Charlatan

Sane... I don't agree with your assesment that: "The only thing standing between the relative international stability we see today and global chaos is the U.S. Sixth Fleet and the American will to use it."

I suspect that framing your argument about military spending in this fashion rather than the way that alansmithee did, is what raises the ire of others and leads to the "bow down before the US" comments (i.e. with out the US you are all toast so stop complaining about us and celebrate).

I see that much of the instability in the Middle East, for example, stems from the US placing troops in the region to protect their oil interests. Let's face it, if the Middle East didn't have oil they would a politcal backwater which garner no more interest that say, Africa.

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke