Putin playing chess - Obama playing marbles

Discussion in 'Politics' started by jem, Mar 2, 2014.

  1. jem

    jem

    I am sure Romney was talking peace through intelligent foreign policy and peace through strength as oppose to Obama's concept of peace through weakness and charisma.

     
    #61     Mar 4, 2014
  2. Ricter

    Ricter

    I have to admit, a lot of our drones are very appealing.
     
    #62     Mar 4, 2014
  3. Lucrum

    Lucrum

    That's pretty much what I was think too.
     
    #63     Mar 4, 2014
  4. gwb-trading

    gwb-trading

    Hmmm, we see your country is in trouble, and, well, we'd really like to help, but we can't be bothered. So, here's some money.
     
    #64     Mar 4, 2014
  5. Ricter

    Ricter

    Well, Alberta's army is rather small.
     
    #65     Mar 4, 2014
  6. Could be, although I find it hard to imagine that intelligent foreign policy and peace start by designating people as your foes. Also, what does "peace through strength" really mean? Iraq and Afghanistan, I'd argue, were demonstrations of genuine strength that have achieved no peace. Putin is implementing "peace through strength" in Crimea as we speak and the whole world seems to be pretty unhappy with it.

    At any rate, I have nothing against Romney and I am not a fan of Obama, as I have said before. My point is that they're all politicians and empty unconstructive saber-rattling is part of job description.
     
    #66     Mar 4, 2014
  7. jem

    jem

    what is it? a good question.

    When I use the term I think of Reagan's approach.

    from wikipedia...
    Ronald Reagan used the phrase in political campaigning during his election challenge against Jimmy Carter in 1980, accusing the incumbent of weak, vacillating leadership that invited enemies to attack the USA and its allies.[8][9] Reagan later considered it one of the mainstays of his foreign policy as President of the United States.[10] In 1983, he explained it thus:
    "We know that peace is the condition under which mankind was meant to flourish. Yet peace does not exist of its own will. It depends on us, on our courage to build it and guard it and pass it on to future generations. George Washington's words may seem hard and cold today, but history has proven him right again and again. "To be prepared for war," he said, "is one of the most effective means of preserving peace." Well, to those who think strength provokes conflict, Will Rogers had his own answer. He said of the world heavyweight champion of his day: "I've never seen anyone insult Jack Dempsey."[11]
    The approach was credited by many for forcing the Soviet Union to lose the arms race and end the Cold War.[12] "Peace Through Strength" is the official motto of the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76).[13]


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    I note... The left was making fun of Reagan for Star Wars - a campaign which the USSR generals could not match which gave Gorbachev the opening he needed. I might add that the Navy will be putting Lasers on ships in the next few months.

    ( Throw in some spending in Poland by the Pope which almost bankrupted the Church, as well.)



     
    #67     Mar 4, 2014
  8. It's not too helpful, unfortunately, since, obviously, we have no way of knowing what Reagan would do in today's situation.

    Here's my view of what "peace through strength" ultimately means. It's summarized by Teddy Roosevelt's famous principle: "Speak softly, and carry a big stick". The US has the biggest stick, but the US politicians need to learn to speak softly, at least on those occasions when it's called for. Otherwise, you end up looking weak.
     
    #68     Mar 4, 2014
  9. Lucrum

    Lucrum

    KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — In a somber show of U.S. support for Ukraine's new leadership, Secretary of State John Kerry walked the streets Tuesday where more than 80 anti-government protesters were killed last month, and promised beseeching crowds that American aid is on the way...

    - See more at: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/us-prepares-1b-aid-package-troubled-ukraine#sthash.6NDBDDJp.dpuf

    Someone want to tell me where we're going to get an extra Billion dollars to give away?

    Christ, and I thought the Hildabeast was an incompetent sec of state.
     
    #69     Mar 4, 2014
  10. Well, like that Ukrainian soldier yelled, "America stands with us!"
     
    #70     Mar 5, 2014