Bring them home. Our so-called "interests" there are exactly what? Are we really committed to fighting another costly land war in asia to defend foreigners? How did the last one turn out? This nation is going broke defending people who wouldn't lift a finger for us. Let South Korea defend itself. Their ecomomic and industrial power dwarfs North Korea's. If they are not willing to fund a large enough military to defend themselves, so be it. Same for Europe. The Warsaw Pact is long gone, but we continue to spend billions defending Europe against itself. Why do we still have NATO? The days of the cold war have passed. Americans can no longer afford to police the world. We apparently can't even afford to defend our own borders against gangsters and terrorists.

You've got a really good point Vic. I have started leaning toward a "letem take care of their own problems" outlook toward the world. Most of them just spit on us anyway. And now with HIM and those shadow groups/people in the White house, it is only gonna get worse here in our own country.

When you are told by a government agency that you can not arrest someone that is breaking the law, IF that is the only law being broken, Something stinks, and it starts at the very top!

Folks will call us "isolationists", but maybe a move in that direction might be in our best national interest. When I read Washington's Farewell Address where he warns us against entangling foreign alliances, and then look at the costs in lives and dollars that our interventionist policies have gotten us, I think maybe we have overextended our reach a bit while actually neglecting our own national defense. Our nation will always be involved in world events to some extent. We will likely always have naval and air forces around the world, along with some quick response ground forces. We do have some interests in protecting Americans abroad and shipping. Even Jefferson sent the Marines into Libya to fight pirates. The war against Islamic terrorists will continue. But maintaining large standing armies in foreign lands is most costly and unproductive IMO. I just think it's high time our "Allies" pony up and start paying the costs of defending them, or do it themselves.

Support roles. NOT front line troops. Yes, I do agree that we must fight terror wherever we find it (Tom clancy, rainbow Six) could serve as a good starting point. Can't really remember much about it, I read it the first week it came out, whenever that was. But I liked the premis. A small to medium size rapid response force to terrorist threats/actions. Then after the report of those troops, bring in the big guns to DO IT RIGHT! Then come back home.

I don't know, it is a VERY sharp two edged sword, and I am not talking about the Gladius! You will find positive and negative aspects on both sides of the issue.

Oh, and incase I confused you, I DO believe in isolationism to a point. Then it's NO holds barred!

I am an isolationist mostly. But I do understand the need to get strategic bases overseas. Realistically if we didn't have a base in S. Korea China would have back N. Korea and taken it over years ago. Our bases there are mostly to keep China in check it benefits S. Korea as well.

That is one of the other sides of the two edged sword I was talking about. POLITICS SUCK!

And we could have bases overseas (and should). I just wonder if the number of personal might be reduced to more of a rapid response force/caretaker effort. That should reduce the numbers a lot while still providing a "presence" where it is most beneficial.

I think I am going to surprise the runt with a movie today. No school this week.

I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN COUNTRY, OUR PROBLEMS BEFORE TAKING ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD. HEAVEN KNOWS WE'VE GOT ENOUGH OF OUR OWN LOCAL, U.S. PROBLEMS TO CONTEND WITH.

I think we should drop the U.N. like a poisonous snake. Remove them from the country and strengthen our true NATO allies. We need to stop being the world police. Make Saudi responsible for our saving their butts in the first Gulf War.

We should back those who back us. We need to stop selling our technologies to our enemies. We need to maintain a formidable military but also use it to protect our borders.

We really need to work on our Naval and Air superiority and leave the savages to duke it out amongst themselves.