Which country is the most dangerous to US?

[serryjw]

Personally, I think N.Korea and Iran can be contained. I worry about Pakistan...and you?

[Dr.Phool]

1. Other - Washington D.C.

Some really scary shit happening there.

[eleny]

4. Agreed - we've become our own worst enemy

[Chemical Bill]

26. What they said. n/t

[damntexdem]

31. Yes, clearly other:

the United States under Dubya.

[mia]

57. Agree.

Our current government is the biggest threat to the United States.

[pooja]

2. The US is the most threatening... if we got rid of Bush Co. we would

have much more stability throughout the world.

[LoKnLoD]

3. AmeriKa - home of the Neocons

with their allies the United States of Dumbfuckistan.

[spindrifter]

5. Bushistan

[Renew Deal]

6. Iran

For 1 big reason. We have troops in Iraq. Iran has been actively at war with the US for many years. If you read Richard Clarke's first book you will learn about this. Iran actively works against US interests world wide. Thomas Ricks new book Fiasco also talks about how Iran had a plan for phase 4 in Iraq and the US didn't. Iran has friends like Hezbollah that can stir shit up.

North Korea has missiles, but no friends. They can do damage, but cannot cause us any real problems other than death and destruction. What makes NK #2 is that I don;t think they have the balls to attack the US directly. Iran can cause serious problems for our troops in Iraq.

Pakistan can be dangerous with a change in leadership, but not with Musharraf.

[rumpel]

7. Other : itself - n/t

[TrogL]

8. Canada

It's a role model for America to follow (California is trying to adopt Canadian-style health care reforms) and pointedly demonstrates the United States' utter failure to take care of its own citizens.

Blame Canada.

[Renew Deal]

9. We must stop those swarthy canadians from crossing our borders

And taking jobs in the NHL.

[Vinca]

28. You beat me to it. Canada, of course.

The nearest civilized country to emigrate to.

[Monk06]

43. Interesting point. Canada has in spite of RW disinformation one

of the best universal single payer health care
systems. We do not have "free" healthcare and
the system is not bankrupt or failing in spite
of what RWer's claim.

Another important point comparing California
to national economies, California ranks number
10 while Canada ranks 12th.

The population of California and Canada is
roughly the same but 100% of Canadians have
access to affordable health care through
the Canada Health Act.

In California 1 in 5 people are unensured
with no access to affordable health care.

More stats below:

Health Care costs US and California compared to Canada by GDP




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_and_American_health_care_systems_compared

In 2001 the United States spent in total 13.6% of its annual GDP on health care. In Canada only 9.5% of the GDP was spent on health care. This difference is a relatively recent development. In 1971 the nations were much closer with Canada spending 7.1% of GDP on health while the U.S. spent 7.6%. Most observers take these numbers to mean that the Canadian health care system is substantially more cost effective than the American.

Also

http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml

National Health Care Spending

* In 2004, health care spending in the United States reached $1.9 trillion, and was projected to reach $2.9 trillion in 2009

* Health care spending is 4.3 times the amount spent on national defense

* In 2004, the United States spent 16 percent of its gross domestic
product (GDP) on health care. It is projected that the percentage will reach 20 percent in the next decade

* Although nearly 46 million Americans are uninsured, the United States spends more on health care than other industrialized nations, and those countries provide health insurance to all their citizens.

* Health care spending accounted for 10.9 percent of the GDP in Switzerland, 10.7 percent in Germany, 9.7 percent in Canada and 9.5 percent in France, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

California vs Canada

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_California


The World Factbook

According to The World Factbook published by the CIA, if California were an independent nation, it would have had the tenth largest economy in the world<9>.

This assumes that California's gross state product is $1.55 trillion.

California Legislative Analyst's Office

According to the California Legislative Analyst's Office, if California were an independent nation, it would have had the sixth largest economy in the world<10>.

California Department of Finance

According to the California Department of Finance, if California were an independent nation, it would have had the seventh largest economy in the world<11>.

The rankings are:<12>

1. the combined United States
2. China
3. Japan
4. India
5. Germany
6. the United Kingdom
7. France
8. Italy
9. Russia
10. California
11. Brazil
12. Canada
13. Mexico
14. Spain
15. South Korea

(2005 estimates)

[fuzzyball]

44. WOW I did not know India had bigger economy than Germany, UK, France

Italy & Russia, already. I read somewhere that India will have
a bigger economy than the United States in 35 years based on
current expansion rates. When I left India as a teenager many
years ago it was run under a socialistic model and it was poor.
Now the Indians have finally recoglized and realized that following
a capitalistic model does indeed bring on prosperity.

[Monk06]

46. Bollywood is the second largest film industy behind Hollwood.

Indian ticket prices are $USD 6.44 average which
gives you a fair idea of the size of the market.

India's growth rate is just behind China at about
8.5% annual.

[Harry Monroe]

10. Our own...

..."we have met the enemy and he is us" Pogo

Fascism: "A system of government that exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with belligerent nationalism."
(American Heritage Dictionary, 1983)

[Poll_Blind]

11. I believe our inability to really pursue peace in the Middle East via...

...Israel is going to cause us more trouble than any of the countries listed. I don't think that Israel, itself, poses a threat to us, of course, in the same way that those countries do. But we do not exert any pressure on Israel to work with her neighbors. The other side of this coin is that Chinese and Russian influence, to a lesser extent, does not necessarily put pressure on their lackeys either. Peace in the Middle East begins with pressure from both sides- not Israel and her neighbors but the sugar-daddies for Israel and her neighbors: The United States, China & Russia. Either we continue to tear up the region with proxy wars so that we, bigger nations, can continue to gobble up the oil during the confusion or we implement a new model and reap the benefits of Peace.

  These are platitudes. The reality on the ground is much, much more complex. But still, I see the U.S. not trying to shape the region at all, continually throwing money and high-tech weapons at a conservative Israeli government who sees military solutions to very subtle problems. If Israel is ever destroyed via some nuclear attack or whathaveyou part of that is going to be on our heads as a nation which helped their governments, with some notable exceptions but primarily, see things only in terms of military solutions.

  And really, then, if you boil it down...we The United States are our most dangerous enemy.

PB

[serryjw]

21. It's all about

resources. Energy and water will be the what separates the geo-political map for decades to come, not ideology. That will be what is needed to get what each country needs. Sharing never occured to anyone. :sarcasm:

[whiterabbit76]

12. The US is it's own worst enemy...

There is no doubt that there is no country as dangerous to the US as the US is to itself. It is true that America will never be destroyed from without... but rather from within.

[newyawker99]

27. Hi whiterabbit76!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Solon]

13. Only one nation in the world needs to be contained, and that is the U.S.

The idea that we can contain nations ourselves, with no regard for international law, etc. is a big reason why we are a big fat target with a sign that says "Bomb ME!" taped on our backs.

[texanshatingbush]

14. Other: China

Developing into economic superpower. Holds much of our national debt. Keeps workers working for pennies, while profits go to Communist Party/government to build huge army. Workers will remain shackled for a long time because govt sees to it that they do not know what the rest of the world is like--so they can't start agitating for freedoms, economic progress for the individual, easier lifestyle, etc (global software companies are complicit in this by developing programs which limit internet access to Chinese citizens).

Bulwark against Chinese dominance? Bird flu epidemic in China. Chinese peasants take arms against Party to spread economic wealth to all. What else might cripple the tiger?

[Rockholm]

36. Agreed, China.

[TheFarseer]

63. China no doubt

If this country ever goes down, it won't be because of a few wackos with box cutters trying to sneak on an airplane.

[laststeamtrain]

15. Stupidlandia: a borderless state of mind...

I'm thinking of some of the Malloy threads...
As Kevin McCarthy said at the end of Invasion of the Body Snatchers: "They're here already!"

[windbreeze]

16. We are the most dangerous to ourselves...

and I think the last 6 years make that statement pretty self explanatory...
windbreeze

[Karenina]

18. Indeed.

[SutaUvaca]

17. Our own, of course.

The U.S. is currently a runaway train with a full coal car of greed, deceit and warprofiteering.

[abluelady]

19. Right Now We are Our Own Worst Enemy. n/t

[question everything]

20. Jihadists

It is easy to blame Israel for all the trouble in the middle east. The reality is that religious extreme takes place in too many countries - this one included - and for them, using violence following the word of "god" is quite acceptable.

Too many try to find excuses for the recent threat to blow aircraft with liquid explosives. But these were second and third generation Pakistanis who were well off. But they want the glory of Islam from the first Millennium. I am not trying to parrot Bush and Rumsfeld that they "hate us for who we are" but according to their own comments - they dislike pluralistic societies, they dislike "scantily clad" women, they want to live under theorcracies... in England??

The existence of Israel, even the war in Iraq, are just very convenient excuses for them and the sad part is that too many liberals around the world and on DU swallow this.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

24. I'm sure glad there's no formal country called "jihadistan!"

:hi:

[question everything]

32. And this is why they are dangerous

A country does have to think of the consequences of its action. The rulers may annihilate parts of the population with relish, but otherwise realize that they cannot destroy their own country by their actions.

Country-less tribes, insurgents, guerrillas - choose your term - really don't care. As a matter of fact, they rely on reactions by the countries they attack to recruit more people.

In general, extremists of all stripes don't care. This is why the ones opposing abortion don't care if pregnant girls and women die as a result of a back alley abortion. Yes, a bit stretching, I know, but when people claim that they get their marching order from "god" - whoever this god is - they really do not care about killing and injuring the "godless."

[liberal N proud]

22. America

[Wickerman]

23. Crawfordistan

Home to that renowned jihadist KKKarl Rove and his minion GWBush**.

[zann725]

25. The U.S. Powers-that-Be themselves.

So close, you almost forget...

[Totally Committed]

29. Other.

Answer: The Red parts of THIS country.

TC

[Arkansas Granny]

30. Other. The United State of America is most dangerous to the US.

[GreenTea]

33. Costa Rica!

American can only own property for 99 years!!!

[LaPera]

34. Why would ANYONE say Iran? Because the liar Bush says so...

And his republican owned media - CNN Fox MSNBC ABC CBS NBC & CBN all huge republican donors and republican CEO and Boards!

[leftofthedial]

35. Texas

[greendog]

37. Corporotakristan

~

[Nightflurry]

38. Switzerland!

Switzerland because that's where the aliens are waiting for their takeover.

They stay out of human conflicts.

They have advanced timekeeping technology.

They highly value privacy.

They have the best chocolate in the world.

They have GOT to be the aliens.


In all seriousness I really don't know which country would be the most dangerous.

[theanarch]

39. Jesusland...n/t

[GeorgeGist]

40. "We have met the enemy... and he is us"

[serryjw]

42. Presidential Oaths of Office

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Is he doing his job? Yes, we know the enemy.

[MasonJar]

41. We are our own worst enemy, thanks to the Stump in the WH.

[fuzzyball]

45. Pakistan is without doubt the most dangerous for these reasons---->

90% of Pakistan's population is anti-US. Once the dictator
gen Musharraf is gone, islamic fundies are mostly likely
will be in control.

Pakistan is the only islamic country to actuall possess nukes
already. Heaven forbid when these nukes fall in the control of
islamic fundies.

Pakistan is the country where Taliban was conceived, nurtured
and financed, in Afghanistan. Osama Bin Laden was a honored guest
of Taliban regime.

Pakistan has the largest number of madrassas, the religious schools
where islamic fundamentalism is taught.

Almost every known terrorist at one time or another visited Pakistan
for training, indoctrination and financial support.

[Monk06]

49. Not to mention that Abdul Qadeer Khan the father of nuclear Pakistan..

helped North Korea go nuclear and yet Musharraf
won't even allow US intelligence to interview
him.

There is some serious dirt there. My theory is
that the US knew Pakistan was providing nuke
technology to North Korea and the turned a blind
eye.

My guess is that the US wanted NK to be part of
the axis of evil and were happy to see NK go
nuclear so they would have an exuse to go after
Kim Jong Il

[serryjw]

51. Agreed

This is why total worldwide disarmament is neccessary
quote.....
The main agent of proliferation of nuclear weapons technology to Washington's enemies was Abdul Qadeer Khan, the chief atomic scientist in Pakistan, one of American's most important allies in the so-called war on terrorism.

Khan had set up what an official of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would later call the "Wal-Mart of private sector proliferation" that provided all the fixings for making nuclear weapons to Libya, Iran and perhaps North Korea.

It is largely as a result of tracking the Khan network that the international community has become alarmed at Iran's nuclear development project. Tehran's protestations that it is only for peaceful, power- generation purposes doesn't ring true in the context of what Khan's network provided the Iranians.
end quote.......

I'm sure this is what Valerie was working on and * and CO didn't want to stop it.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/columnists/story.html?id=328861ae-88b1-46f7-b14c-89f7fbd78239

[Monk06]

55. Wow the Vancouver Sun. It seems like they hired a legitimate columnist in

Jonathan Manthorpe. There is hope yet.

[serryjw]

50. 100% agree

That's why posted. They have tried to assassinate Musharoff 3X. If they accomplish it we are in deep trouble. Iran, IMHO, is a lot more sane than anyone in Pakistan.

[NJ Democrats]

47. China

They have agrowning encomony, many jobs, and a huge army.

[fuzzyball]

53. China has no religious extremism....the most dangerous dogma

The more prosperous China (or any other country for that matter) becomes,
the less dangerous they become because they then have a lot more to lose
in a war. No country in the entire history of the world has ever started
a war without provocation who was living in prosperity.

[skids]

56. China also has...

Horrible unemployment, daily environmental catastrophies, and a host of other problems. I wouldn't buy into the image of a plump satiated Chinese population so easily.

[fuzzyball]

61. I never said they did....what I was responding to is...

the post which said China is dangerous because they have more
jobs and more army. China does have about 100 times more jobs
in manufacturing industry than they did 25 years ago. China also
has a heckuva lot more money from selling all those goods they now
manufacture...their foreign reserves are perhaps 500 TIMES larger
than before the capitalism experiment began.

But as large as China's population is, you are right, they still have
a huge number of adults unemployed or under employed. China has 6 times
the adults as United States.

My point is, the more prosperous China becomes, the less likely they
are to initiate hostilities. N. Korea OTOH can not feed its people,
has miniscule manufacturing base compared to S. Korea which is democratic
and capitalistic. Therefore N. Korea is much more dangerous than China.

[welshTerrier2]

48. Dumbfuckistan ... map enclosed ...

[serryjw]

52. Doesn't it scare you how many

people live in Dumbfuckistan?

[HughBeaumont]

65. I live in the BLUE section of the Dumbfuckistan county of Ohio.

If only that red can be lowered a little in that area. Cuyahoga/Lorain/Mahoning/Trumbull are deep blue counties. Can't lump the SouthWORST of our state with us.

[Catchawave]

54. Other: Virginia

If Sen. George Allen (R-Macaca) is re-elected, we're DOOMED. Trust me :cry:

[methinks2]

58. Texas

for the obvious reasons.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

59. Other.

Americans who are scared of bumps in the night.

[Zorra]

60. Bu*h and the republicans are destroying America faster than any terrorist

organization could ever dream of.

[leesa]

62. We are our worst enemy by far. No contest.

[AZBlue]

64. Yeah, I get the talk about us being our own worst enemy, but

I believe the OP meant "dangerous" in a literal sense. As in, attacking and/or annihilating us. Iran would be my vote there. Thanks to Bush, we have a country building nukes with every intention of using them against us.