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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
Japan was a military junta before WW 2 with aims to create a new empire in Asia.
They weren't a death cult like the Nazis but they were very blatantly invading nations for the sake of invading nations.
Oh really when?The United States diverted large sums of money to rebuilding Iraq and huge amounts was embezzled by Haliburton and other companies.
So, I'd say we have no idea whether it could have worked as it was sabotaged from the beginning.
Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.To continue with comparations to the Plan Marshall and Japan's reconstruction post WW 2, well, the point is that the situation in Afghanistan is wildly different than both of them and I wouldn't be surprised that, in a good scenario, what we get is similar to modern Japan (Liveable place but with a considerably amount of social issues compared to the rest of the world).
However, that is preferable to doing nothing. And that is why they have to continue and actually try,
Edited by KazuyaProta on Jan 28th 2019 at 4:54:20 AM
Watch me destroying my countryI will point out that stability =/= goodness, Japan was stable in a way that Afghanistan was not.
That doesn't mean everything was perfect or even especially good by our standards but there was very much an existing national identity and state institutions to build around.
It's just not a very good comparison for the situation in Afghanistan.
Edit: Mostly
Edited by Fourthspartan56 on Jan 28th 2019 at 4:52:46 AM
"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji YangYeah, I would agree. This is not WW 2 where we are rebuilding a state from ashes, this is practically building one(s?).
Watch me destroying my country@ Mufifns
There's the cultural differences to keep in mind as well.
While Japan was, indeed, modernized during the Meiji period, they picked the Prussian model of government, which in turn was highly reactionary and conservative, meant to keep power in the hands of the nobles and the König of Prussia (later the Kaiser of Germany). This allowed the surviving great samurai families to hold onto power, and even today, there's a degree of disconnection between the common folk and the ruling body.
They certainly were on the same level of bloodthirst though, the contempt they had for the other "lesser" east asians was translated into the Rape of Nanking and the Unit 731.
Instead of focusing on relatives that divide us, we should find the absolutes that tie us.Dealmakers Dominate Panel Tasked to Reach Border Security Agreement
. Apparently we'll see a Super Congress to get border security done.
Anyone else think this is a bad idea? Who's to say as soon as he makes the speech, he announces he's shutting down the government again?
The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.@Le Garcon: I'd actually dispute that-"Death Cult" is actually a pretty accurate description of Japan's military in WWII. Worship of an Emperor, extreme martyrdom culture, glorification of maximum bloodletting in general, etc.
Mind you, the same is basically true of Nazi Germany as well.
Leviticus 19:34Five Thirty Eight has an extremely good article on how the shutdown and its temporary resolution is a perfect example of Trump's political weaknesses, How President Trump Is Like A Terrible Poker Player
Essentially it describes how the shutdown has gone terribly for Trump and that's entirely his fault, the reason for this is because Trump is fundamentally unable to recognize when it's time to fold and as such he throws himself into no-win situations in which the only choice is to choose the least bad option.
It's a rather fascinating article that I think hits the nail on the head, Trump just isn't good at this and the shutdown (and its resolution) is a perfect example of that in-action.
"Einstein would turn over in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded." -Chairman Sheng-Ji YangThis.
Like. Real talk, if Trump came out tomorrow and said that he was instituting higher marginal taxes against the wealthy, ending his Wall talk, working to preserve civil rights for minorities, dismantling ICE and closing the prison camps, ending the War on Drugs, getting rid of prison privatization, etc. etc., I'd become a Trumpist in a heartbeat.
We must always endeavor to remember that the things Trump/Republicans does are bad because they are bad, and not because they're things that Trump does. We must never forget that, for down that road lies the position the GOP is in today.
My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.@Tobias Drake: Yes. Speaking from a Conservative perspective, I can say a major part of why the right is as screwed up as it is right now is because it got to a point where it was more about opposing Obama than supporting anything.
Leviticus 19:34

Edited by KazuyaProta on Jan 28th 2019 at 4:50:39 AM
Watch me destroying my country