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In our lifetimes, this country has been the richest on earth. Many of our allies rely on the United States as the leader of the free world and a check to non democratic nations like China and Russia. In 2001, along comes George W. Bush, and after September 11th forced an imprint of terrorism on everyones conscience, our response was the worst possible: Use that catastrophe to attack and occupy a nation that had nothing to do with 9/11. It laid bare the grotesque expediency of using the deaths of 3000 innocent Americans to justify a war on an innocent nation.
Now fast forward to Donald Trump. After 8 years of admirable work of cleaning up Republican messes (wars and recessions, namely, but also helping to restore our standing in the world) Trump is selected President and immediately goes about insulting and humiliating our friends in the world, all while cozying up to dictators.
Yet this man, who recently raised the profile in North Korea of a despot, made him a legend to his people and tried to normalize him on the world stage, was played for the fool he is and North Korea has resumed doing what thinking people knew they would: building their nuclear arsenal.
Trump has also shown deference to Vladimir Putin, a thug who murders those who disagree with him. And Trump has started a trade war with our largest trading partner and geopolitical foe on earth, one that China is likely in far better shape to win than we are.
I read recently about the sorry state of the USS Fitzgerald, which was rammed unaware by a cargo ship, and months later another destroyer, the USS McCain, was also rammed. Both ships suffered from a lack of training, qualified personnel, and most importantly, the time and money to repair radars and other electronics that are the brains of these warships.
Now when our Navy is in China's backyard, and China has decided they have finally had enough and take out all of our satellites, and the 7th Fleet is left in the dark, what will the pathological liar in the White House say then?
Bush was awful, but he listened to his handlers. Trump is twice as ignorant and doesn't listen to anyone but Fox and Friends. We might very well see the end of empire, right here, right now, and if you like America losing its place in the world, Trump is your guy.
I read recently about the sorry state of the USS Fitzgerald, which was rammed unaware by a cargo ship, and months later another destroyer, the USS McCain, was also rammed. Both ships suffered from a lack of training, qualified personnel, and most importantly, the time and money to repair radars and other electronics that are the brains of these warships.
Not going to address all your other stuff but I thank you for the link to the Fitz story. More with less is not new for the 7th fleet.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by odanny
In our lifetimes, this country has been the richest on earth. Many of our allies rely on the United States as the leader of the free world and a check to non democratic nations like China and Russia. In 2001, along comes George W. Bush, and after September 11th forced an imprint of terrorism on everyones conscience, our response was the worst possible: Use that catastrophe to attack and occupy a nation that had nothing to do with 9/11. It laid bare the grotesque expediency of using the deaths of 3000 innocent Americans to justify a war on an innocent nation.
Now fast forward to Donald Trump. After 8 years of admirable work of cleaning up Republican messes (wars and recessions, namely, but also helping to restore our standing in the world) Trump is selected President and immediately goes about insulting and humiliating our friends in the world, all while cozying up to dictators.
Yet this man, who recently raised the profile in North Korea of a despot, made him a legend to his people and tried to normalize him on the world stage, was played for the fool he is and North Korea has resumed doing what thinking people knew they would: building their nuclear arsenal.
Trump has also shown deference to Vladimir Putin, a thug who murders those who disagree with him. And Trump has started a trade war with our largest trading partner and geopolitical foe on earth, one that China is likely in far better shape to win than we are.
I read recently about the sorry state of the USS Fitzgerald, which was rammed unaware by a cargo ship, and months later another destroyer, the USS McCain, was also rammed. Both ships suffered from a lack of training, qualified personnel, and most importantly, the time and money to repair radars and other electronics that are the brains of these warships.
Now when our Navy is in China's backyard, and China has decided they have finally had enough and take out all of our satellites, and the 7th Fleet is left in the dark, what will the pathological liar in the White House say then?
Bush was awful, but he listened to his handlers. Trump is twice as ignorant and doesn't listen to anyone but Fox and Friends. We might very well see the end of empire, right here, right now, and if you like America losing its place in the world, Trump is your guy.
You hate Trump - we get that - you can not put all the blame on Trump when for years the Democrats have wanted to cut funding to the military. I think you need to look in your own closet for the answers. Rome wasn't built in a day and it will take years to fix the mistakes left by the Democrats.
You hate Trump - we get that - you can not put all the blame on Trump when for years the Democrats have wanted to cut funding to the military. I think you need to look in your own closet for the answers. Rome wasn't built in a day and it will take years to fix the mistakes left by the Democrats.
You hate Obama - we get that - but you're missing the bigger point: The threat of conflict in China's backyard by the reckless belligerence of Donald Trump. And if push comes to shove and China shoves back, you'll likely blame Obama for that too.
Oh yea, I don't think Pres. Obama cut any money from the Pentagon, they got all their presents every year.
You hate Obama - we get that - but you're missing the bigger point: The threat of conflict in China's backyard by the reckless belligerence of Donald Trump. And if push comes to shove and China shoves back, you'll likely blame Obama for that too.
Oh yea, I don't think Pres. Obama cut any money from the Pentagon, they got all their presents every year.
Actually the previous administration was also involved in the South China Sea. It was Obama, not Trump or Bush that began the "pivot to Asia". And there was a strong reason for it.
You seem to blame the United States and Trump but it is the Chinese that are claiming almost the entire South China Sea, including waters that would rightfully belong to Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and even Indonesia. It is the Chinese that are building up artificial islands and airbases in this area.
It is not just the United States that are supporting the Southeast Asian nations against the Chinese claims. Other nations such as India, with its "Look East Policy" are also supporting the Southeast Asians. Because much is at stake here, we are talking about the economic independence of the Southeast Asian nations and the ability to defend themselves.
He is not blameless. But he wasn't reckless and ignorant, either.
But he was timid. Plus the world apology tour, bowing to kings. The only thing Obama was good at was being well spoken and clean.
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