Quote from: Solar on August 30, 2012, 05:01:24 PM
True, but we did gut his power and any succeeding Emperor to follow.
Compare that to Iraq.

The Japanese model probably just sort of expired. By the 1980s, there was little reason to extend or maintain it. Hirohito had become something of an embarrassment, a connection to Japan's "bad old days." Yeah, he was a nice guy and all, but he was also the Japanese emperor when Japanese soldiers were kidnapping Korean teenagers for service as concubines in Jap army camps all over Southeast Asia."

I'm honestly not sure what we accomplished in Iraq, other than to remove a clearly toxic regime and a despotic murdering tyrant -- Saddam Hussein, who I think is a distant cousin, perhaps removed a time or two, of our current Dear Leader. (It's the family name that points to the connection...)

Quote from: Solar on August 26, 2012, 08:29:25 AM
I ask this because since WWII, we seem to have taken a "Morally Better Than The Enemy" approach where destruction is involved.

I wish that was what you would have taken. From my perspective, you acted more immoral in Vietnam than you did in WW2, and as a German who grew up with Hollywood I don't think that's what America should be doing.

On the other hand, I'm not sure if those stories my grandma told me are true. Stories about American and German soldiers stopping to kill each other in December of '43 (I guess) and singing some Christmas song that has the same tune in America and Germany.

(Not to mention Americans giving away chocolate and cigarettes after the war, something that seems to have made a very positive impression on people here in Germany back then. At least my grandmas first memory of ever seeing a black person involves that kind of thing happening.)

Quote from: Solar on August 26, 2012, 08:29:25 AM
Lets look at war over the millenia, it has always been about complete domination, conquer, spoils go to the winner, win at all costs.
Granted, Hitler was exterminating POWs, but it was still inline with battles in history where killing your enemy was at the top of the list.

Is this how you want the world to be? In times of globalization and nuclear bombs?

Quote from: Solar on August 26, 2012, 08:29:25 AM
But we seem to have forgotten that going to war is about survival, not that of the enemy, they are supposed to be expendable, but our own best interests seem to have been put under the guidelines of PCism..
It seems that we have placed all life over our own when it comes to fighting the enemy, "don't kill that group of terrorists, there might be an innocent among them."

You're completely under-estimating the power of the values America is supposed to spread. Also I think you're being a bit disgusting here, sorry.

Quote from: Solar on August 26, 2012, 08:29:25 AM
I think of how the extremists are taking over Egypt, like a cancer spreading, will we do what needs to be done when the time comes, or will we try and fight a protracted war protecting the innocent, one where the enemy will win through attrition?

Just tossing it out for discussion....

If you want to take 20th century war stuff to good use, study how the Nazis pulled their propaganda off here in Germany and put that to a better use to spread the American Way. I'm serious.

Quote from: Solar on August 28, 2012, 02:34:27 PM
Look at the treasure Nazi Germany looted from France and Italy, then compare it to Iraq, where we spent billions rebuilding the country and asked for nothing in return.

Wow, you're comparing 21st century America to Nazi Germany. Now I'm really disgusted.

Quote from: Foreigner on August 30, 2012, 07:36:24 PM
I wish that was what you would have taken. From my perspective, you acted more immoral in Vietnam than you did in WW2, and as a German who grew up with Hollywood I don't think that's what America should be doing.

As an American that actual fought in Vietnam, you obviously haven't got a clue as to what was actually happening there. Or what happened afterward. So perhaps you should keep your uninformed opinions to yourself.

QuoteOn the other hand, I'm not sure if those stories my grandma told me are true. Stories about American and German soldiers stopping to kill each other in December of '43 (I guess) and singing some Christmas song that has the same tune in America and Germany.

That would be December 44, if at anytime. And since the Battle of the Bulge was taking place, I would guess that bot sides were really lacking in that Christmas spirit.

Quote(Not to mention Americans giving away chocolate and cigarettes after the war, something that seems to have made a very positive impression on people here in Germany back then. At least my grandmas first memory of ever seeing a black person involves that kind of thing happening.)

I wouldn't be surprised. America's argument was with the regime running Germany at the time - and anyone who was shooting at them - they tended to feel sorry for the Germans - most of the time - because the were starving in the ruins of their country.

QuoteIs this how you want the world to be? In times of globalization and nuclear bombs?

Since you allowed your country to be run by that Austrian fellow with the strange moustache, I'd refrain from the lectures if I were you.

QuoteYou're completely under-estimating the power of the values America is supposed to spread. Also I think you're being a bit disgusting here, sorry.

Who cares? As I noted, your really in no position to give lectures. Like most sovereign states, the US simply tries to see to our national interests.

QuoteIf you want to take 20th century war stuff to good use, study how the Nazis pulled their propaganda off here in Germany and put that to a better use to spread the American Way. I'm serious.

As am I when I say the last people we need advice from are the nation that butchered about 12 million people and started the most destructive war in human history. Not to mention from the people who we've been protecting for about 60 years.

QuoteWow, you're comparing 21st century America to Nazi Germany. Now I'm really disgusted.

Say what?