Guam: The America that Americans forget
nytimes.com
Guam: The America that Americans forget
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Re: Guam: The America that Americans forget
#2Re: Guam: The America that Americans forget
#3[deleted]
Re: Guam: The America that Americans forget
#4Ah, yes, the island that could capsize, if we load it up with too much materiel, according to a particular US Senator...
Guam is like Guantanamo, or Diego Garcia. We're there only because they are of strategic importance for the post-war (WWII) projection of power and nothing more. Else all those little island bases would be quiet places like so many other small islands that dot the oceans.
Re: Guam: The America that Americans forget
#5Ah, yes, the island that could capsize, if we load it up with too much materiel, according to a particular US Senator... Guam is like Guantanamo, or Diego Garcia. We're there only because they are of strategic importance for the post-war (WWII) projection of power and nothing more. Else all those little island bases would be quiet places like so many other small islands that dot the oceans.
I don't understand why "only" and "and nothing more" are present in that sentence. You don't think strategic projection of power is important?
Re: Guam: The America that Americans forget
#6Sort of related, the list of Associated states is an interesting rabbit hole to read about.
Re: Guam: The America that Americans forget
#7Ah, yes, the island that could capsize, if we load it up with too much materiel, according to a particular US Senator... Guam is like Guantanamo, or Diego Garcia. We're there only because they are of strategic importance for the post-war (WWII) projection of power and nothing more. Else all those little island bases would be quiet places like so many other small islands that dot the oceans.
I don't understand why "only" and "and nothing more" are present in that sentence. You don't think strategic projection of power is important?
What about those islanders though? "Power projection" is important. But it's sad that its at the expense of human beings who live and work there.
Re: Guam: The America that Americans forget
#8Ah, yes, the island that could capsize, if we load it up with too much materiel, according to a particular US Senator... Guam is like Guantanamo, or Diego Garcia. We're there only because they are of strategic importance for the post-war (WWII) projection of power and nothing more. Else all those little island bases would be quiet places like so many other small islands that dot the oceans.
I don't understand why "only" and "and nothing more" are present in that sentence. You don't think strategic projection of power is important?
Sometimes you have to let countries duke it out themselves and settle their scores by themselves. I also think post Cold War, we're spending way too much money protecting others at US taxpayer expense. Let those countries defend themselves. Why do we have to be the world police and take all the blowback?
Re: Guam: The America that Americans forget
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't understand why "only" and "and nothing more" are present in that sentence. You don't think strategic projection of power is important?
Sometimes you have to let countries duke it out themselves and settle their scores by themselves. I also think post Cold War, we're spending way too much money protecting others at US taxpayer expense. Let those countries defend themselves. Why do we have to be the world police and take all the blowback?
Because we benefit disproportionately from world peace, uninterrupted shipping, and the world economy using the U.S. dollar as its reserve currency.
Re: Guam: The America that Americans forget
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't understand why "only" and "and nothing more" are present in that sentence. You don't think strategic projection of power is important?
Sometimes you have to let countries duke it out themselves and settle their scores by themselves. I also think post Cold War, we're spending way too much money protecting others at US taxpayer expense. Let those countries defend themselves. Why do we have to be the world police and take all the blowback?
> Why do we have to be the world police and take all the blowback?
Because that's what superpowers do if they want to keep their position as superpowers.
You can, for example, stop policing shipping lanes. But then can't complain once shipments start disappearing as other countries don't take the slack. There is less justification to keep warships near 'interesting' countries in that scenario too. You get to keep the military machine well oiled. And the list goes on.
The US is not doing this out of benevolence.