Quote:
Originally posted by bilmore
Empire? Sure, territorial conquest leads to bad things. But we want to walk away once people are free. Where has that happened in history? I think it's the lust for land that leads to what you speak of.
And, yeah, evil exists, but that's no reason to let it lead a comfortable life. You seem to be saying, we can't eradicate it, so let's give up. I can't buy into that.
Our power can kill a significant number of people who think they are entitled to ruin and end other people's lives. No, we can't take over the world, but we don't want to. We can just wipe out as many baddies as feasible, and then go home knowing that we've left the good people in a much better position to lead nice lives. I'm willing to go that far.
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Experience has shown me that the baddies are replaced by other baddies. The collapse of the Nomenklatura and the KGB in the former USSR has led to a number of countries being run by either smaller despots, Islamofacists, or gangsters. We are still in Afghanistan and Iraq because, quite frankly, the people who want to lead are the wrong people and they're the only ones willing to fight and die. At least for the next few generations.
I'm not suggesting we throw up our hands and give in completely. We have economic weight, which can be used to favor those who represent democratic and free principals and punish those who oppress their people. We have the ability to arm, train, and even, on occassion fight with indigenous rebel groups.
I think you're not thinking things through in manner consistent with history if you believe that we are going to ride out, smack down the villains and ride off into the sunset with a wave and a mighty Hiyo, Silver, though.
