[KDD]

The WOT at this point has been so badly managed that it now has become an American albatross, a tarbaby that does not yet admit to the political realities and impossibility of waging a war while at the same time trying to nation build third world cesspools. A war that our CIC refuses to prosecute against the financiers of the 911 terrorist who hijacked and flew our planes into the WTC and the Pentagon.(that would be Saudi Arabia and Pakistan for those of you in Rio Lindo)

The polls showing little public support for our current nation building exercise is a reality that you should not ignore.

As far as this war and political reality go, William F. Buckley once remarked that the defining element of conservatism is realism--realism about the limits of state power, the nature of human beings and societies, the complexity of international life. Yet many conservatives who believe that the state can do nothing right at home think that it can do nothing wrong abroad. (If things go badly, why, more money, bigger bombs and ground troops will straighten it out.) Many who are scornful of social engineering at home seem sure it will work beyond our borders. They seem convinced that good intentions and a burst of state power can transform the world. How conservative is that?

[ChiMark]

We are the world superpower. Much responsibility comes with that. We did'nt become this by electing Ron Pauls. Your correct. We never should have fought WWII. It was a disaster for freedom. How do you equate the spread of freedom ,democracy and correlate that with the social welfare state? Our little problem is that China, North Korea, Iran, Russia and Venezuala (yes Venezuala) want to kick our but in the worst way. Most have these things called ICBM's and soon to have missile subs. We can't hide between our two oceans. Mr. Paul is living in the 1900th century. Appeasement man, Ron Paul

[dk/coro]

Well stated — and far be it for me to argue your points.

In a close study of the underpinnings of Sam Huntington’s “Clash” — and associated readings of Bernard Lewis, Paul Johnson and others, I have come to the following conclusions:

1. The United States is in its waning phase of power. I suspect we peaked just about the time I was trying to teach my girls to use a hula hoop — and was chalking up my first few hundred carrier landings...about 1960.

2. Mankind is tribal. No global institution nor organization will be able to sustain its governance over man’s cultural and religions beliefs over the long term.

3. At this juncture, The West is entering a sustained global conflict with Islam. Western Democracy is threatened as it never was by National Socialism nor Communism, due to the magnitude of the player populations; the communications/transportation revolutions; and the multi-faceted aspect of the threat.

It is my position that we address this threat head-on — or by acceleration of our civilizational sine curve — facilitate our own ultimate demise.

Our choice, is it not?