The Velvet Hammer
You know, I am one of SDAI's biggest fans and I have never felt offended or threatened by anything that he has ever posted. I will concede that some of his may seem insensitive to some but this is more a matter of style than anything else. This insensitivity is counched in such a way as to illicit an unusual variety of responses.
There is usually room for disagreement.....
First...relax. My tone is suitable debate tone. By posting your thesis you opened up a line of communication. You should expect such a topic to attract strongly held viewpoints.
Yes
We pulled out of Vietnam, let LBJ and the Reds dictate how we fought and we see how prosperous that was. We can also look at the Korean peninsula and the several million who have died of starvation in the past five years alone to see the wisdom of a truce with "North" Korean forces.
Seeking alternate universes (vortices?)
Retreat is defeat. Occupation is victory.
Too 1984ish in tone if not intent, just doesn't play in Peoria.
We can thank Rome and the legions marching in and civilizing much of the barbaric hordes that prevailed in Germany, England and the rest of the Meditteranean region..
Not seeking/projecting alternate universes
Our laws and civilization owe much to militarism. There is a positive side to all things and militarism can be useful.
A true statement but anathema to to the "enlightened".
Germany by the way recently ousted the Green-left Schroeder who twarted the US and voted in the conservative and pro-US Merkel who has been working hand in glove with the Bush administration since she came into power. So the existing Americanization and pro-America Germans proved once again they are stronger than the divisive calls of the Green party, socialists, communists and other anti-US ideosophies.
The proof is in the Pudding.
Sure, the success of Americanization depends a lot upon the inherent compatibility and intellect of those we occupy. Iraq and the Middle East will not be a cakewalk and will take longer.
Our success depends on doing a way better job.
However, Japan had fanatical militaristic system and the worship of the emperor to overcome and now Japan is a very loyal ally.
Thankfully the emperor acquiesced. Now, if those mullahs would just get on board.
I think the bottom line is a pretty simple one. If one agrees that the US is the best nation in the world and the world would be better off imitating the US one is not eager to pullout of Iraq, however if one finds the US wanting or is prone to use words like "imperialist" then it is safe to say one wants the US to retreat within its borders and beg forgiveness from nations and peoples not qualified to shine American shoes.
There's one of those insentivities that are hard to swallow. Most of us believe we are the berries but nothing succeeds like success.
Anyway, to his credit, SDAI is one of the most civil members of this community. He is disliked by some and he has been occasionally attacked for his opinions but by my recollection he has never responded in kind.