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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#171951: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:27:00 PM

[up] The Mexican government wouldn't order a preemptive strike, that would be suicide, but Mexican troops might be goaded into doing something stupid, especially if there's been a gradual escalation of tensions and an extremely anti-American leader in power, and all it takes is a single wounded American troop to claim a Casus Belli. The rest of the west would condemn the US of course, but none of them would lift a finger to stop it, because when you get down to it, despite the Monroe doctrine being officially over, the rest of the world still views Latin America as our sphere of influence, and not without reason considering how far the US has gone in the past to prevent Latin America countries from dealing with rivals.

Obviously no soldier would do that after having some time to think, but deploying American forces along the Mexican border would necessitate a response in kind, and there's plenty of ways to act threatening without actually firing a shot that might result in an accident.

edited 1st Feb '17 4:36:59 PM by CaptainCapsase

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#171952: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:31:00 PM

[up]See, while it would give us Cassus Belli, people (at least informed, intelligent people) would see all that steadily rising tension and passive-aggressiveness for exactly what it is, a ploy in order to start a war. Trump and his administration would be roasted at the stake for not only getting America into a war with their neighbor, but trying to pass the blame as well. Not to mention our reputation tanking regardless of who shot first.

edited 1st Feb '17 4:32:01 PM by danime91

CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#171953: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:31:30 PM

[up] Well yes, they would roast us, and rightfully so, but it doesn't mean it can't be done. The sad truth is, it's very likely Mexico will end up capitulating to Trump's demands before it comes to anything like that if they think he's serious. All but guaranteed in fact, unless they end up electing someone just as stubborn as he is.

edited 1st Feb '17 4:38:53 PM by CaptainCapsase

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#171954: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:31:50 PM

In case of an armed conflict, isn't U.S Army vastly more powerful than that of Mexico? Hasn't that always been the case? A war that's going to be over in a month or two, with a complete American curbstomp might not be seen as good by more restrained voters, but the radical right and various Trumplings would be nothing short of ecstatic.

Sure but you'd have a guerilla war in Mexico against American troops. The cartels and the population would rise up. The Hispanic American population would go full blue and Republicans would lose their vote for a generation or two. And the home population in the US would see the price of their consumer goods rise in response.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#171955: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:35:23 PM

Note to Californians and other people with Democrat senators: Call them anyway. If nothing else, put pressure on them to put pressure on wavering Republicans and stiffen the resolve of Democrats they're close to.

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#171956: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:36:31 PM

Republican Hawaiian representative is leaving the Republican Party to join the Democrat Party

“Today, I’m facing demands for my resignation from leadership and possible censure because I raised concerns about our President’s treatment of women and minorities. I’ve been asked by both my party and my caucus to commit to not criticizing the president for the remainder of his term.

edited 1st Feb '17 4:36:48 PM by MadSkillz

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#171957: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:38:56 PM

[up]Wow, that is some lack of tact. Driving away their own party members now? I can see where the tides are turning next election (as long as it's not Hillary. Seriously, we would have had this election in the bag if it was anyone but Hillary).

Oh yeah, one good thing did come out of Trump getting elected. We're not entering into the TPP. Yay for Net Neutrality. Now if only Trump himself wasn't an even bigger threat to Net Neutrality.

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#171958: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:42:07 PM

[up][up] Good for her, for standing up to this growingly Fascist Party. I wouldn't be surprised if we started getting some bigger name Party Switches (like Mc Cain, who was about to become a Democrat in the 80's until Reagan got elected).

[up] Nope, Net Neutrality is still probably dead, at least as a right: This man is Trump's pick for the FCC, and he absolutely loathes it.

Gilphon (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#171959: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:44:54 PM

My first reaction was 'there's a Republican Rep from Hawaii?'

Like, I kind of thought Hawaii was effectively a one-party state.

But: it's worth noting that she's not actually leaving the party, at least not yet- she's saying 'I want to leave the party, but I'll see what my voters think of that before making the decision'.

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#171960: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:46:15 PM

[up][up]Yeah, I know. Gotta fight tooth and nail, but at least we won't have the TPP and Pai to deal with at the same time.

JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#171961: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:46:29 PM

Unless we get another 9/11 (gods forbid), I can't see the entire country lining up behind Trump to go invade someone. He may talk about the will of the people, but that's as true as everything else that comes out of his mouth.

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#171962: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:46:34 PM

Unless Mc Cain proves he has a spine the GOP can keep him.

I'd take Romney over him honestly.

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#171963: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:49:41 PM

[up] Romney would most likely just leave Politics entirely, or become the most prominent Libertarian Politician in the USA (behind Ron Paul, who rejoined the Party in 2015).

edited 1st Feb '17 4:49:59 PM by DingoWalley1

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#171964: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:54:48 PM

[up][up] Man, I feel depressed reading that because I just realized I agree.

Pseudopartition Screaming Into The Void from The Cretaeceous Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Screaming Into The Void
#171965: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:57:30 PM

So let me get this straight - it hasn't been two weeks into the administration and they've already threatened to start wars with China, Iran, and Mexico?

It seems more likely that they're just doing this because they think it's an effective threat - some kind of masculine chest-thumping crap. I mean, I trust this administration about as far as I can throw it, but I think we're a long way off from all out war.

edited 1st Feb '17 5:04:01 PM by Pseudopartition

CenturyEye Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign? from I don't know where the Yith sent me this time... Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Tell Me, Have You Seen the Yellow Sign?
#171966: Feb 1st 2017 at 4:58:29 PM

I doubt that war would turn the southern states blue. The south is the reservoir of militarism. See (U.S. presidents from the South more likely to use force in military disputes). Also the numbers of southerners in the military.

Also, war fatigue probably comes as much from conduct (counter-insurgency never clearly shows "progress," at least not the kind that can be condensed into an easy talking point) as lack of passion for the cause.

Southern voters might be gung-ho at the chance to "shoot bad guys," and a quick raid (a raid to coerce compliance may be entirely conventional rather than guerilla) may bring the euphoria of a "victory," particularly given the MAGA narrative that America's been a victim of outsiders.

Look with century eyes... With our backs to the arch And the wreck of our kind We will stare straight ahead For the rest of our lives
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#171967: Feb 1st 2017 at 5:00:34 PM

[up] Yeah, something along the lines of the Falklands war would probably be more along the lines of what Trump has in mind, if he's not actually bluffing.

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#171968: Feb 1st 2017 at 5:05:36 PM

I'm wondering what excuses they're going to bring up if the wall is built and they still find that the illegal immigrants and the drug trade haven't gone anywhere. What's next then?

JBC31187 Since: Jan, 2015
#171969: Feb 1st 2017 at 5:07:23 PM

Well, the Bush presidency kind of got thrown down the memory hole by the GOP. Best case scenario is, in a few years it turns out none of the Republican Party actually supported Trump.

DingoWalley1 Asgore Adopts Noelle Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Can't buy me love
Asgore Adopts Noelle
#171970: Feb 1st 2017 at 5:07:30 PM

[up][up] More Walls!

Literally, that's what they've been doing since Reagan! "Build a Fence!" That didn't work? "Build a 2nd Fence!" That didn't work? "Build a Wall!" So when that doesn't work, they'll say "Build a 2nd Wall!"

edited 1st Feb '17 5:07:52 PM by DingoWalley1

Journeyman Overlording the Underworld from On a throne in a vault overlooking the Wasteland Since: Nov, 2010
Overlording the Underworld
#171971: Feb 1st 2017 at 5:10:26 PM

Isn't it obvious? A seawall along the Atlantic and Pacific. With armed guards stationed across them. On both sides of them. With machine gun emplacements as well. Facing in as well as out. Anyone comes close, they get shot. Only drone boats allowed anywhere close, so just drop those trade goods on the shoreline and we'll take it from here.

ETA: You wanna stop illegals, here's what you do . . . you don't stop illegals. You make birth certificates and social security cards mandatory for getting any job above janitor. oh, wait . . . don't we, don't we do that now? I swear I've had to produce identification to get jobs before. Oh, right, I have! Well how about that. Oops, guess illegal immigration ISN'T a fucking problem after all. It really isn't, these shitheads have just been beating that drum too long to stop now. Nevermind that it makes everyone who thinks it's a problem look like idiots. And scum. Scum sucking idiots. How funny is that?

edited 1st Feb '17 5:15:01 PM by Journeyman

IFwanderer use political terms to describe, not insult from Earth Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
use political terms to describe, not insult
#171972: Feb 1st 2017 at 5:17:32 PM

OK, been away form computers for two days, what did I miss?

1 2 We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. -KV
CaptainCapsase from Orbiting Sagittarius A* Since: Jan, 2015
#171973: Feb 1st 2017 at 5:18:24 PM

[up] Trump supposedly threatened Mexico behind closed doors with military force. Best get to searching for that communist guerrilla to join ASAP, because I feel like the rest of Latin America is next, in the grand tradition we have of fucking over everyone else in the hemisphere other than Canada.

edited 1st Feb '17 5:19:02 PM by CaptainCapsase

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#171974: Feb 1st 2017 at 5:22:43 PM

He might not have to make any threats depending on what he's asking the other countries to do. Plus he's spent the entirety of his campaign railing against Mexico in particular. I don't know that he's particularly concerned about anywhere else, at least right now.

I still think you're probably right though.

MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#171975: Feb 1st 2017 at 5:24:50 PM

China is threatening war with the US.

US is threatening war with Iran.

And Trump is threatening to invade Mexico.


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