Just a final tidbit before bed... you might not know that the German AF is stationed in New Mexico and Texas; Luftwaffe Tornados have been streaking across the blue skies of America for 15 years and nobody gives a damn (except the Alamogordo locals who've welcomed the increased business).

THE GERMANS ARE NOT KILLING AMERICANS CTYRI JUST LIKE YOU ARE NOT KILLING ENGLISH****INGMEN WITH BAD TEEF DO YOU SEE HOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS DUMB YET?

That's definitely more support than I suspected. Still, things in Japan are rather chilly for our armed forces. Particularly right around the major bases, there were "no Navy" or "Japanese Only" signs all over the place the last time I was there.

How can you not see the parallels? I recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan and LOL if you think soldiers aren't acting outside the law.

The point is we are there patrolling their streets, searching their villagers, raiding their homes and killing their citizens.

It's not even the soldier's fault. The soldiers are simply trying to ensure they're not the ones that get killed. And it can get to the point where every person of the invaded/occupied country is seen as a threat/enemy.

We are over their invading their culture and imposing our will on the Afghan people. That's pretty simple.

umm this is pretty ridiculous. actually it's ****ing ludracris. he has been to england, he has seen the love foreigners have for americans. if the english love americans surely you are mistaken about the afghanis.

If Ron-Paul-Supporting troops really believed that their military efforts were righteous and good, why would they be supporting someone who would bring them home immediately and only use them for self-defense? Obviously it's not a generalization. If you support Ron Paul and you're in the military, you don't believe in what you initially signed up for.

Edit: Well, it's not a gross generalization lol. It's still a generalization.

Bitch, sit down.

Wow, you're an expert on my service record and know that in almost 18 years of commisioned service, I've only been to England because thats where I'm currently stationed. Never been assigned to Korea or Japan, nope. Never visited well over a dozen countries in Europe, Africa, and Mid East on official business. Well good on ya, General, you figured me out. Good night and farewell, off to throw some darts and stuff, as that's all I know...

Had no idea about this. Thanks for the info.

Americans have a cultural imperative that they are always right, never commit aggression, and are in the world to right the world's wrongs.

The fact is that these imperial aggression engender enormous resentment, even among allies, even if these allies are superficially favorable towards us. It's pretty obvious that yes regardless of the improvement ( lol improvement) that the Iraqis faced after Gulf War II, they still faced a situation of foreign forces paroling their neighborhoods, setting up checkpoints and ignoring their laws. The impasse and the removal of US forces over their impunity to Iraqi laws can't be any more blatant than this. Imperialism has always been a cooperative endeavor, so it wouldn't be surprising that if Chinese troops were in Texas you would also find Texans who approved of their presence for whatever reason. So yes the examples are roughly synonymous.

Yeah, but don't you think you can find that sentiment in towns that surround military bases or even college towns. A bunch of drunk dudes hurts certain types of businesses. I think that is the sentiment much more than any sort of anti American imperialism.

Your list of countries you've visited is impressive!!! I went to Canada once.

But yes, the fact that you visited the middle east on "official business" (in 1998 lol) definitely outweighs the massive insurgent movement in Afghanistan and Iraq. You are a master of mid east relations now! Just like I'm a master of Canadian politics (did you know they still support the Queen!!!! I have Canadian playing cards with her picture on them!

Perhaps they've simply looked at the budget and realized our current foreign adventures are unsustainable? It's perfectly possible to think military service is fine (aka believe in what you signed up for), and also believe that the money pit that is the military budget is a greater threat to the country than podunk Iran. You really should stop projecting your own motivations and beliefs on other people.

HL Mencken has like 2/3 of the greatest American quotes. The Ken Burns prohibition documentary quoted him liberally - and every one was pure gold.

A prohibitionist is the sort of man one couldn't care to drink with, even if he drank.

All time classic exchange there.

You could never sustain this pace and severity of libertarian-bashing on this forum - unless you're some kind of superhuman who thrives on attack by 1000 fuzzy logic sludge-balls at once. You may win the battle or even the day. But they will eventually wear you down... down... down...

In before brainwash insult.

I wonder why the people who have experienced these countries and their people find conflict with the "they hate us" crowd.

I'm not sure what's more ******ed....you assuming 19 people speak for entire population or the 19 people who, in their mind, acted in the best interest of their country.

Well if America had committed the Rape of Nanking or Holocaust, invaded dozens countries with a goal of world domination (and not invaded in the Iraq way where we try to set up a democracy and leave - invaded in the we're going to rape your women, murder millions of civilians, plunder your resources and subjugate your people for a long long time way) then maybe we would have to put up with some bases on our soil and not feel too butthurt about it.

Oh crap am I trolling the RP thread? I thought this was the newsletter thread for some reason. Sorry I will take my lumps and leave.

Damn I wish I would have written this cause it is brilliant imo.

First, I went to Iraq and Afghanistan from Ft. Bragg then Kuwait from Atlanta. Does that mitigate my foreign experience? dude being stationed in England does not preclude service in the middle east.


Second, I love the people using a small sample size of of new clips to determine how much "they hate us" when in reality its a very small but vocal minority or the problems in the middle east would be a helluva lot worse.


Third, I'd like cite for the poll figures someone listed above, I've seen a pew poll that conflicted with this data for both Iraq and Afghanistan.

No matter you view on the situations overseas, I wish people would stop pretending to know how the population in general views the US as its nowhere close from my vast experiences. Not that matters to any of you, you rather trust what ever pundit is filling you with the that ****, who probably never been to anywhere past Park Avenue.

Amazing how military members with first hand experience are discredited. Its one thing to think we are "brain washed" with political opinions but to suggest our experiences should be invalidated, seems a lapse in logic and reason.

Why is it so hard to grasp that Ron Paul's foreign policy is not isolationism? Why is it necessary for us to have a military presence in a country for it not to be isolationism? Can't we just trade freely and have open tourism and travel and have a strong diplomatic and economic relationship with foreign nations?

whats wrong with mine then? You seem to question his views based on experience.

Can you guys take this to the bombing brown people thread?

There are numerous military members with first hand experience who have given the complete opposite first hand experience as yourself. You don't have to take my word for it, you can google it.

So now it's internet dude named FleeingFish saying this thing, versus, some other internet dude with similar qualifications saying another thing. Informative.

What's interesting is that Ron Paul got the most donations from people in the military in 2008. Maybe they just misunderstood him.