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Scipio · 06-18-2003, 09:27 AM

The Pew Research Center's report on world opinions is much more extensive.

I'd also like to point out that it's not so much the case that other countries need us so much as we need other countries. We're almost totally dependant on foreign oil. Our market system and large corporations depend on foreign labor markets to cut costs and compete.

In the foreign policy and military policy areas, it's evident that we need help. As good as our military is, and it's damn good, it's streched pretty thin. Through the 90s, our pilots were subjected to endless bombing campaigns, with very few breaks. Now, with all the military actions that are ongoing, many reservists have been called up indefinitely. We currently have well more than 2 army divisions committed to Iraq, and it's still not enough. In Afghanistan, we're quietly negotiating with the Taliban (remember them? we "ended" their rule over there.)

Opinion does matter. Countries with hostile populations are a threat to the US, and Bush administration policies do nothing to deal with these root causes.

I'm not worried about Canada. There's still some popular outrage about the war, and if you check back to polls from a few years ago, I'm guessing that they like us more. And LD, perhaps the fact that we're their biggest trading partner and cultural ally is more important to them than our keeping the Mexicans out.

06-18-2003, 09:27 AM	#11 (permalink)
Scipio Mencken Location: College	The Pew Research Center's report on world opinions is much more extensive. I'd also like to point out that it's not so much the case that other countries need us so much as we need other countries. We're almost totally dependant on foreign oil. Our market system and large corporations depend on foreign labor markets to cut costs and compete. In the foreign policy and military policy areas, it's evident that we need help. As good as our military is, and it's damn good, it's streched pretty thin. Through the 90s, our pilots were subjected to endless bombing campaigns, with very few breaks. Now, with all the military actions that are ongoing, many reservists have been called up indefinitely. We currently have well more than 2 army divisions committed to Iraq, and it's still not enough. In Afghanistan, we're quietly negotiating with the Taliban (remember them? we "ended" their rule over there.) Opinion does matter. Countries with hostile populations are a threat to the US, and Bush administration policies do nothing to deal with these root causes. I'm not worried about Canada. There's still some popular outrage about the war, and if you check back to polls from a few years ago, I'm guessing that they like us more. And LD, perhaps the fact that we're their biggest trading partner and cultural ally is more important to them than our keeping the Mexicans out. __________________ "Erections lasting more than 4 hours, though rare, require immediate medical attention."