when our friends are safer; that we will be stronger when the world is more just."

We fight because we want to dominate the world.

We fight because we want everyone else's natural resources.

We fight because we are the biggest, meanest, mofo's and we have the best weapons.

We fight because we the USA, and we're exceptional.

We fight because Gawd wants us to convert all those heathens and turn them to Talibornagains.

We fight because we're going to spread De(bygawd)mocracy to the ends of the earth, even if we have to kill everybody on the planet to do it.

We fight because Chickenhawk old men get their rocks off sending young men to die.

We fight because we love war, we love to dominate.

That's why we fight, Mr. President, that's why.

No fool like an old fool. How very depressing. :(

He's (pretty much) right.

Did you post this quote, with "poutrage" inferred, with a straight face?

Feel better. :hug:

The freepers are freaking out over his "Strategy Based in Diplomacy". Now I see a few pony-seeking pacifists here are suggesting he's a blood thirsty, war monger.

My conclusion is --- well done, Mr. President. I watched the address this morning and thought he thoroughly nailed it. Screw the wingnuts.

Sugar coated imperialism.

Bush really damaged us internationally.