is america losing its status as a superpower?

[Ostroeuropa]

It's not a blue water navy. It's functionally pointless in terms of defending europe and it's interest.

Do you actually know anything of what you're talking about?

We need a strategic power projection force. The alternative is to allow genocides and hostile expansion elsewhere in the globe.

And we have one.

Are you saying Italy has a blue water navy?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-water_navy

[Greater-London]

Do you people even know what superpower means? It's not about having just the biggest penis. It's also about being able to hit everyone with your big penis. Because if you're just sitting on your ass not doing anything with your big penis, you might as well be like the other guy who has a small penis.

Theres no need to be a patronizing douche. I never said the UK or Poland where a superpower, just that that the fact that China was involved in the Maylsian airways crash isn't relevant to who has superpower status.

[The Matthew Islands]

One of the major freeloaders is spain, which pays 0.85% to defence. Ireland pays 0.5.


basically, a lot of europe are freeloading and expecting the US and UK/France/Poland to pay for their defence. For that reason, I support an E.U army to force them to actually pay for their own defence.

Ireland has a population of like, 4 million and is IIRC part of the neutrality league or whatever.

Why should countries like Ireland, who have no interest in becoming some big super power have to spend more than it wants to on it's military? If Ireland wants to spend 0.5% for a military of 50,000 for a small country of 4 million, it can.

[Ostroeuropa]

One of the major freeloaders is spain, which pays 0.85% to defence. Ireland pays 0.5.


basically, a lot of europe are freeloading and expecting the US and UK/France/Poland to pay for their defence. For that reason, I support an E.U army to force them to actually pay for their own defence.

Ireland has a population of like, 4 million and is IIRC part of the neutrality league or whatever.

Why should countries like Ireland, who have no interest in becoming some big super power have to spend more than it wants to on it's military? If Ireland wants to spend 0.5% for a military of 50,000 for a small country of 4 million, it can.

Because they are freeloading from the security provided to them by the US/UK/France etc.
It's like some rich asshole refusing to pay his taxes for the policeforce because the police are already funded. Freeloading.

[Keyboard Warriors]

Do you actually know anything of what you're talking about?


And we have one.

Are you saying Italy has a blue water navy?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-water_navy

No. Are you saying the Italian navy actually has no use to Europe at all?

There's no point even asking that to be honest because, that's exactly what you said.

[Keyboard Warriors]

Ireland has a population of like, 4 million and is IIRC part of the neutrality league or whatever.

Why should countries like Ireland, who have no interest in becoming some big super power have to spend more than it wants to on it's military? If Ireland wants to spend 0.5% for a military of 50,000 for a small country of 4 million, it can.

Because they are freeloading from the security provided to them by the US/UK/France etc.
It's like some rich asshole refusing to pay his taxes for the policeforce because the police are already funded. Freeloading.

You do realise that France, the US and the UK are paying for much, much, much more than the security of Europe?

[Ostroeuropa]

Because they are freeloading from the security provided to them by the US/UK/France etc.
It's like some rich asshole refusing to pay his taxes for the policeforce because the police are already funded. Freeloading.

You do realise that France, the US and the UK are paying for much, much, much more than the security of Europe?

That's right. We're also paying for the security of those who are too poor to defend themselves.
Do you have a problem with that?
Or are those people too black/brown for you to care.

It's what we did for Europe back when it was in ruins. Europe recovered. Now we expect them to also pay their way.

[Nervium]

Yes, it's part of a plot by the Internationalist Garden Gnomes.

[The Matthew Islands]

Ireland has a population of like, 4 million and is IIRC part of the neutrality league or whatever.

Why should countries like Ireland, who have no interest in becoming some big super power have to spend more than it wants to on it's military? If Ireland wants to spend 0.5% for a military of 50,000 for a small country of 4 million, it can.

Because they are freeloading from the security provided to them by the US/UK/France etc.
It's like some rich asshole refusing to pay his taxes for the policeforce because the police are already funded. Freeloading.

It doesn't get protection from them, Ireland is neutral, it's not in NATO, it pays for its own defence.

[Blazedtown]

We are not losing our superpower status, and no we should not cut the military budget. If anything it needs to be expanded. Our strategic nuclear arsenal is aging, shrinking and needs updating. Our arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons has been cut to all but nothing, a huge mistake. We need to bring back updated versions of the Pershing II and GLCM, in addition to a wide range of other projects such as air launched ballistic missiles. Our bomber fleet needs replacing. We have B-52s that as much as I love them, are old enough to be flown by a pilot's dad, and grandpa. I'm not sure about the three generations flying the same plane, but its happened with father and son before. Since money is an issue, we should build new B-52s with off the shelf components, which saves a fortune on development costs since its a proven airframe.

[Ostroeuropa]

Because they are freeloading from the security provided to them by the US/UK/France etc.
It's like some rich asshole refusing to pay his taxes for the policeforce because the police are already funded. Freeloading.

It doesn't get protection from them, Ireland is neutral, it's not in NATO, it pays for its own defence.

Yes, it does get protection from them.
Are you deluded enough to think that if the USSR took over europe it would have left Ireland alone?
Or that the terrorists don't think Ireland is also a target?

It's some rich asshole who refuses to pay his taxes to fund fire brigades on the grounds that he bought a fire extinguisher.

[Keyboard Warriors]

You do realise that France, the US and the UK are paying for much, much, much more than the security of Europe?

That's right. We're also paying for the security of those who are too poor to defend themselves.

No you aren't. You're paying for the capability to influence world affairs. If the militaries of the west were genuinely about helping those too poor to defend themselves, they'd be deployed in most if not all African countries and vast swathes of Asia and South America right this minute.

Do you have a problem with that?

I have a problem with how you think the world works because the world doesn't work that way, to be blunt.

Or are those people too black/brown for you to care.

This was an utterly stupid remark and I certainly hope you're aware on how this reflects on you as a poster.

It's what we did for Europe back when it was in ruins. Europe recovered. Now we expect them to also pay their way.

And they do.

[The Scientific States]

No, America is not losing it's status as a superpower.

[Ostroeuropa]

That's right. We're also paying for the security of those who are too poor to defend themselves.

No you aren't. You're paying for the capability to influence world affairs. If the militaries of the west were genuinely about helping those too poor to defend themselves, they'd be deployed in most if not all African countries and vast swathes of Asia and South America right this minute.

Do you have a problem with that?

I have a problem with how you think the world works because the world doesn't work that way, to be blunt.

Or are those people too black/brown for you to care.

This was an utterly stupid remark and I certainly hope you're aware on how this reflects on you as a poster.

It's what we did for Europe back when it was in ruins. Europe recovered. Now we expect them to also pay their way.

And they do.

We can't deploy in those areas, because of the freeloaders.
This is as stupid as saying if the police were really about stopping crimes, they'd be stopping crimes, so I refuse to pay my taxes to fund the police. (Which would allow them to stop crimes.)

It isn't an utterly stupid remark. You apparently think it's fine to let those people not have any defense.

[Keyboard Warriors]

No you aren't. You're paying for the capability to influence world affairs. If the militaries of the west were genuinely about helping those too poor to defend themselves, they'd be deployed in most if not all African countries and vast swathes of Asia and South America right this minute.


I have a problem with how you think the world works because the world doesn't work that way, to be blunt.

This was an utterly stupid remark and I certainly hope you're aware on how this reflects on you as a poster.


And they do.

We can't deploy in those areas, because of the freeloaders.
This is as stupid as saying if the police were really about stopping crimes, they'd be stopping crimes, so I refuse to pay my taxes to fund the police. (Which would allow them to stop crimes.)

It isn't an utterly stupid remark. You apparently think it's fine to let those people not have any defense.

Really, if you're just going to keep railing about "freeloaders" and ignore the current scenarios which modern militaries are structured to respond to then I may as well just keep quoting the posts I've already made. But then again, if the best you have is "well you must hate niggers!" then I think we're done here.

[Darwinish Brentsylvania]

Other western countries should quit being freeloaders and pick up the tab.

The UK, france, and Poland are paying their way. The rest appear to be freeloading.

A united EU army would go some way to correcting this.

I think this too, the EU should have a united army.

[Ostroeuropa]

We can't deploy in those areas, because of the freeloaders.
This is as stupid as saying if the police were really about stopping crimes, they'd be stopping crimes, so I refuse to pay my taxes to fund the police. (Which would allow them to stop crimes.)

It isn't an utterly stupid remark. You apparently think it's fine to let those people not have any defense.

Really, if you're just going to keep railing about "freeloaders" and ignore the current scenarios which modern militaries are structured to respond to then I may as well just keep quoting the posts I've already made. But then again, if the best you have is "well you must hate niggers!" then I think we're done here.

You apparently think that it's ok for european militaries to not be structured to influence global affairs.
That amounts to letting genocides and such occur.
Because they aren't part of Europe. That really does amount to being callous/uncaring about people of a different color.

[Darwinish Brentsylvania]

No, America is not losing it's status as a superpower.

Agreed.

[Blazedtown]

We can't deploy in those areas, because of the freeloaders.
This is as stupid as saying if the police were really about stopping crimes, they'd be stopping crimes, so I refuse to pay my taxes to fund the police. (Which would allow them to stop crimes.)

It isn't an utterly stupid remark. You apparently think it's fine to let those people not have any defense.

Really, if you're just going to keep railing about "freeloaders" and ignore the current scenarios which modern militaries are structured to respond to then I may as well just keep quoting the posts I've already made. But then again, if the best you have is "well you must hate niggers!" then I think we're done here.

He is right about most of NATO being freeloaders. Out of 28 member states, only 5 meet the required 2% of GDP defense spending. America, Great Britain, France, Turkey and Greece.

[Canaore]

No, other nations are arguably catching up. Nonethless, America has lost a great deal of power and influence after 2001, and the 2007-8 crisis didn't help us. As Mitt Romney said, it's clear that nations don't respect or admire America on the same scale they used to. However, we have more important things to worry about: like fixing our economy and increasing the recovery's pace. As soon as we get that done, we should start worrying about increasing our influence on the world stage.

[Blazedtown]

No, other nations are arguably catching up. Nonethless, America has lost a great deal of power and influence after 2001, and the 2007-8 crisis didn't help us. As Mitt Romney said, it's clear that nations don't respect or admire America on the same scale they used to. However, we have more important things to worry about: like fixing our economy and increasing the recovery's pace. As soon as we get that done, we should start worrying about increasing our influence on the world stage.

Electing Romney would have been a step in the wrong direction. Obama is just Bush with make up, but Romney would've been a disaster.

[Canaore]

Electing Romney would have been a step in the wrong direction.

Probably. Yet I mentioned him because he seems to have the right idea on the issue.

Obama is just Bush with make up.

Obama is widely different from Bush.

[Keyboard Warriors]

Really, if you're just going to keep railing about "freeloaders" and ignore the current scenarios which modern militaries are structured to respond to then I may as well just keep quoting the posts I've already made. But then again, if the best you have is "well you must hate niggers!" then I think we're done here.

He is right about most of NATO being freeloaders. Out of 28 member states, only 5 meet the required 2% of GDP defense spending. America, Great Britain, France, Turkey and Greece.

It doesn't matter though, because that 2% recommendation was created during the Cold War and currently NATO has no serious threats at all to respond to. Really, provided each member country has a standing force which can adequately assist in the defense of the organization, NATO should be satisfied in this day and age. Provided EU nations can contribute to humanitarian missions and assist in multinational missions where required, people should also be satisfied. Italy or Spain obtaining a blue water navy won't mean the UK or France will shrink their own capability as a result.

[Canaore]

Well to be fair Malaysia is quite near to China... I don't know if the Poles have any naval bases outside Europe I doubt it. I don't know if Britain has any in the South East of Asia but I doubt it too.

That logic means that if a ferry sinks in the English Channel then China definitely isn't a superpower if it didn't help the salvage mission.

That is the point. That is exactly the point of a superpower. The U.S can deploy anywhere at a moment's notice.

Do you people even know what superpower means? It's not about having just the biggest penis. It's also about being able to hit everyone with your big penis. Because if you're just sitting on your ass not doing anything with your big penis, you might as well be like the other guy who has a small penis.

I've got to say, that's a great analogy.

[Shilya]

Is the US still a superpower? Yes, very much so.

Is it in decline? Compared to when?
The US got a ridicolous power push after Russia collapsed. Now Russia, China and the EU are trying to fill the remainder of the power vacuum again. That might cost the US part of its newgained superpowerness again.

Will the US stay a superpower? Odds are yes.