calmObserver

and what happened to them in the end? anyway, you sound like rush limbaugh's favorite historian victor davis hanson. i attempted to read one of his books, and found the man totally locked into ancient greece. problem is things have changed. no longer can you have war at some point on earth and no one beyond a few miles radius not know of it

Parisyann

The invincible X Army? Sounds like a French title or something alike... hahahaha!

No, seriously, if there is one country here who clearly knows about its military might, then it must be the US. They've been fighting alone most of our world's threats, while we were idly sitting home watching TV.

So, yeah, I believe the US are the baddest guys on Earth; and, boy, that's a relief!!!

__________________
History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake - Ulysses, James Joyce.

zZz

Um, well, Rome lasted a thousand years! I guess they knew a thing or two about how to run an empire. As far as this Rush Limbaugh historian guy that you said I sound like, well I don't know who the fuck he is nor do I care. And as far as Rush Limbaugh himself goes, he's a fatheaded blowhard that doesn't know his ass from his elbow on ANY subject.

Roundeye

Rush is an ultra-conservative talk show host that while quite knowledgable has a tendancy to go off the deep-end. I don't listen to Rush very often myself but he does have quite a following.

Anyhow, about the American Military. The US has gone through many changes in the last few hundred years. The US originally built up our military as a deterrence against would-be invading forces. As time went on, America got into the habit of assisting other nations around the world when those countries became overwhelmed. In turn, America made allies. Then a huge threat to democracy came along called communism. The Cold War began and both sides were forced to build up their respective militaries as again, a deterrence against each other. More allies were made and eventually the Soviet Union fell. What was left was a lone super power.

At this point, one of two decisions could have been made. Conduct a drastic down-sizing of the US Military due to no foreseeable threats, or keep improving the military so that not only does another Cold War not occur, but so that the US can support those allies it had made over the years and protect its over-seas interests. Protecting those interests is what keeps America on top, and America must stay on top to deter tyrants. Its sort of a catch-22.

In spite of the lone super power's existance, it does not abuse those powers as other countries might. The US could no doubt conquer the entire world, if it so desired with the aid of its allies. The allies would probably be against that, but because America isn't a tyrranical state its not something that is on its plate. Were that the case, America would use force as countries who have attempted to control the world have before. In other words, America is the most peaceful empire to have ever existed. Yeah, you may laugh at that, but check your history books. We've had several opportunities to take ownership of many countries, but never have.

Some people refer to America as the world police. That's not far from the truth. Hell I like to travel, but wouldn't be able to go to a lot of place were it not for the US. The mere presence of America has dissuaded many conflicts for decades and have kept peace in regions when war would have ensued. Power is what keeps tyranny at bay, not a drawn-down military that only protects its borders with a minimal effort.

America isn't a bad choice to have as the vanguard of freedom. No matter what, someone will always try to bring violence to otherwise peaceful people in the world, but as long as America stays on top the world is a safer place, imho.

Roundeye

I'm sorry but I couldn't help but laugh at link. That's some heavy propaganda! I'm sure if you asked most South Koreans you'd find that most are happy being in the ROK rather than the DPRK, otherwise they could kiss their IPODs goodbye.

I think the split was a horrible idea; Koreans weren't even consulted about the idea! But letting the DPRK defeat the ROK would have been even worse.

BobH.

Using Lethal Chemical/Gas as a Weapon is in violation of the Geneva Convention, however Tear Gas/Riot Gas is not lethal, which is what was used in Vietnam's Tunnel Systoms.

The Lying Dutchman

it is soft power that won you the cold war, not so much military might. the US economy hasnt been going to smooth since they took an unilateral line in international politics.

zZz

Your assertion that the U.S. won the Cold War is wrong. It's a fallacy that it's over. It just entered a new stage. The Soviet Union was basically outspent because its economy was a dinosaur and couldn't keep up in the modern world. All that has happened is that the nation-state formerly known as the Soviet Union, modernized and decided to adopt more capitalistic practices. For the U.S. to crow that it won the Cold War, is simply ridiculous.

Oh, and by the way, if anybody should get the credit for "ending" the Cold War, it should be Mikhail Gorbachev, not Ronald Reagan. If Gorbachev didn't want to change the path the Soviet Union was on, it wouldn't have happened. It wouldn't have made one bit of difference what Reagan said or did. I love how history gets so distorted by those that wish to tell the tale as they see fit. In other words, the conservatives in the U.S. love to deify Reagan (they even want to put him on Mt. Rushmore) and create this Reagan Myth that he was this "Moses" delivering the American people from their slavery. Oh, please, don't make me wretch.

As to why the U.S.S.R. changed its name from the "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" to Simply "Russia" was probably a reflection of the abandonment of the socialist ideology that it followed. Communism is returning en mass among the Russian people though, that are fed up with the organized crime that has cropped up and taken hold in the wake of this change. They are yearning for a strongman to take the country back from these criminal thugs that are in control.

It was not really necessary, though. Look at communist China. They simply adopted capitalistic practices but their government remained intact and they didn't change their name from the "People's Republic of China".

The Lying Dutchman

the 'modern world' consisted of markets opening to liberal principles and existed due to US policy. Russia was forced to compete but couldnt due to its retarded political/economic model. With the world now consisting mostly of liberal market ideas the US had won the race. Yes the USSR collapsed by its internal policy, but it is the structure of the world economy that put the condition that the USSR had to adapt to in the first place.
and in a bipolar world it is not that far fetched to see the one that kills itself as the loser and therefore the other as a winner.

and China is just beginning with opening up, tolerating millionaires and elements that go against a communist idea of society. it is also seeing more uprisings in the west now, they might not overthrow the government but it is an implication of the fact that china is not as single an entity it likes to think it is.

presluc

Well, first of all let me say that I as an American do not use the phrase the greatest American anything, to me that would b egotistical ,arrogant and rude.
As for your question the reason why I think the American army{which at one time I was a part of} is so good is because of the people in the army or any other American military
The people of this army this military are white black brown, protestant,catholic,jewish,buddist,musslim,and some I may have missed, and male and female
When these people put all their differances aside to concentrate on one objective if it is a rightous cause the objective is in serious trouble.