That's hardly fair. From the 1950s to 1980s the Soviet Union was a constant threat to the United States, just as the U.S. was a constant threat to the Soviet Union. If there is a large, aggressive state with a strong military and nuclear weapons openly opposed to your politics of course you're going to want to increase your own military power.

SEE: Israel’s Defense Chief OK’s Hundreds of Israeli Deaths, By Ira Chernus, CommonDreams.org, 11/11/11

(excerpt)...An essential motive of Zionism from its beginning was a fierce desire to end the centuries of Jewish weakness, to show the world that Jews would no longer be pushed around, that they’d fight back and prove themselves tougher than their enemies. There was more to Zionism than that. But the “pride through strength” piece came to dominate the whole project. Hence the massive Israeli military machine with its nuclear arsenal.
But you can’t prove that you’re stronger than your enemies unless you’ve also got enemies -- or at least believe you’ve got enemies -- to fight against. So there has to be a myth of Israel’s insecurity, fueled by an image of vicious anti-semites lurking somewhere out there, for Zionism to work. Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, Iran has gradually risen to the top of Israel oh-so-necessary enemies list. Iranophobia is rampant in Israel, as one Israeli scholar writes, because “Israel needs an existential threat."
Anyone who has grown up in Israel, or in the U.S. Jewish community (as I did), and paid attention knows all this...

ENTIRE COMMENTARY - http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/11/11-2

Because there's a dollar in it. Lots of dollars in the suggestion that the US was under constant threat from the Soviet Union from 1950 to 1980. And here we have a reader reviving this assertion while seeing no reason to justify it. What exactly was that threat?

In re. to Dickerson3870: Simply quoting some other source does not make your comment good.

In re. to Kunino: Absolutely. After all just look at how harmless the Soviet Union was. It had the largest military on the planet. The Soviet Union was the only nation that could physically reach the U.S and attack. It forcibly occupied Eastern Europe and parts of Central Europe. It had stole nuclear secrets from the U.S and developed its own nuclear weapons program (no doubt for humanitarian reasons). It made repeated statements about how Communism would overthrow capitalism. It based nuclear weapons in Cuba. Declassified documents show that the Soviet Union had always assumed that there was going to be another war fought in Europe.

I notice you also completely ignored my other point. That the Soviet Union and United States were a constant existential threat to each other. Our two nations were the only ones that could destroy the other without resorting to nuclear weapons. History has constantly shown for millennia that when two or more major powers with different ideologies or different state interests occupy the same space they will eventually grow hostile to each other.

we did all those things first, generally to the Soviets. We stole secrets from Germany, based missiles in Turkey. Had invaded all of our Southern Neighbors, several of the Soviet's Southern neighbors. We CHOSE the containment policy and enacted that against the Soviets, not the other way around. Your account turns the principle mover into the victim. But, at no time was the Soviet Union an existential threat to the US. We had them utter out classed for all but 7 years. During that 7 years, we had superiority of force, and capacity. The "Cold War" was a marketing gimmick for war contractors. Or, perhaps you think Ike was in incompetent.

In re. to Scottindallas: Apparently you haven't looked at the size of the Soviet military during the Cold War. It isn't inflated by much and there are reasons (besides budgetary ones) for why Eisenhower was hoping that nuclear deterrence could make up for the size of the military. Even if we don't take the size of the Soviet military into account it's still foolish to not consider the Soviet Union an existential threat because of the rather blatantly obvious fact that the Soviet Union had a nuclear force capable of reaching the U.S. Any nation capable of doing that (especially with the number of nuclear weapons the Soviets had) is de facto an existential threat.

Aside from that you show the same error that Kunino did. You completely miss my point that the two states were a constant existential threat to each other and automatically go on to presume that this means that I am biased against a nation. It's precisely the same as Palestinians and Israelis or Indians and Pakistanis.

On Eisenhower, I think he would have been a better president in an earlier time. He couldn't have predicted the Iranian Revolution but a bit more prudence would have helped and he delayed criticizing McCarthy too much even though he was one of the few people who could have done it without fear.

Incidentally I can't respond to your comment on invasions because based on your geographic and historic descriptions I don't have the faintest idea of even what continent, century or military matter you might be referring to. Are you referring to the war with Mexico in the 1840s? The support for the Greek government in the 1940s/1950s? The support for the coup in Iran in the 1950s? Something having to do with South Vietnam or South Korea? Until you give actual names and dates there is nothing to say.

America has been in partnership with Pakistan since 1947 and against India since then. America new India was the biggest democracy on earth despite poverty, illiteracy. etc. et., but, America, always acted against India, since 1947, till 9/11 and 26/11. Pakistan has been in partnership with China in occupation of the Indian Himalayas, since 1947. So America is in partnership with China against India. You have to choose between short term gains or long term stability of the world. The Himalayas have been part and partial of the Indian Civilization since India’s origin in the ‘Indus Valley’, since around, 5000 B.C, and, before.. The Hindu-Buddhist shrines in the Kashmir, Mount Kailash, Mansrover Lakes, etc., etc., are, no less important, to the, ‘Hindu-Indian Civilization’, than the Mecca-Medina, for the Muslims, in the Saudi Arabia. Yet the ‘Islamic Only Pakistan(IOP)’ created, in, 1947, by carving out, 1/3rd, of India(approved by UNO, UK, USA, …), has the right, to further occupy, the, Himalayas, in Kashmir, Hindu Kush-Mountains, etc., etc. Why does Islam undermine the rights of others? Who gave the right to the Islam to invade India from Afghanistan over centuries(1000-1700 A.D.) and occupy permanently by force with no regard(in fact extermination of others in 1947 ) of the original inhabitants, with different, religion than, theirs, in Punjab and Sindh. Himalayas are not only the permanent abode of Hindu shrines e.g., Amar Nath, Kailash Nath(Mount Kailash), Mansrvover Lakes, Indus(River), Badri Nath, Gangotri, Aravati, etc. etc., they are also the regions intimately connected to the beginning of the Hindu and Buddhists Civilizations since thousands of years in India. The IOP in partnership with China(since 1947) has also encouraged China to occupy, independent nation, the Tibet(1954), and the surrounding regions, which in no way belongs, to, China. They(IOP and China) are both colluding, in the Himalayas, to occupy, as much, of Himalayas, as possible. This is, the basic source, of ‘Fresh Water River Systems(e.g., Indus River, Ravi River, Brahama Putra River, etc., etc.) for India. With India’s population growing fast upward from 1.2 billions, the natural rain water, system, will not be able to, provide, enough, fresh water, for the coming generations. The Fresh water River systems in the Himalayas are the only hope for the supply of the fresh water for the whole country in the future and the natural renewable energy sources. Not only that, the future clean energy systems(e.g. the hydroelectric, etc., ), will also, originate, in, the Himalayas, in the future. The ‘natural fresh water river systems’ in the Himalayas, are being slowly occupied, by the clever manipulations, of China, and, the IOP. Most of the rivers in India have become the dumping ground for the sewage water disposed from the houses in big cities and the industries. This is not going to change as India has no worthwhile cleaning system to process the sewage water before dumping into the rivers. If India does not wake up now up to the virtues of the fresh water and renewable clean energy resources, in the Himalayas, the IOP, and the China will be, too happy, to claim, as their own. In fact large portions of the Himalayas have already been incorporated in the IOP and the Chinese territories. The Western and he Islamic nations are only interested in the Chinese and the, IOP, expansions, but not in India’s, future survival. Indians are busy as usual in their own in-fights(the 28 ‘Personal-States’), even, today. They have no time to worry about the ‘Islamic-Chinese’ terror of expansionism in the ‘Himalayas’, which are, ‘The Indian Lands’ like the PSB(Punjab, Sindh and Bengal). Read all about it in the Book: “India Divided Religion ‘Then’ 1947(East-West) ‘Now’ What Languages(North-South)? ISBN:9781462639755)” by ‘Mohin Jadarro Harappa’/PublishAmerica, and buy at, http://www.publishamerica.net/

.

The mighty nations on earth USA, China, UK, Russia, France, etc., etc. must realize that Islam, has been, colonizing, earth, as, the ‘Islamic Only Lands’ for the ‘Islamic Only People’ for centuries. All the Islamic Nations, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Yemen, etc., etc., are basically for the Islamic people only. Not much population of other faiths or religions live in these nations, and, even if they do, they are under, constant, persecution, by, the Islamic people. Some of these ‘Islamic Only Nations’ (Iran, Pakistan, etc.) have been created, since the establishment, of, the, UNO, whose function, is, to create harmony among people of different, faiths, religions, color, creed , caste, etc., etc. This is not what has been happening since the second world war, thought, to avoid, further wars. War on terror is also a war. It is taking away world resources, and, peace, on earth. The creation of ‘Islamic Only Pakistan’(from the Punjab, Sindh, Bengal, lands of India, in 1947) at the cost of, the millions massacred, and, the millions becoming refugees, in India, is only, a recent, incidence, of, the 1947. The, Islam, in, Syria, Egypt, Iran, etc., etc., now crushing, its own people, is a testimony to the effect, of, the ‘Islamic Only Control’ of the ‘Islamic Only Lands’, once they have colonized them, over, centuries, India is a typical example which exemplifies the real intentions of Islam, after India, is left over, with 2/3rd of India(N-S), with terrorist attacks, so, common still, in India. So the intentions are very clear ‘Islam’, and, nobody else, including the Islamic, dissentions, on, this, earth. What is happening in Afghanistan now is nothing more than the accumulated effect of the centuries of Islamic Armies(from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Uzbekistan, …etc., etc., gathering there and invading India. The efforts are still on to colonize whole of the Kashmir as the ‘Islamic Only Kashmir’. The days of the rest of India also ending up as the ‘Islamic Only India’ are not very far. The efforts are already there to create anarchy, fear, and, intimidation, by terrorist, attacks. China has played its dual role of terror, by, occupation, of. ‘Tibet’. by force. in 1954. and, is, in partnership with Pakistan, in, the occupation of vast areas, of, Himalayas(e.g. Kashmir, Mount Kailash, Nepal, etc., etc., ) which have nothing to do with China. If America could understand all this there is no need for them to waste their financial and military resources in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Once the Western Armies will be out of Afghanistan the ‘Islamic Only Nations’ will still be only Islamic and nobody else. They invite Western Nations(Britain invited in 1700 A.D. in India by Islam) to do their dirty job of controlling their people( Islamic or otherwise) and once the job is over they are still where they started ‘The Islamic Only Nations’. Is that what for the World is wasting its resources, e.g., from ‘Islam-Abad’, to, ‘Islam-Indi-Abad’ There is no oil in Afghanistan or Pakistan. But it does not take an Einstein to understand that Afghanistan and Pakistan are the ‘Islamic Only Nations’ as are the oil nations of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, etc., etc. I wonder how can I make it clearer than this. I have said in English language which is well understood world wide. Saying in Tamil language will only hide the facts. Indians now are busy as usual in their own in-fights(14 to the 28 ‘Personal-States’, since 1947, more, will come, soon), even, today. They have no time to worry about the ‘Islamic-Chinese’ terror of expansionism in the ‘Himalayas’, which are, ‘The Indian Lands’ like the PSB(Punjab, Sindh and Bengal). Read all about it in the Book: “India Divided Religion ‘Then’ 1947(East-West) ‘Now’ What Languages(North-South)? ISBN:9781462639755)” by ‘Mohin Jadarro Harappa’/PublishAmerica, and buy at, http://www.publishamerica.net/

"If there's no great power dominating a continent it can't threaten the U.S."

Yes, that would be a good strategy, but what does fighting in Afghanistan for more than ten years have to do with preventing other great powers from dominating their continents?

Afghanistan really doesn't. It's justifiable on the grounds that they were allowing Al Qaeda to remain there and had the U.S government bothered to work more with the U.N and pressure Pakistan we might have gotten a better result* but it wasn't a matter of international power. I was referring more to China and Russia**. I'm not fully convinced by Mackinder's theories but either nation has potential power to dominate a portion of Eurasia. Of course I don't think China or Russia are really going to be that dangerous for at least another twenty years (probably longer) but if there is a way of making sure that they can't dominate their region at a relatively low cost I see no reason not to use it so long as the U.S doesn't get carried away into conflicts that aren't that important.

Incidentally just imagine the kind of security concerns the U.S might face if it didn't dominate North America. As things are the U.S only has two nations to worry about and neither is an enemy. That is a key advantage that Russia and China can only wish for.

*Though I'm skeptical of that considering the barely existent Afghan state for decades and the incredible corruption among many of the key actors.
** There really isn't another nation in East Asia that could dominate it for the foreseeable future and the rest of the nations that could conceivably dominate a region such as India, Germany, France and Brazil are democracies (and democracies rarely go to war with each other).

The mighty nations on earth USA, China, UK, Russia, France, etc., etc. must realize that Islam, has been, colonizing, earth, as, the ‘Islamic Only Lands’ for the ‘Islamic Only People’ for centuries. All the Islamic Nations, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Yemen, etc., etc., are basically for the Islamic people only. Not much population of other faiths or religions live in these nations, and, even if they do, they are under, constant, persecution, by, the Islamic people. Some of these ‘Islamic Only Nations’ (Iran, Pakistan, etc.) have been created, since the establishment, of, the, UNO, whose function, is, to create harmony among people of different, faiths, religions, color, creed , caste, etc., etc. This is not what has been happening since the second world war, thought, to avoid, further wars. War on terror is also a war. It is taking away world resources, and, peace, on earth. The creation of ‘Islamic Only Pakistan’(from the Punjab, Sindh, Bengal, lands of India, in 1947) at the cost of, the millions massacred, and, the millions becoming refugees, in India, is only, a recent, incidence, of, the 1947. The, Islam, in, Syria, Egypt, Iran, etc., etc., now crushing, its own people, is a testimony to the effect, of, the ‘Islamic Only Control’ of the ‘Islamic Only Lands’, once they have colonized them, over, centuries, India is a typical example which exemplifies the real intentions of Islam, after India, is left over, with 2/3rd of India(N-S), with terrorist attacks, so, common still, in India. So the intentions are very clear ‘Islam’, and, nobody else, including the Islamic, dissentions, on, this, earth. What is happening in Afghanistan now is nothing more than the accumulated effect of the centuries of Islamic Armies(from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Uzbekistan, …etc., etc., gathering there and invading India. The efforts are still on to colonize whole of the Kashmir as the ‘Islamic Only Kashmir’. The days of the rest of India also ending up as the ‘Islamic Only India’ are not very far. The efforts are already there to create anarchy, fear, and, intimidation, by terrorist, attacks. China has played its dual role of terror, by, occupation, of. ‘Tibet’. by force. in 1954. and, is, in partnership with Pakistan, in, the occupation of vast areas, of, Himalayas(e.g. Kashmir, Mount Kailash, Nepal, etc., etc., ) which have nothing to do with China. If America could understand all this there is no need for them to waste their financial and military resources in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Once the Western Armies will be out of Afghanistan the ‘Islamic Only Nations’ will still be only Islamic and nobody else. They invite Western Nations(Britain invited in 1700 A.D. in India by Islam) to do their dirty job of controlling their people( Islamic or otherwise) and once the job is over they are still where they started ‘The Islamic Only Nations’. Is that what for the World is wasting its resources, e.g., from ‘Islam-Abad’, to, ‘Islam-Indi-Abad’ There is no oil in Afghanistan or Pakistan. But it does not take an Einstein to understand that Afghanistan and Pakistan are the ‘Islamic Only Nations’ as are the oil nations of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, etc., etc. I wonder how can I make it clearer than this. I have said in English language which is well understood world wide. Saying in Tamil language will only hide the facts. Indians now are busy as usual in their own in-fights(14 to the 28 ‘Personal-States’, since 1947, more, will come, soon), even, today. They have no time to worry about the ‘Islamic-Chinese’ terror of expansionism in the ‘Himalayas’, which are, ‘The Indian Lands’ like the PSB(Punjab, Sindh and Bengal). Read all about it in the Book: “India Divided Religion ‘Then’ 1947(East-West) ‘Now’ What Languages(North-South)? ISBN:9781462639755)” by ‘Mohin Jadarro Harappa’/PublishAmerica, and buy at, http://www.publishamerica.net/

cause we have so much to lose. Of course, we know what history teaches us about fat and complacent people. We must be fat and complacent to be fearful, though that's not the only way one might be described as fearful

Democracy in India has been a family(Nehrus, Gandhis, etc., etc.) affair since its freedom from the British in1947. Since the then the ‘mighty class’ of Indians have manipulated India into 14 to 28 ‘Personal States’, while the British, created, 14, for them. They have no regard to the purpose of improving the plight of the ordinary, underprivileged and helpless people in India. There are many nations(‘Personal States’) within the nation now. They say the divisions are on the base of different languages(by legislation) which is a lie as there are ‘Personal States’ (e.g. the Haryana) which have no genuine independent language, just, might, is right, is their language. Why so many languages and so many States and why individual language is so important after all? All you need is a language which allows people in different parts of India to communicate and move efficiently and freely without prejudice. It is English language that does that job and not the Hindi. Don’t people matter? You are a human to survive first and ‘language person’ later. If English language is ‘a foreign language’ so is ‘Islamic Religion’, otherwise, there, wouldn’t, be, a, separate, ‘Islamic Only Pakistan’. India adapted Islam over centuries and lost one third of the country as ‘Islamic Only Pakistan’ in 1947. Are you planning 14-28.. nations in India. . for the future? Do you have any respect of an Indian as a human in India? One may say there are 55 States in America why not more in India. America is not divided like India on languages, religion, illiteracy, .. . It is one mighty nation. Nobody can attack America from anywhere in the world leave aside its neighbors. Does India has nationhood of that stature? You have to have a common goal to achieve something for your people. The neighbors China and Pakistan are in partnership since 1947 and have occupied many lands in the Himalayas, e.g. Kashmir, Tibet, etc., etc. India has no means to claim what is its own, because, it is divided, internally, as ever, not only morally(first religion now languages), but, also, militarily. India is not a one nation like America. The various resources in the country do not act in cohesion to develop India as one nation. The literacy level of an Indian in India is nowhere near a person in America. The fairness in law and order in India does not exist. One has to know one of the ‘mighty class of Indian leaders’ to get some where. The new younger generation has nothing to look forward to despite, their hard work, in, attaining, a reasonable level of literacy, education, and, training, etc. There are no projects to utilize the resources of the new emerging generations. The Tamils in SriLanka deserve equal rights with the rest of the SriLankans rather than being treated as third class citizens. Merit of an individual person must be respected towards building a nation, irrespective, of, religion or language. Islamic religious terror, was used, to, create ‘Islamic Only Nation of Pakistan’, out of India in 1947. Do you want to do the same on languages now in India? The China-Pakistan, partnership, as neighbors, to, India, is, already doing, and, will, continue in the future, to destabilize, India, by infiltration ,of terror, amongst, the people, of, India, and, it is so easy, for them, to do, it. Indians, are still busy, as usual, in their own in-fights(14 to the 28 ‘Personal-States’, since 1947, more, will come, soon), even, today. First have a nation and then distribute ‘rewards(booty)’ on languages, otherwise, you, will be left with nothing, very, soon. The Indian leaders have no time to worry about the ‘Islamic-Chinese’ terror of expansionism in the ‘Himalayas’, which are, ‘The Indian Lands’ like the PSB(Punjab, Sindhi and Bengal-called as the ‘Islamic Only Pakistan’ now). Read all about it in the Book: “India Divided Religion ‘Then’ 1947(East-West) ‘Now’ What Languages(North-South)? ISBN:9781462639755)” by ‘Mohin Jadarro Harappa’/PublishAmerica, and buy at, http://www.publishamerica.net/

America and so must India understand that it is the 'Islamic Way' to invite a foreign power when they start loosing 'Isalmic Grip' on their people or other people. In 1700 A.D. the Islamic Empire in India colllapsed but they did not yet finish their job of converting whole India into 'Islamic Only India'. They partially finished the job of 'Islamic Only Pakistan' in 1947 through th British. Once America finishes its job of wasting trillions of dollars in the ‘Islamic Only Pakistan-Afghanistn, the Islam will restart its business of, the unfinished job of 1947, converting the rest of India, into. the ‘Islamic Only India’. One must remember Afghanistan never could become a nation as Islamic Armies from Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Uzbekistan, etc., etc., used to assemble there, since 100 A.D., and attacked India, for centuries, to transform India into 'Islamic Only India'. In 1947 they claimed 1/3rd (E-W) of India as 'Islamic Only Pakistan'. So Pakistan is Afghanistan and Afghanistan is Pakistan. This is a catch 22 situation which one will you catch first. Iran the ‘Islamic Only Nation’ like Pakistan ‘ becoming, nuclear power, should, be, of little, concern, to the ‘Western Nations’, as Pakistan, already, is, a nuclear power. An Islamic(nuclear later) Power. Pakistan, was created, by the British, by carving out, 1/3rd(Punjab, Sindh and Bengal) of India, in 1947. It was created, as an ‘Islamic Only(later nuclear as well) Nation-the Pakistan’. This was with the approval of, the UNO, the stamping, authority. The UNO was used for creating a new nation the-‘Islamic Only-the Pakistan’, in 1947, yet, the UNO, is committed, to, no discrimination, among the people(millions massacred and million became refuges in India in 1947) on religious grounds. This ‘religious ritual’, was later, followed, by the Iran, and, declared itself, as the ‘Islamic Only Nation’, not very, long ago. Now, Iran, is trying, to be ‘(double) Islamic-Nuclear(trouble), as well. Should it be of any concern to the rest of the world?. Pakistan already is(double-trouble), and, was, approved, by, America, Britain, France, China, and the Russia( the security council). This expansion of the double ‘Nuclear-Islamic’ terror, from Pakistan to Iran, has now become, a worry, for the ‘Western Nations’. One should not forget that the ‘Western Armies’ are now assembled in ‘Afghanistan’ where the ‘Islamic Armies’ from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Mongolia(Genghis Khans-Chinese), Uzbekistan, etc. etc, once assembled(1000-1700 A.D.) and invaded India, over centuries, to, transform, India, into, Islamic Only Nation’. The Islam crumbled, in India, in 1700 A.D., and invited, the British, to finish the rest of the job. They did finish the job, in 1947, with a reward, to the Islam, the ‘Islamic Only -Pakistan’. The Western Armies are fighting war, on terror(Islam), by, assembling, in Afghanistan (Iraq, before, what for?). They are assembled, now, in Afghanistan, far away, from their homes, to safeguard, against, 9/11, that, it dose not happen again, in their own home. It, happened, in India, all right, but it was. 26/11. Is there any difference between the two? Is, India, a double, Islamic-Nuclear, trouble? Is the West using the Islam or the Islam using the West and what for? The Afghanistan, is the base, of terror. Do you have to make way for the Islam, ’or else’leave the earth? But ‘where to’, may be, to the Mars, as refugees, if, lucky enough. Indians are busy as usual in their own in-fights(the 14 to 28 ‘Personal-States’- more will follow), even, today. They have no time to worry about the ‘Islamic-Chinese’ terror of expansionism in the ‘Himalayas’, which are, ‘The Indian Lands’ like the PSB(Punjab, Sindh and Bengal). Read all about it in the Book: “India Divided Religion ‘Then’ 1947(East-West) ‘Now’ What Languages(North-South)? ISBN:9781462639755)” by ‘Mohin Jadarro Harappa’/PublishAmerica, and buy at, http://www.publishamerica.net/

. …

Walts blog comments were some of the worst on the site. There is a way to say you agree/disagree without being offensive. Walts articles would be hijacked; maybe he can comment and amend things like Tom Ricks does on his now.

The problem of threat inflation is nothing new. It would be more interesting if who talked about maybe why people think this way. You either believe America has responsibility around the world or it does not. If you believe we should control everything, then anything that threatens access denial is dangerous. China South China sea? They want to be a regional player so we are worried about China's rise. Its like if you walk into someone else's backyard and have a shotgun; and they have a shotgun. Well obviously the neighbor with the shotgun is a threat. (Nation States. NGO's require a different analogy.) Politically there is little difference between Republican FP ideas/ideals and democrats.

Unless you of course support Ron Paul... (Sorry couldn't resist. haha)

It costs 5-7 times more to kill a man than to lock him up for life. But, pathetic conservatives seem willing to spare no expense for a show, and death shows have long been popular with the religious, emotional set. Our inability to craft broad, (small c) conservative policies that are prudent fiscally and restrained is our undoing. We want to conflate all drug users with drug dealers, every murder as a capital murder, and every dissident as a terrorist.

The mighty nations on earth USA, China, UK, Russia, France, etc., etc. must realize that Islam, has been, colonizing, earth, as, the ‘Islamic Only Lands’ for the ‘Islamic Only People’ for centuries. All the Islamic Nations, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Yemen, etc., etc., are basically for the Islamic people only. Not much population of other faiths or religions live in these nations, and, even if they do, they are under, constant, persecution, by, the Islamic people. Some of these ‘Islamic Only Nations’ (Iran, Pakistan, etc.) have been created, since the establishment, of, the, UNO, whose function, is, to create harmony among people of different, faiths, religions, color, creed , caste, etc., etc. This is not what has been happening since the second world war, thought, to avoid, further wars. War on terror is also a war. It is taking away world resources, and, peace, on earth. The creation of ‘Islamic Only Pakistan’(from the Punjab, Sindh, Bengal, lands of India, in 1947) at the cost of, the millions massacred, and, the millions becoming refugees, in India, is only, a recent, incidence, of, the 1947. The, Islam, in, Syria, Egypt, Iran, etc., etc., now crushing, its own people, is a testimony to the effect, of, the ‘Islamic Only Control’ of the ‘Islamic Only Lands’, once they have colonized them, over, centuries, India is a typical example which exemplifies the real intentions of Islam, after India, is left over, with 2/3rd of India(N-S), with terrorist attacks, so, common still, in India. So the intentions are very clear ‘Islam’, and, nobody else, including the Islamic, dissentions, on, this, earth. What is happening in Afghanistan now is nothing more than the accumulated effect of the centuries of Islamic Armies(from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Uzbekistan, …etc., etc., gathering there and invading India. The efforts are still on to colonize whole of the Kashmir as the ‘Islamic Only Kashmir’. The days of the rest of India also ending up as the ‘Islamic Only India’ are not very far. The efforts are already there to create anarchy, fear, and, intimidation, by terrorist, attacks. China has played its dual role of terror, by, occupation, of. ‘Tibet’. by force. in 1954. and, is, in partnership with Pakistan, in, the occupation of vast areas, of, Himalayas(e.g. Kashmir, Mount Kailash, Nepal, etc., etc., ) which have nothing to do with China. If America could understand all this there is no need for them to waste their financial and military resources in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Once the Western Armies will be out of Afghanistan the ‘Islamic Only Nations’ will still be only Islamic and nobody else. They invite Western Nations(Britain invited in 1700 A.D. in India by Islam) to do their dirty job of controlling their people( Islamic or otherwise) and once the job is over they are still where they started ‘The Islamic Only Nations’. Is that what for the World is wasting its resources, e.g., from ‘Islam-Abad’, to, ‘Islam-Indi-Abad’ There is no oil in Afghanistan or Pakistan. But it does not take an Einstein to understand that Afghanistan and Pakistan are the ‘Islamic Only Nations’ as are the oil nations of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, etc., etc. I wonder how can I make it clearer than this. I have said in English language which is well understood world wide. Saying in Tamil language will only hide the facts. Indians now are busy as usual in their own in-fights(14 to the 28 ‘Personal-States’, since 1947, more, will come, soon), even, today. They have no time to worry about the ‘Islamic-Chinese’ terror of expansionism in the ‘Himalayas’, which are, ‘The Indian Lands’ like the PSB(Punjab, Sindh and Bengal). Read all about it in the Book: “India Divided Religion ‘Then’ 1947(East-West) ‘Now’ What Languages(North-South)? ISBN:9781462639755)” by ‘Mohin Jadarro Harappa’/PublishAmerica, and buy at, http://www.publishamerica.net/

who bring us our food, who built our housing, nor, will some calamity befall us and we all end up dead. There is no telos, no simple end to time--even nuclear war. Your thought experiment is akin to assuming that every bullet made was destined to find a skull to crack open.

OF course. I appreciate your separating the Israel lobby from the war lobby. There are many overlaps, and many in both camps, but they are different forces. We too often jump on one and sound either anti-gov't or Israel as we conflate more sins to one party than they deserve.

And I are into rogue travel. Nothing so adventurous as that even sounds, but just going to foreign (3rd world) countries, and getting in with the locals, and largely avoiding the tourist traps. You said you were never mistreated. But, I suspect that you're understating it (unless you are an oil, or other international contractor); Americans are treated as superstars. Everyone wants to meet you. It seems often you find most people will give you things rather than take advantage of you. But, there's always folks who want to take advantage, everywhere. If you're so disposed, and have some honest, critical words for the US gov't, you will be treated like a sage movie star. I'm quite anxious to travel again, and want to live abroad for a decade or so. This country will get worse before it gets better, and I can't see how leaving for a decade could be wrong. The developing world is rising so fast, while we are suffering an inevitable malaise.