SINCE the world as we as Americans know it is going to end as soon as the dollar stops being the

[cherokeeprogressive]

ONLY currency used to trade oil...

Doesn't it make sense to bring ALL service members stationed overseas home ASAP? Before we can't afford to bring them back?

Doesn't it make sense to close ALL forward bases, since we LEASE the land that our service members live on overseas?

Last night I read that the change from the dollar to a "basket of currencies" would lead to WWIII, the breakup of the United States, and the "end of empire". Doesn't it make sense to bring ALL of our service members home?

How much money do you think we pay other countries to have our precious treasure (American Citizens) on their soil, ostensibly to secure their safety?

How much money do you think SUPPLY LINES alone cost the American taxpayer?

In light of yesterday's news about the change from the dollar to other currencies to trade oil, I think it's the only prudent move.

BRING THEM ALL HOME. Let those countries who've live under our umbrella fend for themselves in the "new world".

Or is this much ado about nothing?

[valerief]

1. But, but, but...the final looting hasn't been completed yet. nt

[Oregone]

2. No. Nothing makes sense anymore

We are out of a rational context at this point

[The Wielding Truth]

3. Where did you find that definitive declaration that the US currency

has been shucked? It is not likely that the US dollar will fade soon since the China owns so much of it.

[TheKentuckian]

4. I agree with that. If the world wants us on the bench they can clean up the crap

I suggest high level protectionism as well but I'd maintain military spending a while before declining for both stimulative effect and big stick factor.

Fire up the F-22's, a couple of carrier groups, and start the research for a new generation right along with an energy Manhattan project. With what money you say? Our new currency of course, the actual money is meaningless we have the resources the economy is just a means to move it.

Why? Because I'd kick China, Dubai, the Saudis, and the whole gang out while telling China to sit and spin and rip them all off of their property investments.

Do we deserve it? Sure, but I'll never be afraid to put us first, never. They better find new suckers to buy their crap or its back to the 19th century for the majority of their people.

[Bullet1987]

5. It's all about leadership

That's the most frightening thing right now about America's future. There's a SEVERE lack of leadership in a time when it's needed the most. On top of that, we aren't being told the truth about how bad things really are. In a decade or more, our New Deal era infrastructure will be useless. I do think we need to be real with ourselves in admitting we'll have to make major changes in our foreign policy. We weren't in the best shape after Clinton, but there were a lot of good signs. Bush fucked us up in more ways than many people realize I think. He probably sped up the process and gave us less time to make things right. He also created a level of hatred and disrespect for anything American. I think if Obama can win this healthcare fight, his next major goal should be energy. We direly need a new source of energy. But the lack of leadership is a major reason we're in the situation we are now. PR has ruined America lol.

[sofa king]

6. I believe that's why we have 14 giant concrete fortresses in Iraq.

Which used up the available world supply of cement for four years straight. If we can't control the currency, well, the corporations are by-God going to control an oil-producing nation instead.

[DerBeppo]

7. Used up the world's supply?

Come on now...seriously?

[sofa king]

8. Seriously.

http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/Cement-Shortage-Puts-Crunch-on-Contractors/4635/

http://www.cement.org/newsroom/supply20040517.asp

http://www.allbusiness.com/trade-development/international-trade-export/5164806-1.html

http://www.51voa.com/VOA_Standard_English/VOA_Standard_4582.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2180067

http://books.google.com/books?id=Tsv9PkeV9iYC&pg=PT162&lpg=PT162&dq=cement+iraq+bases&source=bl&ots=PgVlEHFsKx&sig=vhuyhzqCo5OquKOjMfVgyC1ge3w&hl=en&ei=_t3MSv-WK46ylAeRsMjcBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10#v=onepage&q=cement%20iraq%20bases&f=false

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. The dollar is being challenged because the country of the dollar (the US) is

controlled by the corporate oligarchs and is unable to legislate or regulate effectively or objectively. We've proved that with the financial meltdown which I am sure the rest of the world is pissed over and we are in the process of showing the world we can't control our healthcare costs because of being beholden to certain industries even if they kill and bankrupt us collectively.

The world hears our death rattle, even though we can't hear it ourselves. If the world wants stability, it ain't us anymore. A market basket of currencies makes sense if you are looking at it outside the prism of American exceptionalism and chest beating.

[StreetKnowledge]

10. Numerous Problems With that idea.

First is the allies of the United States who are close to the world's crap disturbers. The Gulf states such as Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain rely on us to not be swallowed by the Saudi extremists or the nutjobs in Iran. That is the most obvious problem. Leaving them to fend for themselves will almost certainly cause wars in itself.

Japan and South Korea are a problem, too. North Korea is insane and China backs them up, us going home at that point will almost certainly be a sign that we can't or won't defend them anymore. South Korea and Japan, knowing that, will be nuclear powers within months, tops. Taiwan and Australia present such problems, too. Nuclear-armed Japan and South Korea with Nuclear-armed North Korea and China nearby is a recipe for disaster, quite literally.

Then you have eastern Europe, which faces down the increasingly hard-line lunatics in Moscow. Ukraine and Georgia are on the direct end of this, being messed with by Russia regularly despite us being there. Do we want to extend that further? If we pull out, they'll extend that to Poland, Hungary, the Baltic nations (which Russia has actually proposed invading on more than one occasion), the Czech Republic, Romania and others.

And that's before we get to Israel. The Israelis have enough problems, leaving them on their own will cause both sides there to lash out, the Israelis and the Arabs. The Israelis decide that if we won't stop Iran's nuclear program they'll have to do it themselves, and we get a war as a result. Iran could then decide to blockade the Straits of Hormuz, which then results in a gigantic spike in il prices worldwide - which then feeds more wars, more deaths.

We need to be out there. I know being able to cut big chunks off of the military budget sounds attractive, but with the ambitions of China, India, Iran and Russia, we should be preparing for staring them down once Afghanistan and Iraq are history. We should be building the F-22 and other projects, and focus our military budgets on two goals:

1) Ensuring stability in the world
2) Being able to respond effectively to emergencies (emergencies meaning less wars, more disaster relief and responding to the needs of our allies)

IMO, this means more Navy, Air Force and Marines. Yes, perhaps we don't need permanent troops stationed in Germany or South Korea. But we must still be able to respond.