Myths of US Foreign Policy

[Ecthy]

I never doubted you're 10% Greek. But you always have to be aware of the fact that the rest is 40% Turkish and 50% Slav

[MarkG]

based on your analysis on the egyptians?

[Ecthy]

Estimated.

[MarkG]

well the estimations of me and my entire family of 286 parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins show that we are descendants of Alexander the Great. since we're more than you, we win

[Saras]

Originally posted by Roland
"how they stood against the Ottomans so Europe wouldn't fall"

[nationalist mode]
They got overrun. We stopped the Turks. And you all should be thaaaaaankful. Without us you'd all be speaking turkish now. Where's that gratitude ? Bring it on!
[/nationalist mode]

If not for Lithuanians, you all would speak mongolian now

[Roland]

If not for wild raging german hordes, you'd all be speaking some degenerated form of Latin that bears an eery resemblance to FRENCH!

Now that should make the yanks grateful....

[Saint Marcus]

talking about troop moral in WW1

General: The Americans are joining the war!
Blackadder: How is that going to help troop moral?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Roland
"2) the arrogance of power"

Which is funny, because that power is quite limited. Only your rightwing and our leftwing nuts seem to believe it is overwhelming.

Define power and how you measure it.

[Roland]

Military: Can destroy 3rd and 4th rate powers. Serious military and political problems against 2nd rate powers. Imperial overstretch.

Economy: 20-25 % of global GDP. Largely deindustrialized. Dependent on foreign capital. On trade disputes stalemate with the EU.

Politics: Dysfunctional political system. Erratic foreign policy, enjoys little respect and faith in diplomatic terms.

The overall mix still gives the strongest power, but with a lot of serious limitations.

[Saras]

What would Apolyton do without the always rational and even tempered Roland?

All Praise The Uberbear !

[Carver]

Originally posted by Ned
The one thing I think is very true is that the Euro's are in love with sanctions, while the US has grown disillusioned with them. I think they may work with democracies, ala South Africa.

democracies? When 15% of the people vote that's not a democracy.

[Saint Marcus]

South Africa wasn't a democracy back then.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Roland
Military: Can destroy 3rd and 4th rate powers. Serious military and political problems against 2nd rate powers. Imperial overstretch.

1) Imperial overstretch isn't a problem, Roland. Currently we spend less, percentage wise, on the military than we have for most of the past half century.

2) How are you classifing countries as 2nd, 3rd, & 4th rate powers?

Economy: 20-25 % of global GDP. Largely deindustrialized. Dependent on foreign capital. On trade disputes stalemate with the EU.

1) Largely deindustrialized? Explain.
2) Given that no country on earth is autarkic, how is the US appetite for foreign capital a serious problem or even a problem at all.

Politics: Dysfunctional political system. Erratic foreign policy, enjoys little respect and faith in diplomatic terms.

What do you mean by dysfunctional political system?

[Roland]

"Imperial overstretch isn't a problem, Roland."

It is. You support a world wide infrastructure and have your nose in every pie. Exactly because of the relatively low spending levels this net is quite weak - it just looks good while a) allies are there, and b) potential enemies are weak.

"How are you classifing countries as 2nd, 3rd, & 4th rate powers?"

We could take military spending as a starter.

I: US: 300 billion

II: China/Japan/UK/France/Germany/Russia/India: 25-50 (100?)

Etc.

"Largely deindustrialized? Explain."

Your economy is mostly services, and your trade deficit in goods is atrocious.

"Given that no country on earth is autarkic, how is the US appetite for foreign capital a serious problem or even a problem at all."

Simple. If you go on like that, your capital stock is owned by foreigners and at least 20 % of national income go to foreigners. Impact on currency, savings, investment etc.

"What do you mean by dysfunctional political system?"

Corruption, Chaos, Delusion.

[MarkG]

Dino is pretending he didnt notice my answer...