"... I hope the US's policy of death will end. And I too despair that I don't see how. All I can say is that I'm joining BHO in placing a bet on the American people that when they understand the things that their government does in their name they will put a stop to it. ..." -- JimPharo

If I recall, it took losing a bitter war to bring down Il Duce. I am afraid that losing a bitter war, or total financial ruin seems to be the only way empires stop invading or intimidating others.

I agree that China would have the most chance of invading the US. They have almost 2 billion people and tons of cash sitting around. However, invading a nation our size with 300 million armed citizens is out of the question --- besides having to chance 30,000 nukes falling on your head.

I forecast that we will finally see we can no longer afford it; as god knows the morality argument is a loser in this country.

Yes the mind reels. The mind reels at the thought of what sort of a system we call it when the military, industry, commerce, and central government are all fused into one unholy-whole. I think that was tried in Italy, and it was named fascism. (and the damn trains never really ran on time)

The USA is a killing machine and we are just arguing about who to kill and how many; we damn sure are never going to say that we should stop brutalizing and killing around the world. Look at what everyone said about Ron Paul's idea to bring all troops home to the USA --- damn dangerous kook with ideas like that.

We will stop killing others when the world stops us, not before. (much as a drunk will drink till he hits rock bottom)

A question for the crowd. With 30,000 nukes and an armed population --- who the hell would ever invade us?

"... I think that you should cut 19 year-olds some slack, whether they were drafted in 1968, or volunteered in 2008. The social engineers of our Imperium Americanum deserve the blame, not them." -- William Timberman

No. In my lifetime (since Eisenhower) we have had millions of killers going into countries in Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, and various islands imposing the will of the empire though terror, coercion, and destruction. Those who served are the tools that delivered the death to the child in the arms of its mother --- and without the soldier, the leaders had no power. The list of invasions goes on and on --- not a single one justified in any way.

If you hire on to kill, do not be surprised that killing is what you do.

...though, and they're very close. In the cafés, on the buses, trimming the hedges in Israeli gardens. Stressful, even when explosions don't rattle your windows." -- William Timberman

I will agree that the natives are being slaughtered by the military. The main selling point that Republicans use is that Israel needs to be defended because of other countries in the region. We need to dispel that falsehood first.

Israel could destroy Italy or France; we have no business "defending" them.

Who said invade? You did. I suppose it's possible to hold this debate with yourself, but please don't pretend that I'm a party to it.

-- William Timberman

You talked about various past wars and the Isreal military, and yet you made no statement about the country's national defence?

Damn, even I do not think you that dense. The military is for use against other Arab states. The Republicans have sold America for years on the idea that Israel is barley able to survive with big old Iran, Syria, or Iraq on their boarder.

What else would they use the army for; to kill off the natives as we did?

... The conventional wisdom about Israel's military strength is persuasive in the way that conventional wisdom often is ... (Billy T.)

Israel has over 600 nukes and the means to deliver them. We even gave them a boomer! They could take out NYC like Saddam never could have done.

So. What country would ever invade them?

Holly to lwm: "... (you do type with both hands, eh?) ..."

lwm sometimes gets so excited that he can only use one hand to type. ;-)

O fuck off, Holly

Go piss in your own cheerios, you ignorant bint.

-- L.W.M.

You have to hand it to lwm for his reasoned, measured responses. The man is a positive inti-lect-u-all.

The wonderful thing about lwm is that he makes everyone else here seems smarter. Even shooter! Yes, that is lwm's function --- to make others look good.

:-)

Omooex just likes to start shit, a bit of a drama queen.

But let me ask you this: How is it that a Jewish woman was elected president of Switzerland in 1999 and why do you hate America so much to equate the two and point that out? -- L.W.M.

That drama queen, shit-stirring habit. It's such a uniquely omooex thing, isn't it?

Oh, yeah. He's got that game down to a tee. Like, no one else even comes close.

-- Holly McLachlan

Now that was funny!

The idea of lwm calling anyone else a drama queen and 'starting shit' is a Hoot. A positive big-arsed Hoot.

What next? Maybe accuse omooex of having sock-puppets? Of excessive cut and paste jobs that make no sense and come from some kids first blog?

Time will tell. :-)

The subject is Bush II and the Pope. There are translations in English supplied.

Funnest anti-Bush cartoon of the year!

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/020619.html

... of a political system as unfamiliar to them as that of America:

"The difference between American parties is actually simple. Democrats are in favor of higher taxes to pay for greater spending, while Republicans are in favor of greater spending, for which the taxpayers will pay." (P.J. O'Rourke)