America's Choice, Our future...
 

An interesting and insightful commentary on the US Presidential race:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/a...e#contentSwap1

W need to spend more on defense.

More F-22's.

More Virginia's.

More on our space infrastructure.

Why? Because the damn world expects us to defend them lately, and no matter how the US likes it or not, any country that falls victim to violence affects our economy, so it is actually in our best interest to make sure they are stable.

-S

But when is it defense and when is it offense? The article is right: we seem to use it lately to browbeat anyone who gets in our way.

I disagree with Obama on a lot of domestic issues, but I'm behind him on this very important foreign policy one.

Good article.

That emphasizes the importance of allies like Australia and Great Britian, and the consequence of unilateral action without them on our side. America needs to consider her allies' interests.

I think you've hit the nail on the head Neal. Both sides of this long standing alliance need to ensure that both countries interests are considered prior to acting, particularly when making decisions in relation to incursions into foreign countires.

I think that the same may be said of the UK although perhaps there has been a little more equity in that long standing relationship than the one between Australia and the US.

I think that the relationship will be tested should either McCain or Clinton succeed in their bid to the Presidency. The Rudd government was elected on a platform of withdrawing our troops from Iraq, (whilst maintaing our presence in Afghanistan), and I feel that should further incursions be called for by the US, then Rudd may not be as willing to commit troops as his predecessor.

If Obama gets in I think there will be quite a bit of sync between the two parties as his stance is clearly one of force should be used as a last resort.

Either way there are interesting time ahead for all of us.:hmm:

Good article.

Really?

I second that question. :hmm:

So nuke Iran!!!

The press have a saying here. "Print and be damed."

This is why you have shrinking European defence budgets for example - the Europeans expect America to do it for them.

I have a great article on that somewhere. I must find it.

-S

Do what, exactly?

I got a better idea nuke the EU. :D

Oops! Typing too fast. I do that once in a while. Edited it now.

-S

Why waste a good nuke on only 12 people? You know how much it costs to make one of those things? SHeeshhh!

-S

Yea, but you still got to test them. :roll: