@msolga,
Quote:
But how about also discussing "muscle flexing" within past as well as present contexts?
Can you give us some past examples from history where powerful nations have continued with their "muscle flexing" on other countries when it clearly hasn't subjugated the weaker nations they have already targeted?
Something along on the lines of what has occurred in ... say, Afghanistan?
Here we have a powerful nation which is attempting to depart the scene following 10 years of futile "muscle flexing" along with its allies .... with the likelihood of its avowed enemy (the Taliban) taking over power of the country.
With a hefty financial commitment of the invading nations (including yours & my own) to continue to support a known thoroughly corrupt (Kazai) government after our departure.
Where are the historical precedents for a situation like this, Frank?
I appreciate Lustig’s response…and I appreciate the thrust of your question, Msolga.
I guess we could use Rome’s continuing attempts to subjugate the tribes of Britian…or even Rome’s continuing attempts to subjugate tribes near the Rhine…perhaps even Rome eventually leaving Gaul. They certainly are not 1 for 1 examples…but they show examples of powerful countries that still had problems in outlying areas continuing to flex muscle in other areas; and powerful nations leaving while enemies where moving back in.
Germany attacking the Soviet Union might be considered such an example.
But even if other examples were not available (and admittedly these few examples are suspect)…the fact is that history shows each powerful nation seems intent on pushing its weight around. The use of force over others seems to be the norm for powerful nations…and that was what I was saying. Alexander continued to "flex muscle"; Napoleon continued to "flex muscle"; certainly England, France, Spain, and Portugal continued to "flex muscle" whenever they could.
I despise that we are doing it, Msolga. I wish we were setting examples for how to conduct ourselves in peaceful, reasonable, intelligent, less confrontational ways. But it is very difficult for humans to do that with other humans…and damn near impossible for powerful countries to do it toward other countries.
Add to that the fact that we Americans seem to have perfected the art. We actually are suggesting that it is a responsibility of ours to police (in some way) the world.
I cannot imagine what it must be like as a non-American assessing what we are going under leader after leader...but truly, I do not see things changing appreciably in the near future.
On a side thought: I think the world has some responsibility to help see that bullies do not prevail. A consortium of nations is needed to see that excesses of people who gain power in places not run roughshod over citizens, just as individuals on a playground cannot allow bullies to rule over any of the weaker kids. Some stepping in and sorting out should be done. I just wish it were not us Americans...because we are doing way too much of it.
