Moderator: coldharvest
Maybe that still works down under, we put our thrust in treaties.ROB wrote: undervalue the political currency
Kurt wrote:A friend of mine in Iowa has a developmentally disabled child who just had possibly life saving surgery delayed because anti vax dipshits are taking up all the resources. Now she is fighting her insurance plan to come here and have it done. She probably wont succeed either since her plan only covers a "radius" of 200 miles and the whole state of Iowa (for US healthcare this is normal and on the "good" side).
snaark wrote:Kurt wrote:A friend of mine in Iowa has a developmentally disabled child who just had possibly life saving surgery delayed because anti vax dipshits are taking up all the resources. Now she is fighting her insurance plan to come here and have it done. She probably wont succeed either since her plan only covers a "radius" of 200 miles and the whole state of Iowa (for US healthcare this is normal and on the "good" side).
Three things I will never understand about the US:
- infatuation with guns
- lack of holidays
- health insurance
ReptilianKittenEater wrote:I'd go there again, it does have an otherworldly feel and is cloudy and cool. It may be neat to 4 x 4 through the interior of the country.
Faroe Islands are another place that feels otherworldly if you don't mind missing the sun for a while.
el3so wrote:Maybe that still works down under, we put our thrust in treaties.ROB wrote: undervalue the political currency
Think the current climate in the USA involves too much navel-gazing to care about some peon country buying their subs. But defense spending and pork-barrel go together like shit and flies, sole reason why the French are so miffed.ROB wrote: I am not talking about its utility in a war. I am talking about its utility as a domestic political tool in the US.
el3so wrote:Think the current climate in the USA involves too much navel-gazing to care about some peon country buying their subs.ROB wrote: I am not talking about its utility in a war. I am talking about its utility as a domestic political tool in the US.
ROB wrote:el3so wrote:Think the current climate in the USA involves too much navel-gazing to care about some peon country buying their subs.ROB wrote: I am not talking about its utility in a war. I am talking about its utility as a domestic political tool in the US.
Ok, let me spell this out.
American governments like to invade countries.
American people don't like it as much, but can be convinced.
In order to convince American people, it seriously helps the American government if they can claim they are not the only ones who feel that shithole X needs to be invaded. Look at all of these other free countries that want to invade them too! This isn't an "invasion," it's a "coalition!"
When presented with such evidence, a small, but potentially election shifting element of the American people change their tune to pro invasion (or at least not anti-invasion).
When election comes around, that small % of the population doesn't need as much convincing to keep the existing government in power.
In return, small cooperative countries like Australia who cannot afford huge navies **might** get to borrow the keys to the 7th Fleet when their trade routes get blockaded. Of course, they will still need to show that they are willing to defend themselves and put blood into the fight. Hence submarines...
This general state of affairs lasts across decades and all stripes of government in either country...
Before WW2, the exact state of affairs existed with the country that also (at the time) had the largest navy... Britain.
Please use less-bigger words.ROB wrote:Ok, let me spell this out.
Ok, now I understand what you meant by "domestic political tool in the US".Look at all of these other free countries that want to invade them too! This isn't an "invasion," it's a "coalition!"
Seems to me that Oceanians are stuck in that situation given the landmass, the population numbers, being islands.In return, small cooperative countries like Australia who cannot afford huge navies **might** get to borrow the keys to the 7th Fleet when their trade routes get blockaded.
Before WW2, the exact state of affairs existed with the country that also (at the time) had the largest navy... Britain.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 43 guests