Quote Originally Posted by trewornan View Post
I managed to resist for a while but now I can't help saying something I know will be contentious:

I've got to point out that for all the US's vaunted superpower status, the military has managed to get their ass kicked with monotonous regularity in the last 50 years or so.

Begin flamefest . . .
I have to strongly disagree with this statement, The united States Military has never had it's ass kicked by any nation. The losses we have suffered were losses at the hands of our own politicians.
Any army will take a beating if their hands are tied by politicians.
The only time in my memory when our military was given free reign was in the first gulf war, It was expected to be a bloody long drawn out battle to get the Iraqis out of Kuwait, and they did it in a matter of hours.
If the politicians would get their heads out of their butts, and allow the military to run the war, it would be equally fast and bloody, but it would be over, and the speed of it would save lives in the long run.
Had we let the military loose in Vietnam, we would have won there too, but instead they were told to bomb rice patties and ignore the real targets, because we didn't want to piss off the enemy.

These code pink idiots are a menace to our society, so I have to hit on them... they are the loud mouthed minority, but our government is giving in to their pressure... as far as camping in trees in Berkley goes, I say cut the trees down, they will move.

and the flag burning is a symbolic attack on our country, I'm not really offended when some brainwashed arab does it, especially when said arab lights himself up in the process

I however feel that any one in America who chooses to make strong anti-american statements needs to get the hell out.
You're free to disagree with the government, you can hate Bush, or Hillary, but respect the freedom that countless american soldiers have died to give you, respect the flag that they died for.

That's what that flag stands for, the sacrifices made to keep it flying, that's why it's retired in a respectful manner.

Also you should be happy that you haven't seen The USA flex it's true might, It's something I fear we might see if we end up going to war with a nuclear armed Iran...
Of course we might get better mileage from irradiated Gasoline.
Should a terrorist nation attack us, the american people will call for blood in a manner never seen before. Iran is in the crosshairs because of their open support for insurgents, and their strong anti-american attitude. We are not the devil, but if they continue to support our enemies, they will eventually provoke us, and there will be no power on this earth that can protect them then.
I really fear a nuclear armed Iran, not because of what they might do with a bomb... because of how I believe we will retaliate, or how the Isralis will retaliate...