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

[Sarmatian]

They should invade China and Russia at the same time. That would at least be dynamic. Live betting on WW3...

"Americans are now pushing on the left side and, oooh, my God!!! What a move by Petraeus! Truly one of the all time greats... Americans have Russians on the defensive and this thing seems as good as over. But, what's this?!!! The Chinese are moving in. Amazing footwork by Fang Fenghui. Do we have a new star? This reporter certainly thinks so. We'll be back after these messages."

[The Lurker Below]

Among options is supplementing the Central Intelligence Agency's limited, covert arming and training program for moderate rebels by creating a parallel training mission led by U.S. Special Operations forces.

Wondermous! Yes, let's please get into this business again.

[HoreTore]

There's a civil war going on between a partly mad group of rebels and a power-mad dictator who has shown he will take any measure necessary to remain in power.

If the worlds military powers didn't have plans ready to step in when necessary, it would be negligence bordering on the insane.

[The Lurker Below]

when necessary

What is the criterion for this step? When exactly is it necessary for me and/or my children to risk life on the other side of the world? Furthermore, why is all on the worlds military powers, and why do they have the right/obligation to step in. Why don't Scandinavian countries become military powers and step in.

Argh, things get a little more serious when your children have to sign up for selective service. Makes me want to pick up my second amendment weapons and start changing governments.

[HoreTore]

What is the criterion for this step?

IMO, the criteria was met years ago.

[Sarmatian]

There's a civil war going on between a partly mad group of rebels and a power-mad dictator who has shown he will take any measure necessary to remain in power.

If the worlds military powers didn't have plans ready to step in when necessary, it would be negligence bordering on the insane.

Ooh, than it's gonna get interesting. Than the poor joke I made may very well become a reality...

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

There's a civil war going on between a partly mad group of rebels and a power-mad dictator who has shown he will take any measure necessary to remain in power.

If the worlds military powers didn't have plans ready to step in when necessary, it would be negligence bordering on the insane.

Plus - America always has a plan to kill everyone. Literally - they have a plan to invade the UK, and one to Nuke us.

Aren't we special?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Plus - America always has a plan to kill everyone. Literally - they have a plan to invade the UK, and one to Nuke us.

Aren't we special?

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!

[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.

[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.

[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?

[Husar]

They should invade China and Russia at the same time. That would at least be dynamic. Live betting on WW3...

"Americans are now pushing on the left side and, oooh, my God!!! What a move by Petraeus! Truly one of the all time greats... Americans have Russians on the defensive and this thing seems as good as over. But, what's this?!!! The Chinese are moving in. Amazing footwork by Fang Fenghui. Do we have a new star? This reporter certainly thinks so. We'll be back after these messages."

Reminds me of this:



Either way, if ~50% of Americans (re-)elected Bush and the other ~50% of Americans (re-)elected Obama and both Bush and Obama are idiots, does that mean that ~100% of Americans want an idiot to (continue to) lead the country? Is that another one of these "let's make the government as inefficient as possible except when it comes to spying and killing"-ideas?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

...Either way, if ~50% of Americans (re-)elected Bush and the other ~50% of Americans (re-)elected Obama and both Bush and Obama are idiots, does that mean that ~100% of Americans want an idiot to (continue to) lead the country?...

Tradition.

[rvg]

Either way, if ~50% of Americans (re-)elected Bush and the other ~50% of Americans (re-)elected Obama and both Bush and Obama are idiots, does that mean that ~100% of Americans want an idiot to (continue to) lead the country? Is that another one of these "let's make the government as inefficient as possible except when it comes to spying and killing"-ideas?

It's more of an "idiot vs bigger idiot" kind of thing. I can't stand Obama, but I could not allow Romney anywhere near the Oval Office. We'll persevere through Obama; we've persevered through worse.