What if the US withdrew?

[Accountable]

Let's speculate. Call it a collaborate novel, if you must.

What if the US suddenly picked up its marbles and went home? What if we unilaterally and unceremoneously closed every military base we have in foregn lands and called every troop home? Add to that the hypothetical resignation from the UN, telling those ambassadors to find another home. Finally, imagine the legislature cancelling/repealing any and all treaties, both political and trade-related.

Get the idea?

What would happen to the world? to the US? Would it be Utopia or Hell? Who would be the world leader if the world leader quit?

[nvalleyvee]

I'm not sure we could do it. I think a couple of select countries would have to join us in resigning from world interaction - I would choose Japan, the British Isles, Canada, Mexico and Venezuela. I think it would scare the bejeezus out of some countries. Maybe the terrorists would leave us alone. I need to think about this some more.

[mominiowa]

Hmm- I beleive that if we attempted it- nothing would change with the terroists any ways..For to many years we have stepped on peoples toes and not taken care of our own..Our soilders are paying the price - that we have put out there- from greediness to laziness...I honestly don't think things would be better for the goverment- the oil prices, the economy in general..We recieve almost all of our clothing and half of our commodities from over seas...With out the treatys and such - we would be a "nothing Land" - Good post and that is certainly JMO!

[telaquapacky]

If we closed every military base we would leave some other countries undefended. Some of them count on us. We hate being seen as a world bully. Imagine how we'd feel being seen as a world coward. A balanced approach would be desirable.

I think that the moment we pack up and leave Iraq, either the attempted moderate government we are trying to foster there will be overcome by terrorist militants, and the place will become one vast training camp for attacks against all points in the western world...

...or the government we are trying to foster will have to become even more repressive, torturing, executing, human-rights-violating monstrosity than Saddam's was, because in our absence, that is what it will take to control the militants.

[Clint]

The world would scream foul. We would have civil unrest at home because we wouldn’t be able to go to the big box department stores and buy anything our hearts desired. Our economy would grind to a halt then it would slowly build up to be stronger than it ever was. People would die in the process because of the war with China, who only holds back because of the money we pour into their economy. We would have a major political clean up at every level of government here because our world class politicians wouldn’t be able to hide what they are doing in the confusion of geopolitics. It would be painful but………………..

[nvalleyvee]

So Clint - do you think it would bring our industry back home? I think it would. And yes we would struggle for some time but it might also spark the butts of researchers to find an end to our energy crisis. We would have to either lower the cost of living or raise the minimum wage - I vote for the former. Interesting to think about though - could America survive without the rest of the world?

[BTS]

Originally Posted by Accountable

Let's speculate. Call it a collaborate novel, if you must.

What if the US suddenly picked up its marbles and went home? What if we unilaterally and unceremoneously closed every military base we have in foregn lands and called every troop home? Add to that the hypothetical resignation from the UN, telling those ambassadors to find another home. Finally, imagine the legislature cancelling/repealing any and all treaties, both political and trade-related.

Get the idea?

What would happen to the world? to the US? Would it be Utopia or Hell? Who would be the world leader if the world leader quit?

Is it not all of the above points that the terrorists REALLY want to happen?

Sure let's ALL bend over and kiss the good ol USA and her values GOOD BYE.........

But then again......... It just might be the best thing we could do. Allie with Canada, England, Australia, Mexico and anyone else that wants to align with us, then tell all others to P*ss up a rope.

I'll buy that.

[gmc]

posted by accountable

What if the US suddenly picked up its marbles and went home? What if we unilaterally and unceremoneously closed every military base we have in foregn lands and called every troop home? Add to that the hypothetical resignation from the UN, telling those ambassadors to find another home. Finally, imagine the legislature cancelling/repealing any and all treaties, both political and trade-related.

The rest of the world would keep on playing football (that's soccer to you)

Let's see price of oil drops as US demand disappears. World commodities prices fluctuate wildly at first but stabilise as exporters find new markets in europe and asia. With the economy that previously sucked in 25% of the worlds resources no longer trading economies at first falter but then adapt rapidly to a new reality. Factories in the far east formerly manufacturing for the american market also switch to new markets but prices plummet due to ever capacity. There is an upsurge in demand for consumer electrical goods and increase in innovation as increased competition due to over capacity triggers a wave of innovation. European and chinese Linux developers and the open source movement see a massive surge in demand as microsoft's stranglehold on innovation is broken, For the first time computer software becomes cheap and reliable and the old days of blue screens and constant hack attacks fades in to memory as the accessability of linux leads to a generation of highly computer literate individuals throughout the world. Global warming is back on the agenda as it's effect on agriculture becomes increasingly apparent steps re taken to divert resources and research effort in to new fuel sources. Relieved of the need to spend on the military the Russian space programme starts up again at first in competition with the chineses but later joint ventures with chinese and european space agencies. Taiwan at first hostile is forced out of economic necessity to trade with mainland china taking advantage of it's manufacturing expertise, cambodia and vietnam and japan all start looking to china and each other for new markets and opportunities. Hard line communism becomes a thing of the past as people begin to appreciate a new freedom. Monty Python shown for the first time on chinese TV starts of a new satirical movement in china. Without US backing rulers kike the saudis can no longer keep controls losing out to fundamentalists. Civil war in the middle east finally grind to a halt as fundamentalist regimes finally lose the support of their peoples and sunnis are no longer prepared to go on killing shias secular governments take control. EU countries keep out of it as there is no desire for colonial adventures besides which oil reserves in Russia are available for exploitation by shell and BP. Exxon tries to get a share but no longer has the ability to keep up in the technological race as all the expatriate scientists and engineers leave an america increasingly in the grip of fundamentalist christians who ban the teaching of science as unbiblical and cut the funding for those educational establishments who fail to comply. Social unrest caused by hundreds oand thousands of unemployed ex servicemen strengthens the hand of the christian right wing as people seek answers in the bible to the world around them. All outside neews castiung is banned and america turns increasingly in on itself. Satire is banned as ungodly and disrespectful and religious jokes can lead to a jail sentence. To try and ease male unemployment women are banned from working if they marry so there job may be given to the head of a household and women keep to their natural function of child rearing. The banning of contraception leads to a population explosion and the church charities struggle to cope with the inner city dietitute. In 2030 there is massive crop failure throughout the US that blights corn production. The monoculture of genetically altered and all pervasive monsanto seeds means there are no alternatives available as all organically grown crops were banned in 2020 as the monsanto halliburton act prevented farmers from using their own seed stock ensuring there was no competition for gm crops. Perceived as an act of god christian fundamentalists start burning environmantalists and evolutionary scientists in an attempt to finally stamp out the rot of disbelief that caused the crop failure. Appalled all EUcountries finally cut diplomatic ties with america altogether. Attempts are made to import from abroad but with the dollar only worth 0.20 euros this is not a viable option. With no trade greements EU and african countries don't want to take the risk of trading with an increasingly unstable country. Canada erects a fence round it's borders to try and control the number of armed americans trying to cross in to canada for a better life. Mexico passes the anglo act allowing only hispanics to cross their borders and work on their farms and factories and institutes border patrols to keep out illegal immigrants. Desperate the US goes cap in hand to the UN asking for aid but has a problem in that it does not recognise the UN as a political body. The EU offers aid out of a sense of nostalgia for what once was but only if it is used to implement social programmes of education and health care to try and bring america back in to the 21st century. This smacks of communism so the offer is rejected. The French demand the statue of liberty back but the americans don't get the irony and sulk. Brazil, columbia and Venezuela offer aid but only if the US opens up its markets to their products and agricultural produce. In 2050 the cuban exiles in Florida declare independence and ask to join with Cuba as a client state.
India finally takes on Pakistan, without american aid and spare parts for it's F16 the Indian eurofighters and challenger tanks soon overwhelm moslem pakistan. eventually peace is made and the two continue their separate ways. Afghanistan remains a primitive backwater nobody cares about.

What would happen to the world? to the US? Would it be Utopia or Hell? Who would be the world leader if the world leader quit?

Stop kidding yourselves. the world would survive.

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by mominiowa

Hmm- I beleive that if we attempted it- nothing would change with the terroists any ways..For to many years we have stepped on peoples toes and not taken care of our own..Our soilders are paying the price - that we have put out there- from greediness to laziness...I honestly don't think things would be better for the goverment- the oil prices, the economy in general..We recieve almost all of our clothing and half of our commodities from over seas...With out the treatys and such - we would be a "nothing Land" - Good post and that is certainly JMO!

This kind of strikes to the heart of my point. I believe we are linking politics and trade; I also believe it is unnecessary. If we pulled our soldiers out they would not pay any price unless we were attacked on our own soil. Let the giant corporations negotiate trade. what would it hurt?

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by telaquapacky

If we closed every military base we would leave some other countries undefended. Some of them count on us. We hate being seen as a world bully. Imagine how we'd feel being seen as a world coward. A balanced approach would be desirable..

Interesting that you think we'd be called cowards for doing exactly what many of the other countries' citizens are calling and have been calling for us to do. And what impact would it have anyway? Why is it so important that small weak countries like us?

I think that the moment we pack up and leave Iraq, either the attempted moderate government we are trying to foster there will be overcome by terrorist militants, and the place will become one vast training camp for attacks against all points in the western world....

Agreed. Wouldn't that make our point that we are not the ones stirring this up? Wouldn't this finally get EU off their butts an defend themselves?

...or the government we are trying to foster will have to become even more repressive, torturing, executing, human-rights-violating monstrosity than Saddam's was, because in our absence, that is what it will take to control the militants.

That's the double-edge of freedom. It's been said here in the garden that one can't force democracy.