On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 10:11 PM, Bryan Sant <[email protected]> wrote: > On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 8:14 AM, Merrill Oveson <[email protected]> wrote: >> I believe Japan wants us there. Russia and China make them feel >> "uncomfortable." >> If they didn't want us there, they could kick us out. > > I completely agree that our military bases are wanted. Armed Forces > are extraordinarily expensive. We spent roughly $700 billion on > military in fiscal year 2010. In a very real way we are subsidizing > the cost of defense for many nations throughout the world. I think > our presence is indeed wanted, but considering that we're 14.3 > trillion dollars in debt, we can't remotely afford it. > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Federal_Spending_-_FY_2007.png > http://cdn1.globalissues.org/i/military/11/country-distribution-2010.png
Folks, Japan has no standing military and thats because of us; it has nothing to do with them feeling uncomfortable; furthermore we can't pull out and they can't kick us out. Doing so would be a major treaty violation. Before the modern Muslim decided Jihad was a good idea, the Japanese had Kamikaze or "Divine Wind", so try to remember these folks practically invented the suicide bomber; the concept of flying planes into things to blow them up is an original Japanese invention. It's probably for the best not to let them get ideas like that again. Our military is there because way back in 1945, as you may be aware, we lobbed a couple of chunks of a particular Uranium isotope in their general direction. We did it because they were acting like jerks and trying to dominate the world. After all we had just finished a roshambo match with Adolph Hitler and his buddies and we had won. This was supposed to mean that World War II was over, but somehow the Japanese empire had missed the memo. When it landed over there, this isotope had the "side effect" of destroying 2 of their largest cities and eliminating most of their infrastructure; not to mention an ungodly amount of their population, which now lay either dead, dying, sick or really, really sun-burnt. In exchange for asking us not blow them the rest of the way back to the stone age, they surrendered and promised not to try and dominate the world again. We have all lived happily ever after. However, it's because of the fact that they got out of line the first (well second time really) that they are disallowed a military except for a smallish one, and thats strictly for self defense. Also if I'm not mistaken they are not permitted to have a navy or air force again ever. Because they promised not to trying dominating the world again (after we asked them so nicely), we promised these folks we would provide for their protection and defense. It is our duty, it is our obligation and it has paid dividends. Just look at the Prius in your or your neighbors driveway as proof of that. If it weren't for us being there every since, Japan would probably be a suburb of china or north korea by now. Also, try to remember that the Koreans have nukes, they may well decided one day to point them at us (or one of our allies). Our military in and around Japan also has nukes. If Mr. Shades N.K., decides after snorting one too many lines of meth again, that he would like to launch those nukes in our general direction, guess who's job it is to turn his house into a smoking crater first. Japan is also a strategic trading partner and ally. If we didn't have our military there, I'll give you two guesses who wouldn't be buying their new flat screen TV or PlayStation from Walmart because it's in the hands of pirates. (Hint: look in mirror) Our bases in Germany and other places aren't just there to sap taxpayer dollars either, (ok well gitmo is but thats besides the point), these international bases give us a foothold around the globe and if we let go of that foot hold we lose major strategic advantage and that will come back to bite us in the end. America has it's enemies, but frankly none of them could really do anything to us in the position we are in now and have been since WWII. We are quite literally standing outside their door with very large guns, reminding them to play nicely with one another. But the bases aren't just there to put down tin pot dictators with big dreams, or swat down incoming air assaults, they are there to send a big message. Don't mess with us. They are for the most part a stabilizing influence in the world where they are at, and they do provide direct assistance to our strategic partners, who are also supposed to jump into the fight (preferably on our side) should anyone decide to take us on. Walk softly but carry a big stick. Roshambo definition : http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=roshambo /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
