What does it say about the United States that we are about to become a ''first-strike'' nation?

Question

Abandoning multilateralism, have we abandoned diplomacy as well? Is war no longer a last resort, taken in self-defense, but a routine method of getting our way, since no one can stop us? Has the time come for us to reverse the National Security Act of 1947 and go back to calling the ''Defense Department'' the ''War Department?''

The obvious difference between Iraq and the United States is that this nation is a democracy. That means that we US citizens are responsible for the behavior of George W. Bush in ways that the people of Iraq are not responsible for Saddam Hussein. There is good reason to believe that Bush, in his highly personal, irrational, and thoroughly Manichaean campaign against Hussein, has set the very world on a course toward disaster. No one can change that course but us.

Answer 1

Quite seriously, its unfair that we all must live with this stigma of being warring Americans. The current administration has done everything in its power to shift our country from the economically driven superpower of the Clinton-era to the present state of perpetual aggression. Enough of the public doesn't believe aggression is the best method, but unfortunately those people are ignored and dismissed as unpatriotic. Its time to go back to the days of Wilson, Roosevelt, and Kennedy... where diplomacy was a tactic, not a facade.

Answer 2

I have a question for you. In your opinion as a master negotiator, renowned diplomat, expert military strategist and one privy to all classified intelligence, just how long after the nukes start falling is it "fair" for us to wait before we defend ourselves?

My point is simply this. It is not 1940, when bombs start falling this time it won't be a cluster of houses or even a city block at a time. It will be whole cities. I don't suppose you will be offering yourself and your family up as the first targets will you?

If you don't understand that we have been attacked, we have lost citizens, we have lost land marks, we have lost self esteem, and we have suffered economically them all reason will be powerless to convince you otherwise. We are currently in a retaliation mode. In 1941 we declared war on both Germany and Japan even though Germany didn't attack us directly. Perhaps we should just laugh it off and provide some more technology to those who would kill everyone of us. That seemed to be the attitude during the Clinton administration.

Answer 3

The World Changed on 9/11/2001 - Where were you?

In other words, if you found out that Japan planned to attack the US on Dec 1st, 1941; a week ahead of the actual attack; would you have pre-emtively attaced Japan?

Futhermore, what do you mean about? We liberated Iraq from Saddam Hussein in March 2003; I believe that the 'first-strike' has already taken place.

Lastly, would you sit around for Iran or North Korea to develop and detonate a nuclear weapon becuase of a 'no first strike' philosophy? One nucelar detonation in Isreal would mean no-more Israel. Since Iran is already on record indicating that when they develop a nuclear weapon; they would not hesitate to use it on Israel (much less New York or Washington DC) and that any Palestinian or Arab caught in this horrific blast would become a marytr to Allah; do you really think that the world can afford not to commit to a first strike on any rouge nation that threatens to use nuclear weapons - which Iran has already done - per latimes - "Iran's former president and current power broker, Hashemi Rafsanjani, spoke candidly in 2001: "the use of even one nuclear bomb inside Isreal will destroy eveything," he said, although it would harm the Islamic workd, "It is not irrational", he went on ' to contemplate such an eventuality". Say no more, a first strike may be required with attitudes like this.

Answer 4

What a load of cr*p ! You libs would cozy up with anyone. Maybe you could buy the nece terrorists in git mo a little kitty and make nicey nice with iran and all those wonderful poeple in the middle east, Then the world would be all sweet and loving. Sure, these folks will reason with us. We just need to leave them alone. We should do the same thing with terrorists here too, no need for the police to come while your robbed and raped, these are only misunderstood people, they wouldn't really hurt you.
That message a couple weeks ago from aboo poopoo, or whatever, convert or die, he didn't mean it. He is a religous man, a good man.

We need to stay on offence , so that we don't need defence. Why would anyone want to sit back, just like we did and get hit again?



LIBS make me puke !

Answer 5

It's true. Our aptitude towards war had skyrocketed lately. However, this is because many countries are unwilling to negotiate. This is what the UN is for, but with them sitting on their hands all the time is tough to get international matters done. However, peaceful talks should always outweigh war and in very very rare occasions should we be FORCED to go to war.

Answer 6

Your nation became a first-strike nation as soon as the Cold War began. and has continued to this day. Think of the regime changes, the propped-up governments, the dictators that are now in power purely to further your governments aims.

You were lost a long long time ago

Answer 7

That happened five years ago when Dubya and Company used national hysteria to sneak in an adventurist war.
Welcome to the Fourth Reich.

Answer 8

It says this about the United States: Very, Very Intelligent.
Democrats hate Bush for this, BUT it is Bush's job to protect the people.
It's weird, but some Democrats would rather die at terrorists' hands, than to have Bush save them and their families lives.
Bush can't do it alone. He needs everyone's help.

Answer 9

Hiroshima and Nagasaki yesterday. Tehran and Damascus tomorrow!!!

Answer 10

It says that under Bush's reign of terror we have become an uncivilized nation.