But as long as I'm not supposed to be insulted...(sheesh!)

If you want to put a base in Darfur, propose it. If you don't then please try to make your point. Genocide raises serious dilemas that cause liberals and conservatives to contradict their previous stances. Should we be the world's policeman? Well, no, but should we stand aside while the innocent are slaughtered? Well, no. What do you propose we do in Darfur? What would be your "timetable?" What would happen between the factions that hate each other after we "withdraw?"

Obviously we have bases in Germany, Korea and Japan because we waged war there. It is in our national interests to promote peace in those regions so we don't have to go back again and again. Do you think each of our bases in each of those regions of the world have NOT had a major stabilizing impact upon the cultures there?

But you and the modern day Noam Chomskys can argue about the absence of a peace dividend and the evil primacy of our military industrial complex vs. the corporate industrial complex vs. the media industrial complex, while the rest of the world just think you have complexes.

Furthermore, if you want to hear me get really out there, I think that if we ever do get to the day we can stop worrying quite so much about enemies here at home on planet earth then we'll be able to substitute the same energy and investment into the space program. Not that I'm in love with government spending, but peace is and has always been in our best interest, and we as a nation have long recognized that. We don't go to war unless we think it is necessary.