‘We the People’ Loses Appeal With People Around the World

[longeyes]

I think the loss of appeal of the US Constitution is directly proportional to the widening negative public perception of the US as a Nation over the last decade, mainly because of the policies and actions of the "Global War on Terror". We aren't viewed as that beacon of Liberty and Justice anymore, so other Nations no longer aspire to be like us. We've become ugly.

If you are right, that would indeed be ironic.  Surely, our global neighbors don't view Islam as the beacon of liberty and justice...?  We are not what we used to be, that's true, but, you know what, neither are they over there.

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

Or you can currently rely on the US security umbrella for a portion of your national defense.

And offense, too. Remember how we had to help them in Libya when their materials ran short. Having a superpower as ally allows you to invest much less in defense.

[longeyes]

I think this nation is afflicted with what Henry Fielding, referring to Tom Jones, called "the glorious lust of doing good."  Take that as you will.

[HankB]

No, America doesn't look like that - it looks more like a racket, where you have to pay in to the system, and the money gets paid out on things that aren't useful to the vast majority of people, like the TSA.

Not to mention AFDC, EITC, food stamps, WIC, and a host of other unearned entitlements.

[De Selby]

The US security umbrella mainly serves to make other nations targets in the event of a US-China-Russia war.  The idea that the chinese or russians would be going after any of those places if not for a trillion dollar US defence establishment has no foundation in reality.

[TommyGunn]

The US security umbrella mainly serves to make other nations targets in the event of a US-China-Russia war.  The idea that the chinese or russians would be going after any of those places if not for a trillion dollar US defence establishment has no foundation in reality.

  I think my brain just exploded.

[MicroBalrog]

ROFLCOPTER.

De Selby demonstrates a hilarious lack of understanding of Russian culture.

[RoadKingLarry]

ROFLCOPTER.

De Selby demonstrates a hilarious lack of understanding of Russian culture human nature.

FTFY

[De Selby]

FTFY

Arguments about Russian culture or "human nature" will not have made it any more feasible or necessary for Russia or China to be invading western europe. 

[MicroBalrog]

Arguments about Russian culture or "human nature" will not have made it any more feasible or necessary for Russia or China to be invading western europe. 

"Necessity" is quite often in the eye of the beholder. Many wars, as you no doubt know, are not necessary, but they are waged nonetheless.

I don't know about Western Europe - certainly the Russians visited Berlin and Paris more than once in previous incidents. But Eastern Europe, like, say, Estonia, is quite feasible.

[longeyes]

What percentage of the Russian army is now Muslim...?

And what percentage will it be in ten years?

[De Selby]

What percentage of the Russian army is now Muslim...?

And what percentage will it be in ten years?

Not this again.

Micro, sure they might have different ideas about necessity - but so what?  Their previous visits to eastern europe seem to have been motivated as much by Western "visits" threatening Russia as anything else. 

In the world we live in today, not an imaginary one where Russia might be different, it's obvious they aren't going to aim for conquering Britain and France any time soon.   What NATO does is make those places targets in a war that, if it happens, will undoubtedly be fought to serve US and Russian aims.

Particularly when it comes to missile defense, being bought by the US with bags of money is about the only way I can fathom places like Poland hosting the thing.  There's no upside to it for their populations, whatsoever.

[MicroBalrog]

What percentage of the Russian army is now Muslim...?

And what percentage will it be in ten years?

What new madness is this?

[longeyes]

What new madness indeed.  Russia she is changing, amigos.  But you know that, I assume.  I know, it's crazy stuff, just like the belief that our masterminds in the White House and Foggy Bottom are brick by brick constructing the new Caliphate...  Yes, it is all madness for those who really don't follow what's going on.  Maybe "smart diplomacy" is really "Machiavellian diplomacy?"  Anyway, you guys are nothing if not predictable, and I can always use some predictability in my chaotic life.

[HankB]

The US security umbrella mainly serves to make other nations targets in the event of a US-China-Russia war.  The idea that the chinese or russians would be going after any of those places if not for a trillion dollar US defence establishment has no foundation in reality.

Russia has no interest in conquest. With no security umbrella in place, certainly the Russians never would have even thought to invade and occupy Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia for half a century starting around 1940. And of course Russian invasions of Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968, Afghanistan in 1972, and Georgia/South Ossetia in 2008 are just figments of people's imagination . . .

[MicroBalrog]

What new madness indeed.  Russia she is changing, amigos.  But you know that, I assume. 

Yes, and for the better. Well, at least if you're a Russian.

Radical ISlam is not a dominating force in Russia and will not be in the observable future.

Micro, sure they might have different ideas about necessity - but so what?  Their previous visits to eastern europe seem to have been motivated as much by Western "visits" threatening Russia as anything else. 

So America's invasions are imperialist, but everyone else's invasions are defensive?

[roo_ster]

Russia has no interest in conquest. With no security umbrella in place, certainly the Russians never would have even thought to invade and occupy Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia for half a century starting around 1940. And of course Russian invasions of Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968, Afghanistan in 1972, and Georgia/South Ossetia in 2008 are just figments of people's imagination . . .

Fig mints, if thrown hard enough, can leave a nasty welt.

[longeyes]

You mean ten per cent of the Russian military is not Muslim?  And that Muslims are not, by far, the most prolific sub-set of the Russian population?  I don't know what you mean by "observable future," but if Muslims in the Russian military gain control all bets are off.  I think you are way too complacent about what's going on there.

[MicroBalrog]

Insert Quote
You mean ten per cent of the Russian military is not Muslim?

No, I've seen no evidence to support that assertion. AFAIK the recruitment rate of Muslims dropped off recently. More importantly, Russia's birth rate is growing in every segment of society. It ain't Europe.

[dogmush]

What new madness indeed.  Russia she is changing, amigos.  But you know that, I assume.  I know, it's crazy stuff, just like the belief that our masterminds in the White House and Foggy Bottom are brick by brick constructing the new Caliphate...  Yes, it is all madness for those who really don't follow what's going on.  Maybe "smart diplomacy" is really "Machiavellian diplomacy?"  Anyway, you guys are nothing if not predictable, and I can always use some predictability in my chaotic life.

Since you have always been a little off the deep end, does this signal a switch to NITROX?

Uh, no the secret Muslims aren't taking over the Red Army.  At least not in any way discernible to the folks that watch them and not www.jihadwatch.com.  And even if they were, it bears mentioning that a vanishingly small percentage of the Muslims in the world are ready to fight in some kind of global Jihad.  The actual number of people fighting for some sort of islamic global takeover is pretty damn pathetic.

I'll state again what I've said before: Radical Islamic terrorists aren't a threat to the United States as a country.  They just aren't.  They can kill Americans, and should definately be prevented from doing so at every turn.  But they just don't have the logistics, skills or numbers to threaten this country.

However, Americans pretending there's some vast Islamic machinery that justifies discarding our laws, morals and money DO have the ability to destroy the country.  They can't do it to us, but we can do it to ourselves.

[Blakenzy]

I'll state again what I've said before: Radical Islamic terrorists aren't a threat to the United States as a country.  They just aren't.  They can kill Americans, and should definately be prevented from doing so at every turn.  But they just don't have the logistics, skills or numbers to threaten this country.

However, Americans pretending there's some vast Islamic machinery that justifies discarding our laws, morals and money DO have the ability to destroy the country.  They can't do it to us, but we can do it to ourselves.

Under the guise of protecting liberty and freedom we have managed to lose both.

[RevDisk]

However, Americans pretending there's some vast Islamic machinery that justifies discarding our laws, morals and money DO have the ability to destroy the country.  They can't do it to us, but we can do it to ourselves.

Bingo.  Just wish a lot more folks would realize this

[Monkeyleg]

The US security umbrella mainly serves to make other nations targets in the event of a US-China-Russia war.  The idea that the chinese or russians would be going after any of those places if not for a trillion dollar US defence establishment has no foundation in reality.

And what security umbrella of ours was protecting Georgia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, VietNam, Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan, just to name a few?

[Perd Hapley]

However, Americans pretending there's some vast Islamic machinery that justifies discarding our laws, morals and money DO have the ability to destroy the country.  They can't do it to us, but we can do it to ourselves.

Bingo.  Just wish a lot more folks would realize this

Everybody and his brother-in-law's dog seems to realize it. People say stuff like that all the time.


Post-September-11th anti-terror measures may be a small part of the problem, but I think we all know they are just a symptom of a much deeper problem. We could abolish the PATRIOT Act, TSA, DHS, and all the other stuff, but we would still be choking ourselves with regulation and needless spending. We would still have intractable social maladies to contend with (broken homes, etc).

[longeyes]

The world is not an either/or affair, alas.  While, indeed, there are those within this country exploiting the so-called "War on Terror" for nefarious ends--on this we agree--you are wrong that there is no existential threat to the West and to America from radical Islam.  I don't expect to convince you of this.  You are in your conceptual bunker and are doomed to stay there apparently.

A vanishingly small tranche of Muslims are ready to fight in some global jihad?  Well, I think you can say the same of Americans willing to fight for liberty, no?  And Islam is no threat to the West?  Arm them with nuclear warheads, even a few, and see how well your world handles the loss of London, Paris, Los Angeles, or New York or even a coordinated EMP attack.  All I can say is Americans really have no idea any of this would mean to their lives.

Yes, I am off the deep end.  Believe that.  And keep believing it as one MENA state after another falls to radical forces with the active collusion of Islamic-sympathetic forces inside this very country at the very highest levels.  Keep believing it as this country is riven to the core and drifts inexorably toward irreversible division that cannot end in other than a cultural conflagration that even secession--which you also wrongly believe is far-fetched--will not be able to heal.