http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4017147.stm

There are a lot of countries in the world that need "Liberating" not just Iraq, I suggest we ask them to join our Democracy. At first they would be Territorial, but as time goes by they would have a chance to become states.
You may think that we would be bringing more cost and problems upon our selves but in time they would be an asset to all of us.

What do you think???

If you are serious, I think: "imperialism".

Second thought: "slavery"...which goes to: "revolt".

"Guns", then..."Race War".

Um, what are you smoking, Farmer Tom?
We haven't been able to make Puerto Rico a state.

We are not trying to make Puerto Rico a state, they enjoy the territorial status.

We offer, not force. There is a difference:
An offer is made by choice
Force....well isn't


The world needs to start getting on the same page; our government is the most successful govt ever for the people that live there. Freedom of religion as well as all the other freedoms are something that must be in place before peace will rule the earth. The European Union is expanding this way; they aren't trying to force Turkey to join...are they. Some more territories around the world will benefit the whole of our peoples, and would be especially beneficial to the peoples that are taken into our elite circle.

No I'm not smokin nothin; it’s just something that should be done. Compassion for humanity isn't always just giving money at Christmas to poor people; sometimes it's much more than that.

Really? How about women who live here, and their proportionate representation in their government?

How do we compare to countries in, say, Nothern Europe?

Oh, and I saw some very disgruntled Puerto Ricanos on that sorryeverybody site.

Good question about Northern Europe and the US, but what about countries that would be like Somalia?

I've know and worked with a lot of Puerto Ricans and they say they want to remain a territory, it makes them semi indepedant keeping their national identity, and it also gives them a strong well structured law to maintain the integrity of their populace.

sorryeverybody site ???????? Link to the site?????

Here; God help you if you are going to actually search for the Puerto Ricans in there yourself.

Since we're in the neocon mode on foreign policy, why not just *make* Iraq and Afghanistan states? Then we wouldn't be dependent on foreign oil, and we could have a good narco side business in Afghanistan. Plus we would have neighboring territories from which to invade Iran.

The rest of the world already hates us anyway. They couldn't do squat about it.

To hell with Puerto Rico. We wouldn't want them anyway, as they would probably vote Democrat

That's the spirit! Expand or Die. Let's pick up some flack jackets at Costco and go fight for Caesar!

I understand that you only have these countries best wishes at hart, but I can't help but think that the rest of the world would start calling us the new Rome or Great Britain and accuse of colonizing Africa.

In the 19th century, it was manifest destiny, Atlantic to Pacific. In the 21st, it's time to go global. The truly great countries are empires!

Just think of the possibilities from Iraq and Afghanistan alone -- we'd be adding 42 million fundamentalists!!! That could ensure GOP control of Congress and the White House for perpetuity, as we'd be adding one state (Iraq) with a population bigger than Texas and another (Afghanistan) the size of Florida!

As for Africa -- we only want new states that can be pillaged for U.S. corporate benefit. Not much of Africa fits the bill. And, except for the Arab states in the north, they'd be damn Democrats!!!!!

Before we make Iraq and Afghanistan states, though, we will need to amend the Constitution so that it applies to only the original 50 states (and maybe while we're at it, subtract some Blue states, too, especially Massachusetts). We don't want a little thing like the Constitution messing us up.

Forcing a union no, not logical. If you study the US constitution at present it actually does allow for a states individuality, and even more so for a territory. As for pillaging the assets of the indigenous peoples, that’s what we're doing now folks, you can see that can't you.....no wars in Africa, wars are in the oil rich middle east. Do we pillage the assets of Indiana, or are the Indianans doing that themselves?
Maybe some people will call it imperialism, but allot more people will say "can we be a state too?"

Remember I did say offer them a chance to be a part of our government.

Are you about something like NAFTA and GATT?

The United Nations?

If they become part of the US government are we then obligated to police them?

True but as you mentioned the other day "We are not trying to make Puerto Rico a state, they enjoy the territorial status." There are a lot of hard working people who think that residents of PR should be required to have responsibilities as those of us living in a state. As a territory (please correct me if I'm wrong), residents have all the rights of an American citizen but not necessarily all the responsibilities (federal income tax requirements?).

So, even if we were willing to let them join up as a territory and they were to accept, what is the long term risk/benefit ratio for us (bear in mind, we have to protect them from insurgents/terrorist attacks/hostile countries)?

Here's Puerto Rico:

http://welcome.topuertorico.org/government.shtml

It'll work. :D

exemption from federal taxes & "lack of assignation of some revenues reserved for the states" is a great deal for them, but I still don't think it will float on the mainland (well, maybe if we get reallyˆcheap gas)