[highlander]

Now it is the war against terror, before that, the war against drugs, before that the cold war, WWII, WWI ad naseum.
Does anybody know the longest period of time that we were not involved in some kind of war? I'm 50, and it hasn't been in my lifetime. One would think a political party that uses "peace in our time" as a platform might do OK.

[Chocky]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')peace in our time"

[rogerhb]

So what happens if the US collapses economically and cannot continue "The Long War", does it then become "The Long War That Was Not Quite As Long As We Were Expecting"?

[Kickinthegob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', 'S')o what happens if the US collapses economically and cannot continue...

[TorrKing]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', 'S')o what happens if the US collapses economically and cannot continue "The Long War", does it then become "The Long War That Was Not Quite As Long As We Were Expecting"?

[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Torjus', '.')..My guess is that the lack of a common enemy will make the Americans fight between themselves.

[jato]

Check out this site, look at the 20th Century timeline

[highlander]

Thanks for the link Jato. At least we can see it's not just us 'mericans that like to fight all the time!

[bulletproof]

You guys ought to read "Civil War II: The Coming Breakup Of America" by Thomas Chittum. He wrote it back in 1996, and the analysis is excellent. It's out of print now, but you can download it if you want to read it:

Civil War II

The book, in PDF: http://www.geocities.com/anakonda_fi/CWII.pdf

The book, in html: http://www.geocities.com/anakonda_fi/toc.html

His book is an excellent read vis-a-vis the deterioration of the US social structure, unequal treatment of racial groups that foment resentment and class anger, and both the ongoing reconquista of the American Southwest by Mexico and the demographic shift of blacks moving back to the "old south" and gaining political power.

He based his analysis on the experiences he had in Yugoslavia (he fought as a mercenary in the Bosnian war in 1992), and many of the things he predicted in 1996 have now come to pass. His book is difficult reading, mostly because he cares nothing for "politically correct" views and assumptions. In addition to that, his accurate depiction of what will actually happen if a civil war starts is depressing and frightening.

Having lived in both the American Southwest and in the deep south, I can say from personal experience that he provides a very accurate analysis of what is going on. His predictions about the consolidation of power by the federal government in an attempt to pre-empt a civil war are very accurate: the announcements by Donald Rumsfeld last year about military base closings and shifting troops to the south and southwest show that the US government is well aware of the problem and currently redeploying troops within the country to locations closer to the coming flash-points.

I recommend the book because it's beneficial to anyone thinking of relocation and preparation for Peak Oil. When an economy is stressed to the breaking point, so are the people. When large population groups get hungry they tend to go to war.

[nth]

When is the last time Congress declare war?

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nth', 'W')hen is the last time Congress declare war?

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', 'I') would have to vote pre-history up to 1787.

[DomusAlbion]

I believe a more difficult and certainly more interesting question to answer would be the following:

"What major power within the last two hundred years has had a prolonged period of peace?"

Have any?

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('DomusAlbion', 'I') believe a more difficult and certainly more interesting question to answer would be the following:

"What major power within the last two hundred years has had a prolonged period of peace?"

Have any?

[Chocky]

Thanks for posting a link to that book Bulletproof, very interesting.