o sung wu, I feel that you are putting words into my mouth. I have never ever said that I have loathing and abhorrence for the US.
Yes I Have abhorrence for a small group of people, who appear to have taken control of the US for their own benefit.
These are mostly the people who Eisenhower called the " military industrial complex".
Amongst them are the bankers who have taken over the finance industry and are controlling the government.
These people are the cause of the GFC with their fraudulent and corrupt methods.
I do feel that the bulk of the citizens in the US have allowed this to happen because they have been taken in by the propaganda telling them that they are going to be part of the "American dream" ,and should just go along with what is happening to get "their" share of the trough.
It will never happen of course but they have fallen for it. No I do not hate these people but rather feel sorry for them.

*If you feel so emotional about them, to a point of unmitigated hatred, why not take a more positive, overt role in bringing them down.*

I refute the above completely.

Yes I would like to see the neo Con group displaced and fully expect to see that happen one day when the US Empire self destructs. I will not have to do anything, even if I could.

Mac, you speak of the American republic as well as the American empire. Today the American empire has gone beyond national boundaries in the form of 'Globalization'. The dream of the republic is necessary to mask the objectives of the empire from the mass, those objectives with their consequences, truly exposed would be totally unpalatable to the vast majority.
The danger is economic competition for resources and markets from emerging economies, China, India and to a lesser extent Russia, this resource and market competition from the new economic powers must be pitted against the economic needs of 'Globalization', military conflict can be the only outcome, unless the new economies come on board and accept economic domination through 'globalization'. Small resource rich nations will have little choice as this power struggle develops. A nation like Australia will be eyed by all as a juicy plumb for the picking.

'afternoon to you, MAC & ROBERT Le PAGE...

I must apologise unreservedly for my (apparently) insensitive remarks that, inadvertently seem to have include you two. I offer no particular defence for my assertions, other than to say this Forum seems to have an abundance of 'US haters' ?

And to put it simply, I'll not have it ! I'll not lamely stand by and permit people to make all these often unfounded assertions, without at least adding my voice of support to all that's good about the country, it's people, and it's democracy and freedoms, virtues often absent in many other countries.

I've had dealings with the yanks. Initially, back in the sixties and later on the eighties. Firstly, the US Army, and later on, US Marshal Service, the FBI, and my last (official) exposure, the visit of President George Bush Senior to Australia. And that occasion was with the 'Presidential Protection Detail' of US Secret Service.

I have absolutely no illusion as to the many errors, mistakes, call it what you will, the various Administrations have made in Foreign Policy. What major power, has NOT erred ? The United States is (by default?) the world's policeman, for better or worse. Someone with the necessary muscle, has to do it ! If not the US, then who ? Russia ? The French ? What about China ?

I don't see any other powerful nation eager to 'step up to the plate' and do the job ? Seems, whenever the US tries to stop a war, some obscure conflict, national political corruption, or any event that incurrs loss of life of innocents. They, as a matter of course, are heavily criticized, often abused, even accused ! A case of damned if they do, and damned if the don't ?

Again, I apologise for (adversely) including you two, in my private 'rant'. I do get rather passionate, when I hear people running down any institution, without first acknowledging some of the positive outcomes, and benefits that they've achieved.

Do what "job", sung wu?

The US and the West in general are merely looking out for their own interests.

The reason Egypt erupted was that the ruling elite were in cahoots with the IMF and the World Bank...the general population were worse off after the intervention of those two "American/European" controlled institutions......this happens all over the globalised third world in exactly the same fashion.

I get what you're saying, but on the other hand, where does the US government venture to halt dictators or unrest when there is nothing in it for them or the defences on the opposing side are too great? - they don't bother.

o sung wu,

Thanks for the clarification.

Regardless of how much we might respect and admire American institutions, the country is, in the final analysis, a superpower pursuing its national interests in a world of competing nation states. I agree with Poirot, the Americans have been remarkably cynical and hypocritical in their "defence of democracy", too often they have preferred their "son-of-a-bitch" such as Mubarak, to democratic alternatives.

Paul 1405,

You are rather pessimistic and I agree up to a point, particularly Australia's precarious position--the public seem to be ignorant of what the term "Lucky Country" really means.

I don't have any objection to globalisation in principle, the problem is, of course, on whose terms.

Good evening to you; POIROT & MAC...

I believe in my next life, I'll pursue basket weaving rather than advancing my opinions in Forums similar to this ?

'Where the US doesn't have any material or strategic interest in some war ravaged Nation, situated somewhere in darkest Africa'. I can't, nor will I attempt to mount an arguement against an example similar to that, you've both described.

There's some countries so bereft of any sort of practical solution, with legions of intractable problems, not even a super power can possible structure any sort of peace and harmony. Might I cite the events in Somalia, where the capital Mogadishu, was completely controlled by various War Lords, a significent failure I suppose you'd say ? I've also heard from some, the yanks copped a real beating there ? I don't think so, some how.

Then another serious event, this time in Rwanda, where the US was completely out of it, where a more moderate Nation Canada, tried to carry out a settlement on behalf of the UN Security Council. Another complete disaster, this time gamely brokered by the brilliant Canadian, Lt. General Romeo Dallaire, who upon his return to Canada suffered a Nervous Breakdawn ?

Just because a Country is termed a 'super power' doesn't mean they are capable of doing, or bringing about 'super things' or solutions.

Please excuse me, my eyes get very tired when on the computer at this time of night.

So I'll bid you both a good night, if I may.

Kind regards...Sung wu.