tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8511148187940933062.post8570868898931067041..comments2024-03-28T18:56:40.762-04:00Comments on Waddy Is Right: Sovereignty and the New (Trumpian) World OrderNicholas Waddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14650770835328089297noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8511148187940933062.post-8955520665481196962018-02-07T17:34:52.312-05:002018-02-07T17:34:52.312-05:00Of course you're right, Jack, that Trump needs...Of course you're right, Jack, that Trump needs to be realistic and cut deals where he can. (I haven't seen any indication that the Senate deal includes the wall, though.) I respectfully disagree about the need to spend more on defense. Yes, some areas are underfunded, but massive sums are also wasted, and personally I would like to see a redistribution of defense dollars rather than an overall increase.Nicholas Waddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14650770835328089297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8511148187940933062.post-50429023482253337152018-02-07T16:34:45.861-05:002018-02-07T16:34:45.861-05:00Dr, Waddy: Your observation gives me pause. Trump...Dr, Waddy: Your observation gives me pause. Trump may well be making deals now - giving some to get more of what he really wants now (eg. the wall). Perhaps he will eventually apply "America First" to a needed disengagement from areas we need not be in (Ukraine, I hope). The military does need more support, I think, to bolster morale and properly reward our all volunteer force though. Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11685137896038330527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8511148187940933062.post-58671590374361848852018-02-07T16:12:12.377-05:002018-02-07T16:12:12.377-05:00My cup runneth over with appreciative comments! I...My cup runneth over with appreciative comments! I am truly grateful. Much as I would like to see us reevaluate our global-trotting militarism, developments like today's Senate deal to expand funding for the military and domestic programs make it clear that I'm unlikely to get my way. Both parties are ultimately on board with big government and internationalism, so it will be VERY hard to change direction. So far Trump has changed our tone as a nation...but little else.Nicholas Waddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14650770835328089297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8511148187940933062.post-51979845839460101372018-02-06T19:41:12.501-05:002018-02-06T19:41:12.501-05:00Dr. Waddy: Your reply is very plausible and strong...Dr. Waddy: Your reply is very plausible and strongly suggests the necessity for a reappraisal of a deployment that extensive.Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11685137896038330527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8511148187940933062.post-27502722426461218262018-02-06T19:19:27.888-05:002018-02-06T19:19:27.888-05:00I enjoyed this post, Dr. Waddy. I had a similar co...I enjoyed this post, Dr. Waddy. I had a similar conversation with a professor this afternoon who didn't appreciate my thoughts.<br /><br />Your previous commenter, Jack, is correct. So, I'll just end my comment now.Linda M Conleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8511148187940933062.post-73325498152590337852018-02-06T12:40:27.504-05:002018-02-06T12:40:27.504-05:00Well said, Jack. I totally agree about the necess...Well said, Jack. I totally agree about the necessity of our engagement with the world during the Cold War, but it seems to me that a lot of our adventures since then have been counterproductive. I believe I'm right in saying that U.S. troops can now be found in over 100 countries. That seems like overkill!Nicholas Waddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14650770835328089297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8511148187940933062.post-54423086050708653922018-02-06T11:03:23.631-05:002018-02-06T11:03:23.631-05:00Dr.Waddy: This is a courageous and thought provok...Dr.Waddy: This is a courageous and thought provoking essay. I think that, on balance, the U.S. has used its unprecedented power to the benefit of the rest of the world. Most of our modern military efforts have been for commendable reasons: (eg. saving the world from 20th century totalitarianism, anti world communism in Korea, Vietnam and in the Cold War, taking the field against 7th Century Islamic aggression reborn.)In the 19th century, had the relatively enlightened British not occupied India, Russia surely would have and the results would have been appalling. Similarly, it may be better in our time that it has been the U.S. doing the interfering rather than, say, Russia, Germany,Japan and their avatars - nations without mercy. Certainly we have inadvisedly interfered in the sovereignty of some countries (eg. Russia in its relationship with Ukraine, Pakistan in its agonizing balancing act between common sense and Islamist terror). As a guiding principle we should always support mutual respect for sovereignty between nations. The Cloud Act would appear to be in keeping with that responsibility and would provide additional moral authority for the President's "America first" stance, which I laud. Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11685137896038330527noreply@blogger.com