And they can’t take no for an answer! Syria

[Myth]

Not too much. As I understand it, the Pentagon has contingency plans for invasions, interventions and strikes for most of Europe, The Americas, The Middle East, Large swaths of Asia and a few spots in Africa. Some of those contingency plans are probably a bit out-dated but I am sure there is a protocol to dust them up every so often and re-work them. This is what professional staff weenies do. REMFs ftw!

That's what military strategists are supposed to do. Having an "in case stuff" plan for any possible situation is the smart thing to do. The way they set up their colonial empire through military intervention, corporations and the monetary system allowing the dollar to become the economic frankenstein it is to day is much more frightening IMO. And let's not forget the spying and their overflowing prisons, and also the invention of bogus diseases like ADD (and forcing medication for their treatment on children)

Supposedly the UN has the global police function, but as we have seen in the past, when the USA breaks the rules no one dares DO anything. Because they can't. No one can win a war versus the USA, even the entire world combined. At best, they can be confined to their home continent or MAD can be achieved through WMDs. At worst, the vastly superior US navy would dominate international waters and trade, thus suffocating their major competitors.

So from a position of power, the USA knows that it's the biggest kid on the block, by far, and so it can bully whomever it wants.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

That's what military strategists are supposed to do. Having an "in case stuff" plan for any possible situation is the smart thing to do. The way they set up their colonial empire through military intervention, corporations and the monetary system allowing the dollar to become the economic frankenstein it is to day is much more frightening IMO. And let's not forget the spying and their overflowing prisons, and also the invention of bogus diseases like ADD (and forcing medication for their treatment on children)

Supposedly the UN has the global police function, but as we have seen in the past, when the USA breaks the rules no one dares DO anything. Because they can't. No one can win a war versus the USA, even the entire world combined. At best, they can be confined to their home continent or MAD can be achieved through WMDs. At worst, the vastly superior US navy would dominate international waters and trade, thus suffocating their major competitors.

So from a position of power, the USA knows that it's the biggest kid on the block, by far, and so it can bully whomever it wants.

Fortunately for the rest of the world, however much we throw our weight around over little disputes, we just aren't conquerors -- except on a cultural/economic level (with all respect to Civilization gamers, btw, the USA exported culture is anything but highbrow. We export culture like Coca-Cola, Budweiser, t-shirts as fashion, over-priced sneakers, and enough Hollywood action movies so that the entire world now knows the upthrust middle finger gesture). Might make us the worst of all things -- a busybody do-gooder who won't quite see things through to completion.

Come to think of it, maybe it would be kinder if we used bombs and old-school imperialism.

[Sarmatian]

Fortunately for the rest of the world, however much we throw our weight around over little disputes, we just aren't conquerors

Conquering is so 19th century. In the 20th, installing puppet regimes who quelled all opposition was all the rage. Nowadays, it's about persuading a country that by being a puppet they're getting more liberties and wealth, so they apply for the position themselves.

[rvg]

Nowadays, it's about persuading a country that by being a puppet they're getting more liberties and wealth, so they apply for the position themselves.

If you get more liberties and wealth, then are you really a puppet?

[Sarmatian]

It was more of a joke, but, yes, it's possible.

Indentured servant enjoys more liberties than a slave.

[rvg]

Indentured servant enjoys more liberties than a slave.

And how does that apply to states?

[HoreTore]

They're making our country better! Quick Mostafa, get the bomb belt!!

[Sarmatian]

And how does that apply to states?

There are different levels of exploitation.

A crude example, there's a patch of sand somewhere in the world. Tomorrow oil is found. A foreign country comes over there and starts drilling. Out of the oil taken the residents of the patch of sand get 20% and the foreign country 80%. The residents of the patch of sand are infinitely richer than they were, yet it's still exploitation by the foreign country.

I don't see what is so difficult to grasp about the concept.

[Myth]

Fortunately for the rest of the world, however much we throw our weight around over little disputes, we just aren't conquerors -- except on a cultural/economic level (with all respect to Civilization gamers, btw, the USA exported culture is anything but highbrow. We export culture like Coca-Cola, Budweiser, t-shirts as fashion, over-priced sneakers, and enough Hollywood action movies so that the entire world now knows the upthrust middle finger gesture). Might make us the worst of all things -- a busybody do-gooder who won't quite see things through to completion.

Come to think of it, maybe it would be kinder if we used bombs and old-school imperialism.

Yes, speaking as a Civ 5 player - America is on the way for a Cultural victory and probably can get a Warmonger one too.

However, let's not kid ourselves - you're not conquering en masse not because of the goodness of your hearts (not speaking for the general US population, we're talking the guys who run the show) but because unless it's very isolated local conflicts and there's a lot of propaganda set up beforehand ("Quickly! Kill Saddam because he has chemical weapons and he may soon have nucular weapons!") then you would be stepping on some toes you'd rather not be stepping on. That Russia and China can't invade your home continent due to their inability to power project past your awesome navy doesn't mean they can't reduce the United States to a nuclear wasteland.

As much as we moan about nuclear weapons, they are the sole reason we haven't seen any war bigger than Iraq 1 and 2, and the marauding bands in Africa shooting each other with AK-47s. So now basically anyone who wants to increase his geopolitical influence and get richer has to play by the rules. Sort of.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Yes, speaking as a Civ 5 player - America is on the way for a Cultural victory and probably can get a Warmonger one too.

However, let's not kid ourselves - you're not conquering en masse not because of the goodness of your hearts (not speaking for the general US population, we're talking the guys who run the show) but because unless it's very isolated local conflicts and there's a lot of propaganda set up beforehand ("Quickly! Kill Saddam because he has chemical weapons and he may soon have nucular weapons!") then you would be stepping on some toes you'd rather not be stepping on. That Russia and China can't invade your home continent due to their inability to power project past your awesome navy doesn't mean they can't reduce the United States to a nuclear wasteland.

As much as we moan about nuclear weapons, they are the sole reason we haven't seen any war bigger than Iraq 1 and 2, and the marauding bands in Africa shooting each other with AK-47s. So now basically anyone who wants to increase his geopolitical influence and get richer has to play by the rules. Sort of.

Some truth there. Remember, however, that many of our elected leaders do have a bit of a "Do-gooder" streak in them. It's a cultural value and elites are also enculturated -- they don't get to stand back from the cultural process and use it solely as a tool for the plebs.

[Kagemusha]

Fortunately for the rest of the world, however much we throw our weight around over little disputes, we just aren't conquerors -- except on a cultural/economic level (with all respect to Civilization gamers, btw, the USA exported culture is anything but highbrow. We export culture like Coca-Cola, Budweiser, t-shirts as fashion, over-priced sneakers, and enough Hollywood action movies so that the entire world now knows the upthrust middle finger gesture). Might make us the worst of all things -- a busybody do-gooder who won't quite see things through to completion.

Come to think of it, maybe it would be kinder if we used bombs and old-school imperialism.

I can take the rest, but that Budweiser..Its just too much to bear or was it beer?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I can take the rest, but that Budweiser..Its just too much to bear or was it beer?

I've never tasted bear urine, but I would not be entirely surprised at the connection. Bud would qualify as a WMD if we were dropping it on the locals. I have heard that it is --gasp! -- actually purchased by those overseas. WALSTIB

[Kagemusha]

I've never tasted bear urine, but I would not be entirely surprised at the connection. Bud would qualify as a WMD if we were dropping it on the locals. I have heard that it is --gasp! -- actually purchased by those overseas. WALSTIB

People do strange things for certain..But rice in the beer. If it is hard combination for a Finn as myself who would probably drink that Bear piss if it had enough alcohol in it.Just wait for the "real beer" Europeans to even see the word Budd... unless it is followed by Budvar ..

[Seamus Fermanagh]

People do strange things for certain..But rice in the beer. If it is hard combination for a Finn as myself who would probably drink that Bear piss if it had enough alcohol in it.Just wait for the "real beer" Europeans to even see the word Budd... unless it is followed by Budvar ..

I am a Guiness fancier, myself. Belgium, England, and Germany have a few good ones. A few of the pilsner types from other places are good. And Tsing Tao goes great with anything that has dark soy sauce in it.

[rvg]

Beer? Bleh. I'd sooner chew glass than drink that vile concoction.

[Pannonian]

People do strange things for certain..But rice in the beer. If it is hard combination for a Finn as myself who would probably drink that Bear piss if it had enough alcohol in it.Just wait for the "real beer" Europeans to even see the word Budd... unless it is followed by Budvar ..

Budvar Dark is probably the best session beer I've ever tasted. Or would be, if it were common enough to qualify as session. Failing that, there are a number of commonly available (in English pubs at least) English ales that are flavourful enough to be interesting and weak enough not to floor you over a session (typically 4.5-5.5% ABV).