[quote=briansd1]Allan and Aecetia, aren’t “true” conservatives supposed to stay out of nation building and interfering in the affairs of other countries?
Isn’t the Federal government supposed to stay out of the states’ business?
Isn’t it not our job to be the world’s policeman?
I believe that spreading democracy and freedom and advancing human rights around the world is a progressive rather than conservative concept.[/quote]
Brian: Here’s something for you to consider: In 1938, the Czechoslovakians had one of Europe’s strongest and best trained militaries. It is entirely possible, had Germany invaded in 1938, that Germany would have been defeated. At a minimum, the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe (German army and air force) would have been badly mauled and, most likely, either unprepared or unwilling to invade Poland in 1939. However, Britain and France acceded to German pressure and surrendered Czechoslovakia to Hitler without a shot being fired.
In 1940, prior to Germany invading, France enjoyed both qualitative and quantitative superiority of arms over Germany. However, German soldiers and officers displayed greater elan, aggressiveness and initiative than their French (and British) opponents and thus prevailed, entailing the fall of France.
The point? That none of what is going on with Russia at present has dick to do with nation building and if the French or British had displayed even one nut (let alone both balls) in the face of German aggression in either 1938 or 1940, we could have possibly avoided what Winston Churchill referred to as the “unnecessary war” (WWII); a war that cost in excess of 50MM lives.
So, rather than bandy semantics with you, I’ll refer to the eminent George Santayana and his quote: Those that don’t remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
Yeah, I would do a little “nation building” or “world policing (America, fuck yeah!)” if it would spare 50MM lives. I’d even tolerate being called a progressive in the bargain.
