"Just as ruthless and indifferent to the rule of law as his predecessor." Ouch.

[MadHound]

108. In the short term it doesn't.

Peace is a long term proposition.

We have plenty of people who we've pissed off by our actions, and they are not going to be easily pacified. But, if we start being generous with our resources, if we start helping instead of hurting others, if we talk out our disputes rather than simply firing away, people in the world will start to like us, then love us, then find us indispensable, then we will be truly secure.

All we are doing right now is fighting a hydra. We kill one terrorist in a drone attack(along with a few, or few dozen surrounding innocents), those friends and family become radicalized against the US, and start fighting us. We kill them, and their friends and family start fighting us. Pretty soon a few dozen turns into millions, and then we've got real problems.

I'm not saying that following the path of peace is easy, it isn't. We're going to suffer blowback for our past sins for years to come. But if we are persistent in our path, it will pay off in the end, and our country, and the entire world, will be a better place.

If not, then this country is doomed to the same fate as other militaristic, imperialistic empires, death and destruction.