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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Ichy Smith who wrote (199897)8/28/2006 3:11:12 PM
From: Hawkmoon  Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 281500
 
but I think that various countries are counting on the US being the bad guy who stops Irans progress, and gets the blame for doing what needed to be done.

Yep.. everyone wants the US to be the "bad guy" and bear the majority of the cost of trying to keep a lid on these totalitarian and/or fanatical regimes.

And almost everyone who lives in a democracy thinks its great.. But ask them to fight for it, or to advance it so others can enjoy the benefits?? Oh.. no thanks.. you go right ahead and we'll be right behind you backing you up all the way (ready to plunge the knife in our backs).

But you know, the US is 30% of the global economy and we didn't arrive at that position by being content at seeing the world turned over totalitarian interests. There's a price to be paid for being a leader... You have to lead, and you might get wounded or killed in the process..

And sometimes you find yourself alone and you have to ask what the cost will be in going in with no support, versus no one going at all.

After all, isn't that part of "Americana".. the sheriff walking down the street to face off with the bad guys, while the townspeople shut their windows and refuse to risk their own lives?

I think that mentality IS part of our culture, or at least it once was.

But is it right? Or is it merely foolhardy?

Maybe we should be more like that movie, "The Patriot", where Gibson's character refuses to fight until his family is terrorized by the British regulars. And once that occurs, he goes on a rampage of revenge and blood, showing no little mercy.

But the lesson of that movie was that Gibson's character really didn't have a choice but to get involved. You can't ignore evil when others are intent upon delivering it to you in person.

I know how I feel, but others will have to make up their own..

Hawk