FLBear5630 said:
ron.reagan said:
Redbrickbear said:
Realitybites said:
ron.reagan said:
Realitybites said:
With regards to war, I would offer that the experience of an air force pilot - even one who was shot down - is fundamentally different than that of a guy with a combat infantry badge. There's an incident where a couple of A10 drivers hit a ranger squad after getting clearance from a controller. This isn't a TV show. Wars should only be response to existential threats to our nation, not to further political ambitions. On this account, McCain was a moral failure.
Forget Hitler, you wouldn't even respond to Pearl Harbor with that logic
When a foreign power bombs our soil, it's an existential threat.
Pearl Harbor required a military response.
So did Afghanistan.
In fact, after 9-11 I would have hit Afghanistan in a way it had never been hit before.
When you go to war, declare it properly, and fight to win. Total war. No winning hearts and minds.
That's precisely why it is to be avoided and these neocon games are stupid and silly.
The threshold for us to fight - and the commitment with which we do in the rare event it becomes necessary both need to be raised.
Really good post
When your bar is that low for existential threat then I have no issue with only going to war under these conditions. I'm a bit old fashion and tie existential with existence.
There are different level of existence. If your threshold is physical attack on the Homeland the US can lose a lot without that happening.
Shipping/Trade Routes?
Trade agreements?
Access to materials?
Access to Space?
Access to the Arctic/Antarctic?
Cyber?
Not to even get into the Administrative relationships that go into treaties, ports, contracts?
On of the most interesting things is that the USA (if you include Canada and Mexico) is basically a large Autarky
It is (or can be) completely self sustaining.
We have the most farmland on earth....and for various climate reasons....its actually the best.
The Midwest farm belt is the most successful farming region one earth....with just the right amount of winter to kill the bugs/fungi but with a long warm growing season. And connected by the best water ways on earth.
Mississippi River, with its major tributaries an area of approximately 1.2 million square miles...most of it easily accessed by boat and can be used for shipping goods.
The USA could feed itself (and Canada/Mexico) forever.
When it comes to natural resources the USA is usually number 2 on the global list. And right behind it is usually Canada.
United States
[
Key resources: Copper, oil, natural gas, timber, and gold
The net worth of resources: $45+ trillion
The United States is rich in natural resources, including
land, water, oil, and coal, and has a diverse population.]
Canada
[Key resources: Oil, natural gas, timber, uranium, and phosphate
Net worth of resources: $33+ trillion
Canada has abundant natural resources which contribute significantly to its economy. In 2021,
energy sources made up the majority (53%) of Canada's natural wealth, followed by minerals (28%) and timber (19%). The value of these reserves increased by 149% in 2021 due to higher crude oil and mineral prices.
Canada's petroleum reserves are the third-largest in the world, with most of its oil being produced in Alberta. Additionally, the country has the
fifth-largest coal reserves. ]
Mexico
[ Mexico is among the world's largest producers of oil, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas and wood. Other minerals, such as mercury, cadmium, antimony, manganese, iron and coal are also found in abundance]