We're slow-motion occupying the ENTIRE Middle East, aren't we?

[reformist2]

[1-Old-Man]

1. Dam good Observation. K&R

[frazzled]

2. Where do you get that?

We are "occupying" Afghanistan only at present. And we will be fully out of there next year. Which of these other countries are we occupying? (Hint: your answer should include military presence, and some control over the governing of the country, not countries you merely think are allied with the US.)

[truebluegreen]

6. Here's a suggestion:

check out the location of our (possibly) 1000 military bases around the world before you make statements about occupation.

ETA: and no, we will NOT be "fully out of Afghanistan" next year.

[frazzled]

14. So we occupy Germany and Italy, too?

Having a military base does not = occupation. Occupation means you have power over the running of the country, not that you're leasing some land from them. I suppose you think having embassies equals occupation, too.

[truebluegreen]

20. OK, let's go there: why the F do we have bases in Germany and Italy

darn near 70 years after the end of WWII and more than 20 years after the end of the Cold War? How do our allies feel about our bases? Ask the Japanese, or the South Koreans. Why are we STILL there? Ask the Saudis if our bases there worked out well, for them or for us.

You may not remember the big tsunami in 2004...Indonesia initially refused assistance from the US Navy. Why? because once we are in, we never effing leave.

We throw our weight around on a global scale. How would you react if any of our allies decided to build bases on our soil, leased or otherwise. How would you react if they then exempted their soldiers from our laws. Why do you think we got our butts kicked out of Iraq?

We wanted to stay longer; they said no, in large part because of the immunity issue. We, and our influence, are feared, not beloved...unless some faction thinks they can use us to their own benefit.

Ask yourself: what is the point of all these bases? Whose interests are being furthered? Why are we paying for all this crap?

Safety? Security? Peace? Whose?

[reformist2]

23. Exactly. THIS is the reason we pay so much in taxes and see so little in return.

[BeyondGeography]

7. Maybe it's all happening in super slow mo

[Catherina]

3. Shhh, no one's supposed to notice. n/t

[reformist2]

12. LOL. Sadly, many still can't see the puzzle pieces coming together.

[truebluegreen]

4. That was the plan because that is where the oil is...

but it is not working out very well, and isn't going to improve.

[Avalux]

5. Yep. Project for a New American Century.

It seems even Obama must play along....

http://www.newamericancentury.org/

[polly7]

8. Interesting map. Here's another:

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[reformist2]

11. Your map is more informative. But one word comes to mind looking at it: INSANE.

[Wilms]

15. That map would make a great OP. n/t

[polly7]

19. Be my guest ...

I'm burnt out over all this warmongering and the lies, you can probably post a much more interesting OP, I don't have the energy for it anymore. It's been posted here quite a few times, always with at least one defending all those bases surrounding Iran as nothing more harmful or meaningful than visitor's information buildings outside a national park.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. In a word: Yes.

By hook or by crook, as my Grampa used to say. As was the plan from the beginning.

[woo me with science]

10. Only two countries left on the PNAC list.

The decision for war with Syria was made long ago.

[jwirr]

13. We are surrounding Iran. Do they have that much oil that we will spend all this money to get them

or are we just setting up Armageddon for the end?

[leftstreet]

17. Iran is THREATENING the US

[jwirr]

18. Thank you. Just what I was thinking.

[reformist2]

22. LOL, I've never seen that one before!

[larkrake]

16. we are failing to occupy slow-mo

and need to stop trying.

[Poll_Blind]

21. Yup. And on the menu long-term? A balkanized and more-controllable Russia.nt

PB

[Cali_Democrat]

24. No

The US has withdrawn from Iraq and is in the process of a drawdown in Afghanistan.

There are no plans to send ground troops into Syria.

Just the facts.