I think part of the problem is that the U.S. is a very, very reluctant Imperialist country...we spend so much time pretending we're not that when we are doing clearly imperialistic things, everyone, on both sides of the aisles, stick their heads in the sand and pretends we're not.

We either are, or we aren't...being one and trying to act like we're not is clearly not working.

To really accomplish what we planned to do in Iraq and Afghanistan...remove the despots, install our own, and have everyone be cool with it takes decades, not weeks, or months...decades.

If we're going to continue the charade that we're not imperialistic, then we should stop acting like we are and get the hell out. If we're going to stay until the "job is done", whatever that means, then it would be useful to stop pretending what we are and what we're doing, acknowledge it, and then do it.

We want all the benefits of being an Empire without any of the effort required to do it, or the self-resentment of admitting it.

Fish on...

Todd