Looks Like We May Be Prepping for War.

[Teatownclown]

Not like there isn't precedence of that sort in recent history...

HUH? We were overly aggressive...we weren't "drawn in" we was suckered in by our own leaders....those Busheviks!

[JCnOwasso]

This is the root of my fear that I mentioned a few topics ago.  We are "religiously" tied to Isreal because a large portion of this country believe that we must protect them at all costs.  It is like that kid in school who was real small, but had a big mouth... and a big friend.  That big friend really didn't want to get involved, but his friend always drug him into the conflict.

[zstyles]

If only our politicians had the guts to go to war...real war..we could blow Iran off the map without much fallout...everyone is way to concerned about if they will get re-elected to their posh positions...on both sides

[AquaMan]

Interesting you would use the words "guts" and "fallout" in the same missive.

We haven't had enough war lately to satisfy you? We need to nuke some countries to let them know whose boss? Like Patton's troops used to say about ole' blood and guts, "His guts...our blood".

[Conan71]

If only our politicians had the guts to go to war...real war..we could blow Iran off the map without much fallout...everyone is way to concerned about if they will get re-elected to their posh positions...on both sides

What constitutes "real" war?

[RecycleMichael]

What constitutes "real" war?

More than 3.2%

[Hoss]

More than 3.2%

MARSHALLSTHREADWINNER!

[Gaspar]

If only our politicians had the guts to go to war...real war..we could blow Iran off the map without much fallout...everyone is way to concerned about if they will get re-elected to their posh positions...on both sides

"How ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!"

We created these monsters.  Societies ill-equipped and primitive, granted enormous wealth for their resources, and played like pawns by their masters.  We created them, armed them and expected them to bow to us.  We turned wandering nomads into kings, and funded fanatics.

We exploited their resources because it was easier and cheaper than developing our own.  We have now grown dependent on them to feed us, and they know that.  It's hard for us to bite that hand, even when raised against us.

If we really wanted to wage war, we would simply retract our contracts, develop our resources, and pursue our independence from all foreign energy sources.  Initially this would mean petroleum, but it would need to include wind, nat-gas, solar, and a strong push towards the development of new technologies.  I think we could do it in less than a decade, but it would have to be incentive based.  It would have to be more rewarding for companies to peruse domestic energy and alternatives than import.

[AquaMan]

"How ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom!"

We created these monsters.  Societies ill-equipped and primitive, granted enormous wealth for their resources, and played like pawns by their masters.  We created them, armed them and expected them to bow to us.  We turned wandering nomads into kings, and funded fanatics.

We exploited their resources because it was easier and cheaper than developing our own.  We have now grown dependent on them to feed us, and they know that.  It's hard for us to bite that hand, even when raised against us.

If we really wanted to wage war, we would simply retract our contracts, develop our resources, and pursue our independence from all foreign energy sources.  Initially this would mean petroleum, but it would need to include wind, nat-gas, solar, and a strong push towards the development of new technologies.  I think we could do it in less than a decade, but it would have to be incentive based.  It would have to be more rewarding for companies to peruse domestic energy and alternatives than import.

I was explaining how colonialism worked and its relevance to world history to my high school student this morning. He was interested in why it is no longer practiced.  What you described is how colonial powers evolved, prospered, fought and disappeared. Then it struck me that maybe we still are colonialists. We just use the cover of a corporate framework to accomplish what was once policy. National policy seems to follow corporate needs.

I think it would take more than a decade. It would take us that long to educate the population as to the birthing pains required. But its doable with consensus. Consensus usually comes from catastrophe. It would also require some thorough planning as to what would be the response by the monsters we've created.

[Gaspar]

I was explaining how colonialism worked and its relevance to world history to my high school student this morning. He was interested in why it is no longer practiced.  What you described is how colonial powers evolved, prospered, fought and disappeared. Then it struck me that maybe we still are colonialists. We just use the cover of a corporate framework to accomplish what was once policy. National policy seems to follow corporate needs.

I think it would take more than a decade. It would take us that long to educate the population as to the birthing pains required. But its doable with consensus. Consensus usually comes from catastrophe. It would also require some thorough planning as to what would be the response by the monsters we've created.

Perhaps, but we only practice the "New-Colonialism" when our energy resources are at risk.  That seems so easy to cure, but so difficult to accept.
It took the small relaxation of the permit process for private land about 5 years to materialize in the increased oil production we see on those properties today.  There is far more production capacity under public lands, completely under the control of our leaders to expand or restrict.

I think within 5 years we could see a boom in production and within 10 a significant severing of the umbilicus to the Arab world.  Of course in desperation, they would attempt to counter by dropping prices drastically, the natural market response.  I think 10 years is a reasonable framework to eliminate the artificial market forces and realize energy independence.

If we do that, the increased revenue that the government would enjoy (wells on government land pay royalties to the government and ultimately the people), could be 100% invested in alternative energy programs (and that's a lot of money!).

It's a "cake and eat it" scenario.

[heironymouspasparagus]

We've been at war for at least a decade, so yeah, you can see them often. I just happen to drive by there every day for the last 6 months and noted an increase. Much like the increase I saw back before Afghanistan. Could just mean they're moving them around the country getting ready for the next election.......

The list of time when we haven't been pursuing some sort of war-like activity is MUCH smaller - miniscule - than the time we have engaged in war.  Because we like to go to distant foreign lands, meet interesting exotic people, and kill them.  War is a critical part of our economic policy.  Sadly. 

And if you look at the definition of the word "imperialism" - the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationship, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." Imperialism, as described by that work is primarily a Western undertaking that employs "expansionist, merchantilist policies - many, if not most, of those war activities have been in the advancement of the principal.

Hence the phrase I have used from time to time to describe our overseas activities as "imperialistic voyeurism".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_United_States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism

[heironymouspasparagus]

Not like there isn't precedence of that sort in recent history...

Way too much!  See previous post...

[heironymouspasparagus]

More than 3.2%

Near beer war! 

[heironymouspasparagus]

I think within 5 years we could see a boom in production and within 10 a significant severing of the umbilicus to the Arab world.  Of course in desperation, they would attempt to counter by dropping prices drastically, the natural market response.  I think 10 years is a reasonable framework to eliminate the artificial market forces and realize energy independence.

It has been going on for a couple years.  US Rig count as of 16 Mar is 1984, up 264 since same time last year.  Price of oil is up - production is up.  Inventories are at very high levels, distillates are at high levels, demand is still declining.  And yet, the price of gasoline is much higher...go figure.  Oh, wait - that's right, it's because the oil companies and speculators are working to keep it high, so "you-know-who" looks bad for the election season.  Wait until December - gas prices will drop like a rock.

[RecycleMichael]

It has been going on for a couple years.  US Rig count as of 16 Mar is 1984, up 264 since same time last year.  Price of oil is up - production is up.  Inventories are at very high levels, distillates are at high levels, demand is still declining.  And yet, the price of gasoline is much higher...go figure.  Oh, wait - that's right, it's because the oil companies and speculators are working to keep it high, so "you-know-who" looks bad for the election season.  Wait until December - gas prices will drop like a rock.

I completely agree. The price of oil has always been used as a political weapon and the oil companies hate democrats.