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Preserving democracy? Ah yes, those fine captains of industry from the Military Industrial Complex. Deeply enmeshed in the fabric of Washington policy and alw

Preserving democracy? Ah yes, those fine captains of industry from the Military Industrial Complex. Deeply enmeshed in the fabric of Washington policy and always acting for the benefits of freedom and democracy. "A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small "inside" group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes." - Smedley Butler

tgsovlerkhgsel 4y ago
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that even if you have no intention to fight a war, an aggressive neighbor may have other ideas, so you don't have a choice other than being ready for it, if you want to continue existing as an independent country. How you're ready for it can vary, but deterrence by having better weapons is one effective way. In the best case, it works and you don't have a war. And if it doesn't, you still have better weapons to end the war - and preferably keep it on the enemy's territory so the destruction happens there and not in your country. Right now, Ukraine has its cities leveled, while Russia is (with a few exceptions) "only" losing military gear and personnel.
- l33tbro 4y ago
  I agree. My point was that democracy has little to do with which nations the US chooses to defend. Moreover, 'peace' is essentially the continuity of economic imperialism and the maintenance of its hegemony - regardless of how inequitable that may be for everyone else. While this is an undergraduate take, it doesn't discount it from being true.
- justsomehnguy 4y ago
  > even if you have no intention to fight a war "Crimea would be Ukranian or deserted" But of course you never heard that. Ukrainian maritime capability is another point but again you never knew anything abou that.

tgsovlerkhgsel 4y ago

The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that even if you have no intention to fight a war, an aggressive neighbor may have other ideas, so you don't have a choice other than being ready for it, if you want to continue existing as an independent country. How you're ready for it can vary, but deterrence by having better weapons is one effective way. In the best case, it works and you don't have a war. And if it doesn't, you still have better weapons to end the war - and preferably keep it on the enemy's territory so the destruction happens there and not in your country. Right now, Ukraine has its cities leveled, while Russia is (with a few exceptions) "only" losing military gear and personnel.

l33tbro 4y ago
I agree. My point was that democracy has little to do with which nations the US chooses to defend. Moreover, 'peace' is essentially the continuity of economic imperialism and the maintenance of its hegemony - regardless of how inequitable that may be for everyone else. While this is an undergraduate take, it doesn't discount it from being true.
justsomehnguy 4y ago
> even if you have no intention to fight a war "Crimea would be Ukranian or deserted" But of course you never heard that. Ukrainian maritime capability is another point but again you never knew anything abou that.