Rolf:

It is always good to hear rational discourse.

Rightly or wrongly, I'm just not concerned with China and India. When they were very poor, their problems were relatively straight forward. As they become wealthier and more powerful, they will find the road less clear, and filled with potholes!

There is one school of thought, economically, that considers trading increasingly less valuable U.S. dollars for hard goods a very good deal. Afterall, if the U.S. falls into oblivion and you have a trove of green backs, whatta ya got!

One thing I'm very skeptical about is the term "Superpower" in my opinion it is illusory at best

Frankly, I feel pretty good about our domestic situation. Everyone who wants a job has one and there is a concensus that we have an energy problem; even if the solution is contentious.

Previously, I was refering to the devastation of WWII. Iraq hasn't suffered nearly so badly, although I expect the maimed and dying will disagree. Grieving parents surely will make no such distinction.

I almost used the phrase "collareral damage", refering to the killing and maiming of innocent people during wars. That is always regretable and glossing it over with a catchy phrase doesn't mitigate the loss or suffering, but it does dehumanize it!

While I don't condone the abuse of prisoners and absolutely despise torture, I'm not entirely sure the Geneva Convention applies in this case. I suppose I should apologize for that- it is at best a legal nicety that won't matter much to someone who's testicles are being crushed. ( please see "slippery slope" below ) { I can't describe how I feel when I see the "towers" falling and, most of all, people falling to their deaths justs before the collapse. Something reptilian crawls up out of my brainstem and I want blood,lots of it! Muslims are angry over a cartoon! I don't think they understand anger!!}


My biggest disagreement with American foreign policy ( it might better be considered domestic policy ) is the "War Powers Act" which, in essence, allows the President to wage war without a declaration of war from Congress. Once you start down that "slippery slope" things have a way of getting out of hand. Vietnam being the best or worst example.

I don't remember much about Eastern bloc armor, we did a lot of cross-traing because of chronic shortages of men and equipment (Vietnam). I was assigned a variety of tasks, not the least of which was aircraft identification and trainging with the Redeye missle, the precursor to the Stinger. And, truthfully, I was far more interested in drinking beer and chasing women!

More importantly, what the hell happened to your cross-country team!? I expect our over-rated "golden boys and girls" to collapse occasionally, but this?!