“You can’t turn a tiger into a kitten by stroking it.”

[Skybird]

So damn true that it hurts. A recommended read!

http://blogs.the-american-interest.c...nds/#more-3149

It is just not true, historically speaking, that ‘peace movements’ lead to peace or, for that matter, support policies that will bring peace. More often than not, the opposite is true.

[NeonSamurai]

Ah good ol blind uncritical idealism, always ever popular at the Universities. I really have to shake my head in dismay at them so often. Yet one of the big goals in University is to teach critical thought, oh the irony.

I like peace as much as the next person, and prefer not to have to kill. But I am not so foolish as to think that placating an enemy will make them my friend. Sometimes there is no choice. I do though think the Iraq war was a big mistake. Maybe Bush got Iran and Iraq mixed up

[Oberon]

It must be nice to be so idealistic, to see the world in such soft tones, to be able to completely miss all the crap that there is out there.
Alas, I am a realist.

[Betonov]

I second that, or should I say fourth that (OK, bad joke)
I wonder how people become such idealist. Dont they ever go out into the world, see how it works. Ponder about actions and reactions.

I guess Teddy Roosevelt knew, avoid war if possible, but kick some behinds if need arises. The developed world is getting soft while the developing world gets tough. The best thing would be is to develop the developing world so they get even softer, but that wont happen in our lifetimes. So the best thing is to deter everyone from attacking by being more than ready to fight. Maybe assasinate some dictators to keep most of them in line. Kirgizia could use some policing right now.

In my country there is actually a petition to disband the entire army. I would signid it IF the slovenian army was the last in the world. Plus, with a 10% unemployment rate (100 000 people) would be a bad idea to put another 5000 on that statistic

[Oberon]

These days it's more Speak very softly and carry a bunch of flowers*

*Flowers must be of plastic variety and wielded in a manner that is non offensive to the recipient.

[NeonSamurai]

Originally Posted by Oberon

These days it's more Speak very softly and carry a bunch of flowers*

*Flowers must be of plastic variety and wielded in a manner that is non offensive to the recipient.

plastic flowers?!? they are to be made out of biodegradable cloth and bits of fluff. Think of the environment man!

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Betonov

In my country there is actually a petition to disband the entire army. I would signid it IF the slovenian army was the last in the world. Plus, with a 10% unemployment rate (100 000 people) would be a bad idea to put another 5000 on that statistic

Same here. The service time for draftees has just been reduced to six month which means that the "soldiers" can't do much more than clean their gun and the basics of operating more complicated equipment.
But most people here take it for absolutely granted that the world is peaceful and that we don't need armed forces since there is a world full of friends around us.

There is a saying here which goes: The price for peace is eternal watchfulness.

[Castout]

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

Sometimes there is no choice.

Exactly sometimes the error needs to be worked out and it lies with the other person(party) and no amount of EMPATHY, REASONING or COMPASSION could sort the problem and would probably even mess things up further for the worse.

The problem with pacifist or peace activist is that they try to relate to the enemy with empathy but the problem with empathy is sometimes the other party is not really comparable to you.

The psychology of people in power or absolute power or corrupt in power are totally different than the psychology of an average people.
Like it or not countries are governed not by its people but by a select individuals who hold power and able to wield it to influence the people either by approval or coercion and often these people are not common people, psychologically speaking.

But it is easy for us and the writer of the article to talk with the benefit of HINDSIGHT.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Skybird

You can't turn a tiger into a kitten by stroking it.

No...

But you can turn a modest mushroom into a mighty pillar of stone!




bada-ching

[Betonov]

Ich danke ihnen für den Antworten

just thanked my german friends for the answers on the german drafting system in my usual broken german

[UnderseaLcpl]

Speaking of unrealistic idealism, I have a question about this article. At what point did it become America's responsibility as a nation-state to care about the fact that people the world over suffer and die in genocides or wars or famines or plagues or anything else for that matter? If it is our responsibility then why are so often bent over the barrel for interventionist policies that go awry or are motivated by the "wrong" reasons? We're damned if we do and damned if we don't.

Why is it our moral obligation to make everyone happy? If it is our obligation, shouldn't we be able to go about it our own way since we somehow got ourselves into that position in the first place and would probably know a thing or two about it?

I see no reason why we are obligated to respond to anything except direct threats with a valid casus belli. Therefore, I fail to see how we can be held accountable for the actions of other nations, even in part.
I personally think that our foreign policy should consist of letting other nations hire us to provide military aid, peacekeeping, and economic aid. We're already whoring ourselves out to other nations' agendas, we might as well make a few bucks while we're at it. We can't pave the road to hell with good intentions if we have an obligation to a contract service. That way, guys like the author (and myself to some extent) can pick and choose our causes, guaranteeing help to all with as little favoritism as possible.

Failing that, I think we should let a coalition of concerned nations that doesn't include us tackle the problem for once and we'll see how they do. I'm tired of America taking a beating from interests abroad and at home for it's actions, inactions, and everything else as well. I think the policy should, one way or the other, be "put up or shut up".

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Betonov

Ich danke ihnen für den Antworten

Gern geschehen.

[Blood_splat]

We just need to shower the world with love.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Blood_splat

We just need to shower the world with love.

Tits or GTFO.