From: null@void.com   
      
   It is difficult for me to follow-up comment.   
   The interplay of military, economic, social, etc. issues/influences is   
   hard to plot to any conclusions.   
   The Soviet Union "upset the apple-cart" coming up with ICBM's.  Negating   
   almost all the advantages to the US of having lots of overseas bases.   
   While leaving the US with all the expenses it brought upon itself.   
   It is a "leap of faith" to take it that the same rationality in the now   
   Russian Federation is not still there.   
   The expenses to the USA are only mounting-up...   
   Is this the major story here?   
   Surely if the USA runs off "private investors" and a small group are   
   becoming vastly wealthy loaning upon loaning dollars to the US   
   government - that wealth is from printed money if the rest of the world   
   disconnects (think "sanctions", "tariffs", trade-embargos, etc. all   
   proactively driven by the USA) - and then your economy is running on   
   fantasy, isn't it?   
   In my own little world...   
   I have the impression 13 out of 14 welds failing spec. on   
   non-destructive examination and doubling-down on your current method, as   
   a microcosm, does not suggest to be a society imbued with winning   
   values.   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)