underestimates?

[Carl Remick]

>The U.S.
>sustains its imperial power in part by its willingness to commit
>extravagant excesses of violence. Someday it won't work, but it has
>plenty of times in the past.
>
>Doug

Yes, see also the Romans, Ottomans, et al.  Extravagant excesses of violence 
work spiffingly ... until they don't.  I think it's premature to say one way 
or the other whether we're at the "until-they-don't" phase.

Carl

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