On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 19:07:36 -0600, "Gene Storey"
wrote:

"Mike Marron" wrote

...the South Vietnamese simply didn't want to fight for
their_own_country!

South Vietnam was designed in Washington DC. It was a fake
country. The Vietnamese fought for their country and terminated
the American hegemony.

So, the Geneva Accords that divided Indochina after the withdrawal of
the French in 1954 were simply a fairy tale?

Might want to look up a definition of "hegemony" while you're in the
library as well. We certainly weren't a hegemon during the '60s and
'70s. There was quite a bit of multi-polarity during the period what
with the US, USSR, NATO, emerging Japan, Warsaw Pact, China, etc. We
might be in a position of hegemonic control today, but definitely not
during the Vietnam War.

Sometimes Gene comes up with some amusing (and damn plausible)
stuff, but I've also detected quite a lot of bitterness and anger in
his posts that is somewhat disconcerting.

With only 30% of Americans turning out to vote, I am convinced that
we will be bankrupt by 2010, and all we will have is 1500 Nukes, no
oil, and Argentina's default will have been a carnival in comparison.

What is the relationship between the number of Americans that turn out
to vote, bankruptcy and nuclear weapons. The voting percentage in the
2000 presidential election was a lot closer to 55% and in some states,
such as mine, presidential election participation hovers near 80%.
(Which isn't to say that is a good thing. Ignorant voters are a worse
danger than non-voters.)

Bankruptcy? Hardly. The economy has weathered an intense blow
post-9/11, but seems to be rebounding nicely.

1500 nukes? Nah, we've got a bigger number than that.

No oil? C'mon, you need to review some of the strategic estimates of
US reserves. We've got plenty and are only buying offshore oil to save
our own resources.

Unlike my grandfather, I don't plan to starve in a hobo camp, and have
enough ammunition to see me through the first two adjustments.

Seems grandpa sowed his oats before starving, but didn't seem to
increase the intellectual capability of the family gene pool. Might
lean toward a greater dependence on reading and education rather than
firearms to see you through the adjustments.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8