Why are we afraid of the "E" word?

I want to be a Viceroy.

 

I'm yet to see the wealth start rolling in that was a result of being an empire in the past. It's going to take a lot more than the possibility of Iraqi oil to make us an empire. And as for the base expansions to eastern Europe, those are taking the place of our large number of bases in Germany, as well as the movement of our forces in the UK and Italy. The change in the Pacific is most likely a result of pulling out of Japan and to a lesser extent, South Korea. Let me know when all these riches we've gained from exploited lands where our military has bases starts rolling in. Also let me know when we forcibly acquire a base in Europe or the Pacific, seeing as that's been the preferred manner of Empires of the past.

 

I've read some reviews of Niall Ferguson's newest book on the British Empire, and have caught him a couple times on TV. If nothing else, he's got an interesting point of view - that the idea of Empire in and of itself, is not necessarily a bad thing; the fact that we have absolutely no idea of what empire-building is about, and are thrusting ill-trained, half-hearted military forces in, without any sensible plan or personnel to administer this empire, is a very bad thing.

 

I absolutely agree with this. This is one liberal who likes the idea of empire -- but is very, very, very troubled about how we're using that power.

"With great power comes great responsibility." --Stan Lee

 

It's become quite common knowledge that the US pressure countries in doing (or not doing) all kinds of things. Usually that's enough.

Doesn't mean it's not that countries own stupid fault though.

 

Like it says in the article, it's a 21st century empire. The wealth isn't neccessarily for the people, or even the government. The ones who gain most are the rich at the top of the global corporations to which many governments, not just the US government, are now so entwined. If we take Iraq for example, the country was invaded/liberated (delete as to your point of view) by your ordinary soldier. But at the end of the day who stands to make the most out of it? The corporations who pick up the contracts for rebuilding infrastructure, extracting oil etc. devastated by both the ousted regime and coalition military and economic action.

How exactly is that their own fault? Pressure can only be applied if there is a threat of something averse happening if you don't carry out what is requested. US pressure on other coutries to do or not do it's bidding would typically be accompanied by threats to withdraw aid, scale back trade or outright trade sanctions if their requests are not carried out. There aren't many who could stand up to US threats of these kinds and therefore will buckle every time.

 

In your model, that would lead the price of said companies' stocks to rise dramatically, thus passing on the benefits of an empire to the investing public. Yes, the market's going up (despite what many pessimists have been saying over the past few months), but it's nothing that's a result of "empire-building." And as for your "who stands to make the most of it" question, would you not have serious problems if the people making the "most of it" were members of our military? A little too much Ghengis Khan, conquering army gets all the spoils of war type-stuff for me.

 

I can't believe that there hasn't been an effect on the stock market from the end of the war in Iraq. It maybe small and I'm in no way saying that the end of the war accounts for all the recent rise, but it's there. And it will continue to be there as further contracts for rebuilding in Iraq are signed and paid to various companies. In my model, as you rightly say, the benefits are passed on to the investing public. What you have to look at is who is "the investing public"? How many poor people have share portfolios? If you think about it for a minute, the wealth is going to the already rich who own most of the shares not the general public at large, so there's no reason why you would see the wealth being created. If a rich person buys another yacht or sticks another hundred grand in their bank account, are you going to take any notice? I don't think the military should benefit either, but a relatively successful war can't harm their chances of getting an increased budget next time around. They'll be telling everyone who will listen about how their weapons systems worked so well in Iraq and are worth further investment. Just because you can't see it, it doesn't mean that someone isn't making a tidy profit out of these enterprises.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against people earning good money and I have a small number of shares myself (which are in the toilet after recent performances over the past couple of years), so I stand to benefit too. I was just giving my take on your question of not being able to see the money coming in.

 

Because (like my country) they are to lowlife chickensh!t to say: phuck off and don't come back while it's really such an easy thing to do. Tell the world what they did to you and others will join you. Then the tables are turned. Risky? Yes... but the only correct course of action IMHO.

As someone once said it's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees. But my government feels differently about that. Apparently a lot do.

 

I absolutely agree with you. Ideally we could tell anyone to go to hell and damn the consequences. But don't forget that your political leaders will be looking out for their own interests. If they piss off a big power who then craps on them from a great height and affects your economy, they're not going to be voted in next time are they?

 

I think it is because of Star Wars. The Imperial Empire was really nasty and bad. Maybe if you just changed the word "Empire" into the words "Rebel" and "Alliance" ?

 

I'd sooner vote for someone who tells "anyone" to piss off, accept the consequences and then tells me why, how and what than for some spineless sh!t who makes a whore out of my country.

 

The Rebel Alliance were a bunch of terrorists!

 

That is an extremely well made point. I can't wait to see episode VII now. Forget the OJ trial - thsi will be huge !. Lando will probably roll out Johnny Cochran ....

 

What, you think the Empire gives alleged rebel combatants due process? They all get sent to the prison planet Gitmo, which is a lot like Rura Penthe, except really hot instead of really cold.

 

Probably the best quote from a quality film.

 

God's Own country/empire of freedom and Democracy.