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WebWord Weblog Posting Posting Date: March 17, 2003 The Arrogant Empire (MSNBC) -- "By contrast, the United States will spend as much next year on defense as the rest of the world put together (yes, all 191 countries). And it will do so devoting 4 percent of its GDP, a low level by postwar standards."
Reader Comments...
One of the reasons the USSR crumbled economically was its huge military budget. I'm sure there were many causes, but I have to wonder how much longer America can stay afloat at the largest debtor nation in the world. Carrying the biggest stick won't assure its supremacy forever. Americans continue to believe they're the best and have the best quality of life in the world. Not so, among developed nations. Posted by: Jo Jo the Gorilla on March 17, 2003 11:05 PM
All the countries should just ask USA to pay them back, bankrupting the country. Then we Russians will march all over the puny americans and take over. hahahahahahaha! Posted by: Russian Ivan on March 18, 2003 01:01 AM
It shows how history is speeding up. It was not until about 1500 A.D. that settled, urbanised Western civilisations could cease to fear barbarian invasions. As recently as the early 1980s we all feared the Soviet Union - it appeared that its ability to give military spending a high priority might more than compensate for its poor economy. The moral now is, if you want to be powerful you need a capitalist economy AND a democratic government which is as subject to the law as its citizens - it's the ony way to provide the economic and technological strength which is now the foundation of military power. The 2 biggest threats to the USA are both economic - too many entitlements and the risk that the bureacracy will eventually strangle the economy, as it did in China after 1000AD. If you doubt this, read "The Road to Riches" by Peter Jay. Posted by: Philip Chalmers on March 18, 2003 06:36 AM
make sure your e-commerce interfaces will be Euro-friendly. Look for the Euro to replace the rogue US Dollar in the global economy (that's part of why the US is after Hussein and tried to topple Chavez). Also, this further sends the US economy into a tailspin so start saving as much of your income as you can now. Military might can be strangled financially so it's a moot point (unless GWB decides to nuke the rest of the world... which isn't out of the question nowadays) Posted by: on March 18, 2003 10:16 AM
This is a great article. It understand the feeling of the rest of the world, even in France, toward USA. I'm french-canadien and I know that french people LOOOOVE america. Bruce Willis, Stallone and all the rest, they are huge stars their. In one word, we love america but, please, stop spitting in our face. Posted by: Richard Lehoux on March 18, 2003 10:27 AM
I've decided to become a hobo. It's the only stable profession. Posted by: Thanks, you've been wonderful, goodbye. on March 18, 2003 11:40 AM
the bit that everyone seems to be overlooking: "And it will do so devoting 4 percent of its GDP, a low level by postwar standards."
Once we've removed Saddam's regime and given Iraq's government back to the people he abused, we'll show the world all the information that makes this war the right thing to do. Even when that happens, the people who oppose Bush will concede nothing. Many of the anti-war crowd don't so much believe that peace is the answer but rather that Bush is wrong. Nothing will change their minds, even the truth. Posted by: boysen on March 18, 2003 03:06 PM
Boysen, you put an awful lot of faith that they're telling the truth, despite all the evidence to the contrary. Posted by: on March 18, 2003 04:28 PM
I think that's the truth no one wants to say out loud. If the Bush administration has no credibility in your eyes, it doesn't matter what he says because you look at him and think "liar."
What does this all have to do with the usability of ...well, anything? The usability of the middle east? Hmmmmmm... I ain't buying it. John Bedard Posted by: A Non-Jingoist American Warmonger on March 18, 2003 04:45 PM
You couldn't buy Saddam's book anyway. Iraq is under embargo. Posted by: on March 18, 2003 06:20 PM
Boysen, I would gladly kiss Bush's Ass for a month, if he would just stop trying to be John Wayne and stop the war now. Posted by: Mac - Dont Attack Iraq on March 19, 2003 03:41 PM
Mac, would you once the evidence comes out showing Saddam's ties to Al Queda and those WMD that he says he doesn't have? I'm just asking... Posted by: boysen on March 25, 2003 01:02 PM
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