LATimes' Stein: I Don't Support The Troops!

Can someone who believes in it please explain the term "American Imperialism" with examples?


I believe the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are completely just. The Middle East in general has been the source of gorilla warfare based on ideaology on the free world for decades. I believe a forceful push toward democracy in the Middle East is long over due. Has anyone who thinks this goal is unjust looked at a map of the Middle East. Look at the position of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel. Could there be any 3 American/democratic strongholds with better strategic positioning than these 3. Large US troop presence for an extended period has worked to bring peace, stability, and democracy in other areas of the world.

Spreading Democracy is IMHO the responsibility of the US.
 
He has the right to say it.

But it is a damned shame he thinks so little of the people, culture, and governmental structure that has insured it for him.

It is obvious his attitude is the result of the left wing, anti-America brainwashing performed by the so called "Journalism" professors in our colleges today.

One more generation of learned graduates such as him, and I predict that right will be no more.
 
The Middle East in general has been the source of gorilla warfare based on ideaology on the free world for decades.
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It has? Like, where?

I would have said Southeast Asia or Central America. Only recently has the Middle East begun exporting guerilla methods and idealogy.
 
Can someone who believes in it please explain the term "American Imperialism" with examples?
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The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations.
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You just provided a good one.

I believe the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are completely just. The Middle East in general has been the source of gorilla warfare based on ideaology on the free world for decades. I believe a forceful push toward democracy in the Middle East is long over due. Has anyone who thinks this goal is unjust looked at a map of the Middle East. Look at the position of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel. Could there be any 3 American/democratic strongholds with better strategic positioning than these 3. Large US troop presence for an extended period has worked to bring peace, stability, and democracy in other areas of the world.

Spreading Democracy is IMHO the responsibility of the US.
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That, especially your last sentence, is the very concept of imperialism.
 
FYI

Al Franken on the liberal Air America radio station just blasted Stein today for writing this column. He also called on celebrities to join the USO tour regardless of their position on the war. So don't think that this Stein guy speak for a lot of people, he doesn't.
 
Its a cool feeling knowing that I'm going to Marine Corps boot camp in two weeks (Feb 13th) ultimately to defend everyone's right to say what they want. That's what I'm going to be fighting for: our freedoms.
 
It has? Like, where?
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My first memories are Middle Eastern (Muslim extremists) hijacking commercial aircraft in the early 1970's. Yasser Arafat, I believe invented aircraft hijacking. Acts attributed to and claimed by groups like PLO, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and several other Muslim Extremist groups have been going on for decades. If you want I will research specifics this weekend.


The US and the rest of the industrialized world pump Fortunes of money to the countries we get oil from. Middle Eastern regimes have hoarded the money with vast chasm between social classes. There is little or no ability to change your social class.

Through government run madrases, and tolerance, even support of Anti-West IE infidels Islamic schools and Mosques these governments have indoctrinated the lower class into inciting terrorist activity and hatred for The West and Israel. Not to mention funding terrorist activity with our money. Is there any other explanation for the phenomenon of suicide bombers or suicide missions?

Now you can blame this on "US Policy" but it may be a little hypocritical while sitting in a heated/air conditioned house, typing on your computer, watching television, driving to the convenience store for a slurpee, flying off to Vegas once in a while, etc. etc. I like all of these things.

The West has tried to influence change in the region through placing conditions on payments, UN actions, and diplomatic ways to no avail.

Democracy is the only way to get the wealth of the nation to the people of the nation.

If there were hope for individual success and wealth, the smart people who head the extremist groups would have more productive and profitable alternatives for their talents.

I can not think of any countries which the US collects taxes or operates the government. The most recent examples of opportunities to do just that and didn't happen may be Kuwait, Germany, and Japan. I always considered imperialism as negative for the recipient country. Seems these countries are better because of "American Imperialism".

Do all Americans, and Europeans understand that children are taught there is great honor in killing YOU and hating YOU?
 
He obviously has no family in the military. Personally, until he does something to support his country other than bad mouth those who do in his little columns, I feel he has no right to voice an opinion on the subject. But that's just me. Of course, he's a journalist. Shooting his mouth off is what he does best.

I'm a former sailor. I don't support war. I support sailors and troops I served next to, and those I didn't. I'm certainly not a pacifist or I wouldn't own something+ guns. His reasoning is about as annoying as, "Unknown command or syntax" (I was a navy computer geek:D).
 
15 min

that schmuck is just looking for his 15 minutes of fame. he is clueless as to what it takes to run and keep a democracy. his "immorality" of killing would have our soldiers throwing flowers and tofu at the baddies instead of brass encased lead.;)
 
Well, he's got guts. No brains, but guts.

I do plenty of things that are wrong too.
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Atleast he admits it.

And to the future Marine, we all say THANK YOU in advance! May our Lord, God bless you and keep you safe from harm in this, your time of most selfless service to our country.
 
"The US and the rest of the industrialized world "


Thats part of the problem with this country and why we have people fighting over minimum wage jobs at walmart.We (The USA) are not and have not been for a very long time an industrial nation.we make nothing of any value.We push pencils and drive BMW's.We develop technology and sell it to china and japan and Taiwan.This country was built on industry.We were the leaders in industry at a time.Sad to say I believe we will be a third world nation soon.
Do i support the war?I support the belief that everyone has the right to freedom.Do I think Bush and his cronies pulled a few fast ones to bring us to this point? Absolutely!Did Sadamn Hussein need to go? No doubt in my mind!
He was and is tyrannical.He murdered 100's of thousands who did not hold the same beliefs.
Being the son and brother of marines who fought for this country and our freedoms, I with all my heart support the troops!I admire their courage.I don't think they went into this totally blind.I don't think they were misled as to what they were going to be doing in Iraq.
I do not and will not put a ribbon magnet on my car ,truck or any other item .
I myself have had it with all the bleeding heart liberals!Their self righteous BS.
why don't we work on some trade agreement that actually benefits us,instead of working toward our detriment.Its time to make some changes in this country before the next civil war.God bless America! Can i say that? Semper Fi David. Good luck .God speed
 
He has the right to say it, but in a fair world I would have the right to punch him in the teeth. This made me so mad, everyday I have to hear about someone else I knew getting KIA, or injured for life, and this guy sits in his office in CA and spits on the troops. He ranks up there with nambla, neo-nazis and flag burners, as far as testing the limits of free speech IMO. Yeah, he may have the right to say it, but hope he burns in hell.
 
but in a fair world I would have the right to punch him in the teeth.
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How do you figure that? So if I disagree with something you say then it would be fair for me to punch a few of your teeth out? :rolleyes:

You hope whatever you want but that man has no less right to say what he feels than you do. On the other hand you would have no more right to assault him for his beliefs than he would have to kill you for yours.

Once again: "free speech as long as I agree with the speech"
 
So you're willingly signing up to be a fighting tool of American imperialism, for better or worse. Sometimes you get lucky and get to fight ethnic genocide in Kosovo, but other times it's Vietnam.
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Typical Clinton Supporter....So everyone in Serbia deserved to get Killed, bombed and their infrastructure demolished for the actions of a few Serbian leaders and their hit squads for their genocide the former Yugoslavia, but it was somehow wrong to defend the South Vietnamese from the North Vietnamese and to bomb Hanoi. Stupid Hippies always forget the slaughter of South Vietnamese by the Communist North when the US pulled out, what it isn't Genocide if Vietnamese are killing Vietnamese, or Africans are killing Africans.
 
So if I disagree with something you say then it would be fair for me to punch a few of your teeth out?
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Did you even read what I said? Clearly from your posts you agree with what he said, though have no doubt you will try to deny it. He compared swearing oath to defend this country and its constitution to clicking on a pop-up ad. He has assaulted the honor of millions of men and women who have served. While he hides behind a newspaper I can't know enough about him to do him the same favor. Maybe you are the kind of person who would stand by while a man insulted your wife or mother in a public place while in her presence. I am not that kind of person. Yeah, I would like to knock a few of his teeth out, and that goes for nambla members, neozazis, and flagburners as well. Not because they don't have the legal right to say what they do, if I said that it would be an equal disservice to those who served. I want to punch him because I hate what he stands for, in addition to how he expresses it.
 
Did you even read what I said?
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oh yes
He has the right to say it, but in a fair world I would have the right to punch him in the teeth.
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That's exactly what you said. Going by your own logic if you said something that I didn't agree with, in a fair world I'd have the right to punch you in the teeth. It doesn't matter what the speech is when you decide that you should be allowed to assault someone for it.

Clearly from your posts you agree with what he said, though have no doubt you will try to deny it.
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I do agree with much of what he said. Not everything but I do believe he makes good points in regards to the attitudes of people in this country as well as politicians.
Maybe you are the kind of person who would stand by while a man insulted your wife or mother in a public place while in her presence.
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Nope. But I certainly wouldn't be stupid enough to assualt him for mere words. Luckily the women in my family are strong enough to stand up for themselves; while they appreciate my standing up for them they are fully capable of doing it themselves without the assistance of a man. I'm very proud of that.

Yeah, I would like to knock a few of his teeth out, and that goes for nambla members, neozazis, and flagburners as well.
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I don't like what NAMBLA has to say but only when they actually commit their crimes do I believe they deserve punishment. They can say what they wish but to touch a child in that manner is an abhorrent crime that should be punished as severely as humanity is willing to punish.

Same goes for neonazis. I despise their message and their beliefs but I also believe they should be allowed to say what they wish. Only in response to hurting someone or infringing on someone's rights should they be punished.

Flag burning, on the other hand, I have no problem with. I would never do it myself (with the exception of retiring a flag as I was taught in Scouts) but I believe it should be covered under freedom of speech. Regardless of what the synmbol represents in reality a flag is nothing more than a piece of colored cloth. If a man buys a sheet of cloth he should be allowed to set it on fire regardless of what's painted on it (assuming he's not putting someone in danger with the flames, of course).

I may not agree with the speech but I will fight to the death for the right to express it.

I want to punch him because I hate what he stands for, in addition to how he expresses it.
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That's fine and perfectly understandable. But to think that it would be "fair" for you to be allowed to punch him for his beliefs goes against the very concept of freedom of speech.
 
Redworm

I do agree with much of what he said.
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So you agree that soliders and Marines are wrong for for following lawfull orders as they swore to do?
Other than that I can respect your opinion, but I think you misunderstand me. I am not saying he should be prevented from saying what he has to say, just that in a just world I think I should be able to challenge him to defend his words with action. I realise that is not going to happen, he is a coward, and the system protects him. Im sure you on the other hand would defend your words, as you have stated. The fact that he would not, but is willing to bash people who would, makes him worthless as a human being IMHO.
 
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