This is a nice article for certain people who like to cry about how we spend more of our GDP on our military than on foreign aid (every though in hard dollars we give more than any other country on earth.)
Posted by Skywalker at January 6, 2005 09:08 AM | TrackBackYou'll find a documented reply here
http://www.roubiniglobal.com/setser/archives/2005/01/is_the_us_a_gen.html
You have to compare what is of comparable size. EUrope gives more, much more.
It sure spends less on the military. But then, is that so bad ?
On the other hand, it borrows much less from the rest of the world and acts much more to protect the future of the earth...
The problem is not about who's got the biggest ... whatever the biggest is.
The problem is how could we get along better.
I think everyone can see the US navy helping. And that's good. Acts speak by themselves.
I mean that really is great. Everybody can see it on TV. It's there.
On the other hand, everyone can see that the US like to do it alone, their way, when they decide so and so on. Well, that's OK, it's their ships, their helicopters and they have the means to do it alone.
Meanwhile others work together. They have to anyway.
But I think it does not create some kind of seperate because unequal feelings. And that's not good.
I may be wrong.
I think and hope there s something between complete autonomy and subordination.
Things will be perfect for instance if their could be a UN relief force in which US, europe, Asia would all participate under one single command.
Why does the UN exists ? so that some coordination can be found WITHOUT any country taking the lead.
Posted by: DF at January 6, 2005 10:01 AMYou know, I would beat my head against the wall for the comments that were made by mr. egeland, Carter and Clinton but it's not worth it to me to bring harm to myself over such idiocy. Besides, they're the ones who have to live with their own stupidity every day so I'll leave *them* to deal with it.
I think its funny how DF talks how great Europe is and how evil the U.S.is. I am not naive to think that the U.S. does not have its own agenda and wants to control stuff, but for DF to think that Europe is all holy and does everything for the good of mankind is ridiculous.
The question of why the U.N. exists is a good one. When you find a reason let me know. The U.N. has proven to be very ineffective in most issues. It is just a podieum for self-rightous windbags to speak. I being a taxpaying citizen would rather my country dictate its policy (in war, aide and all issues) than the U.N. (who is not accountable to anyone). I for one am proud of the good, America does for this world.
Well said 1029fd.
the UN is worthless. You can count on one hand the number of things that it has done successfully. Its failures are countless.
In fact the UN is running about a 90% failure percentage.
Why do we need an organization who is corrupt, cant get anything done, and sucks the money right out of everyones pockets???
Notice the US did not give any relief money to the UN. Thats no accident.
Posted by: cwilli at January 7, 2005 09:42 AMWho said Europe is all holy ?
If Europe was all holy I too would advocate the end of UNO.
I'm for a world government, world army and world elections.
IOW, DF, you're for making tyranny easier.
Posted by: skywalker at January 17, 2005 11:07 AM