tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post7114874622531475707..comments2024-02-26T00:59:26.907-08:00Comments on Ana the Imp: Pax Americana, or the Illusion of EmpireAnastasia F-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-9046819301832098722010-06-17T00:35:57.372-07:002010-06-17T00:35:57.372-07:00Yes, Dominic, decline, real decline, if it ever co...Yes, Dominic, decline, real decline, if it ever comes will be from within, another dimension of the Roman experience worth highlighting. A succession of Obamas might help things along the way.Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-54925723465628903042010-06-17T00:13:59.290-07:002010-06-17T00:13:59.290-07:00Not isolation, but not occupation either.
US Powe...Not isolation, but not occupation either.<br /><br />US Power is in its mobility and its ability to deny mobility to anyone else.<br />I wouldnt want to bore with an essay on Strategic Raiding as a doctine, but suffice to say the US could sack every city on the east asian coast and retreat before superior land armies could cath up and engage them.Domohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00240964731398145995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-18013527592601515722010-06-16T15:58:11.822-07:002010-06-16T15:58:11.822-07:00Dominic, I could never see a return to 'splend...Dominic, I could never see a return to 'splendid isolation' but I think America is growing tired of the role of world policeman.<br /><br />Rainer, no, just as Trajan's ill-advised Mesopotamia adventure did not bring the immediate fall of Rome. As for your points on the regualtion of financial markets, yes, but at a night watchman level.<br /><br />Bravo, thank you for that. I'll have a look and maybe report back. :-)Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-88492598570967566472010-06-16T06:57:54.872-07:002010-06-16T06:57:54.872-07:00Ana, you might find this site interesting. There ...Ana, you might find this site interesting. There has been much discussion on the subject of quo vadit America, Empire or Republic, and what ahould be done in either case. (Along with much else, and not a lot of Democrats about.)<br /><br />www.jerrypournelle.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-58055553497915763862010-06-16T05:15:49.766-07:002010-06-16T05:15:49.766-07:00I don't think that the war in Iraq can be used...I don't think that the war in Iraq can be used as a reason for the fall of America. <br />What has hurt them is the greed and unchecked activities of the financial markets, and the behaviour of the esteemed banking industry.<br />Greed is good was Wall streets foundation in the eighties, do anything you can to turn a dollar was what was built on it ever since.<br />These people and institutions need to be regulated and controlled, and the industry needs to go back to conservative values and reasonable conduct. They behaved like criminals and nearly got away with it, ruining prosperous countries in the process.<br />As soon as that is sorted, America can go back to what it was, it has the infrastructure and means to do this.<br />Ana, I did see you supporting deregulation and being against government control, but reflecting on what can happen when you let the cowboys loose without a sheriff, even you must admit that regulation of the financial sector is a must to ensure the survival of the west.<br />The Pinstripes did the damage that could be Americas downfall, the war was just a pathetic adventure that sadly cost lives and reputation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-87210212214164105812010-06-16T00:31:44.827-07:002010-06-16T00:31:44.827-07:00Tales of American demise are grossly exagerated, a...Tales of American demise are grossly exagerated, and for some reason constantly repeated.<br />Rome was almost exclusivly a Land Power.<br />America, is primarily a Naval Power.<br /><br />Whereas the destruction of a Roman Legion was a catastrophy that severely weakend the emperors might, the destruction of a US field army is an inconvenience that slows Americans plans.<br />The Iraq and Afghanistan occupations were disasters, but they are not disasters on an empire breaking scale, baring some sort of Black Swan, they never can be.<br /><br />As I said above, American Power doesnt rely on the Army, so the defeat of the army can never be a threat to its survival, its the Navy, unless you can bring to battle the USN and beat it decisivly, America can isolate you and starve you into submission.<br />Very much like the British Empire on which its designed would operate.<br /><br />When Rome fell, its military budget WAS government spending, and it was vast.<br />When Rome fell, multiple enemies could threaten the source of its power, the legion.<br /><br />American Taxation is low, and military spending even lower, if the Barbarians invade, theres a lot of fat that can be turned to muscle.<br />The American fleet is far above any potential rival, the next most powerful fleet is the Royal Navy. When the Empire fell, we were trying to maintain a 5:3:2 ratio with the next highest powers, we eventualy accepted a 5:5:3 ratio. The US operates 11 Supercarriers, only the French operate a conventional carrier at half the size, with the UK building two.<br />The rest of the worlds carrier fleets are small vessels a quarter of the size of the US Super Carriers.<br /><br />Until a nation or coalition can seriously threaten that force, Pax Americana in one form or another is here to stay.Domohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00240964731398145995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-38501987608225894572010-06-15T17:10:23.531-07:002010-06-15T17:10:23.531-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Fletch's Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16402507296202065300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-77544121145016131302010-06-15T17:10:01.101-07:002010-06-15T17:10:01.101-07:00Evita is more my style. :-)Evita is more my style. :-)Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-48371880365627101692010-06-15T16:36:01.253-07:002010-06-15T16:36:01.253-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Fletch's Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16402507296202065300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-36095093229763151482010-06-15T16:34:39.711-07:002010-06-15T16:34:39.711-07:00An awful prospect.An awful prospect.Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-47052974055942032172010-06-15T16:20:09.237-07:002010-06-15T16:20:09.237-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Fletch's Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16402507296202065300noreply@blogger.com