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On November 8, 2006 - 4:28pm hoppycalif2 said:

Why is "Central American socialism" the "real enemy"? The enemy of whom? While we are at it, why is it necessary for us to have an "enemy" all of the time? Why not just people and organizations that don't agree with us?

Socialism cannot simultaneously be a failed economic system and a terrible enemy threatening our way of life. If it is a failed economiic system, it must not be strong enough to ever threaten us - not that I can conceive of an economic system being a threat to us in any case. If it is so powerful that it can overwhelm our country, then it can hardly be called failed economic system, but must be a highly successful one that should be welcomed here.

Hoppy in Sacramento

On November 8, 2006 - 4:51pm CVille Dem said:

Can we put this on some bumper stickers? Can we make it a national priority? Can we at LEAST all agree that it is a great concept?

While we are at it, why is it necessary for us to have an "enemy" all of the time? Why not just people and organizations that don't agree with us?

Jan Knaus

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On November 8, 2006 - 5:43pm CVille Dem said:

"We do have enemies - people who wish to do us harm and aren't interested in negotiating - we deny this at our peril."

But South American socialists aren't among them, or at least shouldn't be. Chavez doesn't need to be an enemy. Hell, Fidel Castro didn't need to be an enemy! If it weren't for the rabid Cubans in Miami we would have far more influence in the Carribbean and South America simply by trading with and visiting Cuba for the last several decades.

We do not have to consider every non-democratic government an enemy. Odd that our leaders seem to understand that when they want to buy oil from someone, like Saudi Arabia, or borrow money from them. like China.

I disagree with your idea that a policy that values diplomacy rather than force is one of polyannas. That attitude has gotten us into Iraq. It has helped with the nuclearization of North Korea, and has shut off talks with Iran; a country full of people who are highly educated and very western in their outlook (in other words -- potential allies).

Why invent new enemies? Right; there are those who wish us ill. Let's deal with them and not multiply them while at the same time dissing our former allies because they don't want to go around knocking chips off of everyone else's shoulders just to prove we are right and tough. We need to get off of the "BULLY" pulpit!