Can't Afford to be Weak

[abaris]

Sorry, missread totally. My bad.

[Minimalist]

Last night, on Real Time Bill Maher asked Ret. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson the following.  Wilkerson was Chief of Staff to Colin Powell when he was Sec. St.  Let him give his answer.

[Chad32]

If christians come by, they may mention how we need to help the jews take Israel, so the end times can come. Whereby all but 144,000 jews will die afterwards.

[AFTT47]

If anything we are a world leader because of Hollywood and our music industry. We are the cultural center of the world.

Uhh! Seriously!? If I agreed with you, I'd be rooting for our death! Rap is the cultural future of our species!? Bring on the roaches! That would be an improvement!

Anyway, you may be right but that's my whole point. We ARE the cultural center of the world (much to the detriment of the world) but that's BECAUSE of our power. Do you seriously think the rest of the world would follow us if it were not for that? That would be a massive improvement of our species in the way of culture if they didn't BUT: There are a lot of good things about this country that it's great that the world follows. Human rights don't come from the sky. They exist only because of the power to defend them. THAT is the value of the USA. Europe is far more enlightened than us in that regard but they don't have the power to influence the world the way we do. Worldwide human rights exist largely because of the power of the USA.

I can't speak with authority on the relative military strength of the USA compared to rest of the world. I am fully aware of the relative spending difference - for now. But spending is all for naught without the manufacturing capability to back it up. We prevailed in WW1 and WW2 because of our enormous manufacturing power. We don't have that today. We have become a nation of consumers reliant on others to make our toys for us. The only thing keeping us afloat is military spending, civil aviation and niche manufacturing like private space flight.

Anyone who thinks this isn't a problem is kidding themselves. This country is losing its power. And any of the fools who like to cry about 'Murica are going to love China for liberal values if we go down.

[Minimalist]

[Secular Elf]

I have to say that I agree with the OP's main concerns. I am quite liberal to moderate in most of my views but I am also no pacifist. Having studied some history I am aware that when other stronger nations or not so strong countries perceive a weakness in your own country's position in either power, or you have something that they want like land or resources, they will take advantage of you. It is just human nature. I think the U.S. needs to maintain a strong military and keep up with technology. According to one video I have seen (5 Ways America is Already Socialist) American taxpayers' give 27% of every dollar to the military, which budgets out at $598.5 billion, to the detriment of other things such as science, education, and infrastructure. Sometimes we have heard over the years the military budget wasteful spending (and other government spending) on such things as 50 dollar hammers or 200 dollar toilet seats. When I learned, a few years back, that the U.S. Army was spending money on dowsing research (holding two rods or a forked stick to find water, or in this case, bunkers and tunnels) I flipped! I could not believe that shit! We should spend smarter, not larger. I support a strong military for defense mainly, and should only have just enough weaponry to smack the shit out of any country that attacks us. But nowadays, like this war with ISIS, we really are not serious about winning it or defeating the enemy when it comes to an actual war. It is all "surgical strikes" and "air campaigns" and mostly politically motivated and/or operated.

[Minimalist]

[Secular Elf]

[Secular Elf]

Last night, on Real Time Bill Maher asked Ret. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson the following.  Wilkerson was Chief of Staff to Colin Powell when he was Sec. St.  Let him give his answer.

Love Bill Maher!

He has a good point. It is frustrating to see how all the countries in the Middle East send token forces and allow the U.S. to do most of the dirty work for them in their own backyard. And the Col.'s point about picking losers, yeah, that is what's really puzzling about our foreign policy in the Middle East.