Reply #47: Doubt this statement -

[blackhorse]

" ... is a real force in American politics"

Strong disagreement. The real forces in American politics are the ones who pump money into the corrupt elites. That is where the power emanates from, and the elites don't care a whit for what the people think, other than to keep them distracted with truckloads of fluff.

The flag-waving is done by individuals who have been encouraged by the system to believe that such behavior is somehow real patriotism: It is not, it is only a painless show that demands nothing from the one waving the flag. Not to mention that most people have no idea of how to care for the national flag, much less really grasp what it represents to the men and women in whose name they are supposedly waving it so much for.

Pride? Where was this so-called pride when the Spanish told the U.S. to get bent over the Iraq war? It wasn't manifested - because the real powers that be didn't see any worth in it, and because, dog gone it, Rota sits in a location that the U.S. considers strategic. Sorry, aint buying, call me jaded if you please.

BTW, the base in Spain won't close. It is a Spanish base, the U.S. is nothing more than a tenant there among many Spanish military personnel.

BH