Should America Become Isolationist?

[syscom3]

Originally Posted by timshatz

......And besides, most Americans are sick of being the world's policeman.

[renrich]

The US went into Iraq, I believe, in order to intimidate Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia and force them to aid us in the fight against Al-Qaeda and quit aiding Al-Qaeda. Our threatening Iran with dire measures if they pursue their nuclear ambitions was more intimidation to scare them into stopping their sending of munitions and terrorists into Iraq. It appears to have begun to work. This next year will see the US and other coalition forces drawing down the number of troops in Iraq but a substantial force will remain on the ground but staying within our enclaves and not actively patrolling the streets except in the case of a situation that the Iraqui military cannot handle. Our forces there will also serve as a stabilizing element in the region much as we have done in Korea since 1954. Iran now has a stake in our remaining on the ground in Iraq for the forseeable future because an independent, resurgent and rearmed Iraq is a threat to Iran. Our forces there will prevent that from happening. There has been a great deal of diplomacy as well as military action taking place in that region for the last five years and some of it is bearing fruit now. I hope our diplomatic and military efforts continue to be well directed and successful. That of course includes our alliance with Pakistan as they are another key in the battle against Al-Qaeda.

[renrich]

It is dark and lonely work but someone has to do it. If we were to pull in our horns and disengage from being the "world's policeman" it likely could cause an economic and military disaster for us as well as others in the world.

[syscom3]

If other countries cant learn to live amongst themselves, then let them slaughter each other.

Peace came to Europe after the 2nd world war simply because the people no longer wanted any part of the territorial wars.

And there is an advantage for having muslim countries fighting each other.

[pbfoot]

Peace is still not present in Europe unless you consider 8 years a long time. Pay heed to the election in Kosovo on 3 Feb the Serbs are not real happy with projected outcome.

[Thorlifter]

Originally Posted by lesofprimus

Take 4 Divisions from Iraq and Afghanahole and station them on our Southern border and shut those fu*kin border highways down.... NO ENTRADA!!!

ABSOLUTELY!!!!

[Soundbreaker Welch?]

Um....I guess it would be scary if China and Russia starting policing the area's we were no longer in.

But we should do more about the border, for our own security.

[renrich]

The only reason there was anything resembling peace in Europe after WW2 was that the US with it's nukes was there to deter the Soviet Union from taking the rest of Europe. That is what the Cold War was all about!

[syscom3]

Europe is large enough and has the riches to defend themselves. The US is no longer needed. NATO is anachronism of the cold war. And the expansion eastwards to the borders of Russia needlessly antagonized them for no strategic gain.

As for Asia, just why are we meddling in the affairs of that area? China isnt threatening anyone (aside from Taiwan). Australia and Japan are our two allies of the region. S Korea is rich enough now to handle any threat from N Korea. Theres no reason for us to have an extensive presence anywhere in Asia.

[ToughOmbre]

If nothing else, enough overseas military pullback as necessary to man and secure America's borders. Border security should have been priority 1 on September 12, 2001. Go figure.

TO

[mkloby]

Originally Posted by lesofprimus

I say Normal Diplomatic But Reduced Military Presence, but remove the USA from the UN.... Keep up our relations with the countries that matter to OUR domestic situations, trade partners etc etc....

I would like to see our military used on our borders nore so than overseas.... I have real strong convictions concerning the Illegals in this country, and it aint just the Mexicano comin from the Southern border....

Take 4 Divisions from Iraq and Afghanahole and station them on our Southern border and shut those fu*kin border highways down.... NO ENTRADA!!!

I agree with the top for sure. The UN is based of a flawed theory of international relations that completely ignores reality. News flash - the world isn't one giant cuddlefest that political sweet talking can manage. I think you're right on with sealing the borders - although I think it could be done with less than approximately 50,000 men. I actually think the MV-22 would be VERY well suited to border patrol duties.

[syscom3]

Originally Posted by mkloby

....I actually think the MV-22 would be VERY well suited to border patrol duties.

The good old tried and proven, used for centuries, "Quarter Horse Mk1" is a far superior alternative.

[Njaco]

Ah, but Mkloby just think what would happen if every illegal knew that 50,000 rough, battle-ready, kick-ass troops were waiting and would do to anybody trying to cross. Guatemala would explode!

[renrich]

There is a constitutinal problem with using US military forces within the borders of our country. I can't remember the details of it or what it is called.

[syscom3]

Originally Posted by renrich

There is a constitutinal problem with using US military forces within the borders of our country. I can't remember the details of it or what it is called.

"Posse Comitatus", enacted after the federal troops left the south after the suppression of the rebellion.

The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) passed on June 16, 1878 after the end of Reconstruction. The Act prohibits most members of the federal uniformed services (Army, Air Force, and State National Guard forces when such are called into federal service) from exercising nominally state law enforcement police or peace officer powers that maintain "law and order" on non-federal property (States, their counties and municipal divisions) in the former Confederate states.

The statute generally prohibits federal military personnel and units of the United States National Guard under federal authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States, except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. The Coast Guard is exempt from the Posse Comitatus Act.

The Posse Comitatus Act and the Insurrection Act substantially limit the powers of the federal government to use the military for law enforcement.

Note - Patrolling the border is a legitimate function of the feds, so this act doesn't apply to border enforcement.

Note = "Posse Comitatus (Latin): Power of the county. The whole force of the county - that is, all the male members of a county over fifteen, who may be summoned by a sheriff to assist in preventing a riot, the rescue of prisoners, or other unlawful disorders."