Today's United States vs Ancient Rome (bomb, Vietnam, ally, Arizona)

[nebulous1]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

Remember something about US culture: it takes a lot to anger us; once enraged, we will finish the job.

Something that Tojo among many others learned to their sorrow.

Hitler did not know when to back down hence he and the Nazis having their butts handed to them on a silver platter.

Bear, I agree, but once things go too far, sometimes, they aren't easily reversible...

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by 6 FOOT 3

Leo, i know the Vandals were residing in southern Spain in the Roman province of Baetica but that province today is subdivided into many Spanish provinces and so do they know exactly where they were at when Roman General Boniface invited them to cross over into Mauretania Tingitana to help him to attack Roman General Aetius in the Roman Civil War of 429 a.d..

Leo ..... did you see my question here i just reposted about the Vandals in the Roman province of Baetica in southern Spain?

[jertheber]

Empires have a way of self destructing, ours I suspect won't be much different in that regard. Rome was a great center of technological achievement, they had a social construct that allowed the best of their thinkers to develop. I don't think the reason for their demise was altogether tied to their decadent lifestyle by those at the top, it might have lent some weight due to the fact that government administration was populated by a growing legion of bloated bureaucrat's who were known to be in the leisure living crowd, but there were also real problems that were common to the other empires before and after.

The US is certainly following Rome in their desire to become dominant in business matters around the globe, our government is separate from the business interests but only in an ostensible manner. I think it is obvious that wealth and privilege are an invitation to decadence, regardless of what nation we would be speaking of. Rome, like all the great societies, was in the grasp of man's oldest demon's, greed, followed by arogance, and finally, hubris, that last meal of crow...

[Leovigildo]

Originally Posted by 6 FOOT 3

Leo, i know the Vandals were residing in southern Spain in the Roman province of Baetica but that province today is subdivided into many Spanish provinces and so do they know exactly where they were at when Roman General Boniface invited them to cross over into Mauretania Tingitana to help him to attack Roman General Aetius in the Roman Civil War of 429 a.d..

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6 FOOT

The Betica is Andalusia nowdays, a region comprised by seven provinces.

The name is still used in geography.

Andalusia comes from Vandalusia, the land of the Vandals.

Yes, they crossed to Northern Africa, and from them, they invaded Rome sailing from Cartaghe (some saw here a omen).

Vandals didn't leave much trace in Spain, except a bad name.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by Leovigildo

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6 FOOT

The Betica is Andalusia nowdays, a region comprised by seven provinces.

The name is still used in geography.

Andalusia comes from Vandalusia, the land of the Vandals.

Yes, they crossed to Northern Africa, and from them, they invaded Rome sailing from Cartaghe (some saw here a omen).

Vandals didn't leave much trace in Spain, except a bad name.

O.k. the Andalusia region .

Interesting in that of all the destructive Germanic invaders over all the centuries we use the Vandals name to describe destructive acts as we call it ''Vandalism'' and not Gothism, Saxonism or Hunism etc. .

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by jertheber

Empires have a way of self destructing, ours I suspect won't be much different in that regard. Rome was a great center of technological achievement, they had a social construct that allowed the best of their thinkers to develop. I don't think the reason for their demise was altogether tied to their decadent lifestyle by those at the top, it might have lent some weight due to the fact that government administration was populated by a growing legion of bloated bureaucrat's who were known to be in the leisure living crowd, but there were also real problems that were common to the other empires before and after.

The US is certainly following Rome in their desire to become dominant in business matters around the globe, our government is separate from the business interests but only in an ostensible manner. I think it is obvious that wealth and privilege are an invitation to decadence, regardless of what nation we would be speaking of. Rome, like all the great societies, was in the grasp of man's oldest demon's, greed, followed by arogance, and finally, hubris, that last meal of crow...

I catch your drift.

That stated: I still think the USA has a couple of hundred years left before we collapse.

If anything; we are likely to grow larger via the annexations of Mexico, Canada and possibly parts of Central America courtesy of the NAU AKA a 21th Century version of Manifest Destiny.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by nebulous1

Bear, I agree, but once things go too far, sometimes, they aren't easily reversible...

Let that serve as a warning to any culture or nation that wishes to 'cross swords' with us.................

[Hasdrubal]

Originally Posted by cpg35223

I'm also guessing that the US Marine Corps would have completely routed the Roman Legions. Just a guess on my part.

well, comparing air fighters, tanks and machine-guns with siege weapons, cavalry (although not very important in the Roman army) and swords is not very fair.

If we put both armies in context, the Romans defeated more powerful enemies than the Americans did.

[Leovigildo]

Romans were better than Americans in three things; diplomacy, political and military intelligence and propaganda.

Before defeating an enemy, they first isolated them and smeared their reputation to the ground, and later they bribed or killed all their capable leaders. That was always their first option. Afterwards came the legions.

In fact, most of what we know about Roman enemies are lies. Carthagineans didn't roast children after loading them with sweets. Germanics were not stupid animals incapable of being civilized and their women were not like men. Greeks were not all treacherous ephebes, etc, etc.

Make your enemies appear as stupid barbarians that bathed in urine that paid homage to cruel deities, cut them away from friends, spread lies, buy leaders, create impossible allies that will always be attacked by the enemies to have a reason for agression.

Divide et Impera. That's was Rome's main weapon.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Leovigildo

Romans were better than Americans in three things; diplomacy, political and military intelligence and propaganda.

Before defeating an enemy, they first isolated them and smeared their reputation to the ground, and later they bribed or killed all their capable leaders. That was always their first option. Afterwards came the legions.

In fact, most of what we know about Roman enemies are lies. Carthagineans didn't roast children after loading them with sweets. Germanics were not stupid animals incapable of being civilized and their women were not like men. Greeks were not all treacherous ephebes, etc, etc.

Make your enemies appear as stupid barbarians that bathed in urine that paid homage to cruel deities, cut them away from friends, spread lies, buy leaders, create impossible allies that will always be attacked by the enemies to have a reason for agression.

Divide et Impera. That's was Rome's main weapon.

AKA PsychOps warfare