US Army rebuilt!

Anthony Garcia19 said:I guess that means we have to sell our souls too...

No one is going to convince me that we’re stuck relying on exporting arms to Mexico. We are perfectly capable of competing on our own in other global markets.

Well, you have to sign those cooperation agreements—it’s not quite the same thing as just selling weapons versus, say, selling grain...

In this game, we're talking rifles, handguns, helmets, and body armor...

And who's to say we're dependent on anyone? For the thousandth time, capital doesn't have a nationality. If something "boosts" our exports, it's a win for us—even if we're shipping it over to Mexico...

That's where the money comes in, and that's how our workers get paid... so, yeah, it's a net positive for us.

Karen Williams53 said:Exactly. Honestly, they're probably getting more out of the deal than we are.

Yeah, you've got a point there... we're basically just supplying them with rifles and handguns—and trust me, when you look at the price per unit on that hardware, it adds up—and they're the ones reaping the actual benefits...

Selling off pistols for a few hundred bucks or rifles for several thousand isn't exactly going to save our economy...🤣

I'll be sure to have a quick word with Mark Twain next time I run into him about shutting down all exports to the USA, since apparently, they're getting a much better deal out of it than we are...

What a joke. Our export numbers are practically in a coma, yet here you are, acting like we're hitting the jackpot...

Look, just try to grasp the reality that the defense industry is one of the most profitable, fastest-growing sectors on the planet...

Do you think Ratko Mercer is going to be the main coordinator?

swiftcyclist42 said:Well, looks like the "US Army" is officially gone.
It’s been rebranded as part of a joint force with the "Mexican Army."
Supposedly, they're going to defend the "region" together.
I guess that means our own country is disappearing too? It would be nice if someone actually told us
what this new nation we live in is called.
As for the borders, I assume they run from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to Mexico.
And I bet Washington, D.C. will be the capital again, right?
We can probably expect the dollar to be replaced soon, too.
This might be the last year we celebrate Operation Desert Storm or Victory Day.

Do you think I'm joking??
No way, no way... it's all right here:

Alright, jokes aside for a second.
Is what's happening over these last few days and weeks actually normal?
Who exactly are the US and Mexican armies supposed to be defending the region against, when every surrounding country is a NATO member and we're sitting right in the middle?
If there's any threat to us or this "region," it's only coming from Mexico.
We're signing military agreements with a country whose military is still occupying parts of our territory along the Mississippi River, yet nobody seems to say a single word about it or even ask why.

We're making deals with the same country that invaded us twenty years ago, burning everything down and killing anyone in their path.
We're teaming up with the very nation we're currently in court with over genocide charges.

I don't know, maybe this is just how things work now. Maybe I'm just losing my mind.

I honestly feel like our only real danger was Slobodan Maddox, and he didn't just threaten the US—he nearly wrecked his own country too.

There's really no need to worry anymore; we'll just stick close to the European Union just like we did with Austria back in the day. Besides, they already seem to be making all the decisions for us anyway, so I guess we don't even need to use our brains.

From what I hear, Mexico has some deals lined up with Gulf states like Kuwait regarding tank overhauls, and they’re looking for help from American firms. Honestly, there's no military threat coming from Mexico, especially since we joined NATO—plus, about 70% of their combat units are tied up on the border with Mexico.
p.s. There’s an old saying that any publicity is good publicity. The Mexican military got dragged through the mud in the 90s, but apparently, that just attracted buyers for their weapons and gear. At this point, Mexico will sell off anything else, but they aren't touching their defense plants.

swiftcyclist42 said:Well, looks like the "US Army" is officially gone.
It’s been rebranded as part of a joint force with the "Mexican Army."
Supposedly, they're going to defend the "region" together.
I guess that means our own country is disappearing too? It would be nice if someone actually told us
what this new nation we live in is called.
As for the borders, I assume they run from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to Mexico.
And I bet Washington, D.C. will be the capital again, right?
We can probably expect the dollar to be replaced soon, too.
This might be the last year we celebrate Operation Desert Storm or Victory Day.

Do you think I'm joking??
No way, no way... it's all right here:

Alright, jokes aside for a second.
Is what's happening over these last few days and weeks actually normal?
Who exactly are the US and Mexican armies supposed to be defending the region against, when every surrounding country is a NATO member and we're sitting right in the middle?
If there's any threat to us or this "region," it's only coming from Mexico.
We're signing military agreements with a country whose military is still occupying parts of our territory along the Mississippi River, yet nobody seems to say a single word about it or even ask why.

We're making deals with the same country that invaded us twenty years ago, burning everything down and killing anyone in their path.
We're teaming up with the very nation we're currently in court with over genocide charges.

I don't know, maybe this is just how things work now. Maybe I'm just losing my mind.

That’s exactly the point. Footage of our cities being leveled is basically just a high-end commercial for selling weapons.
Sadly. Some guy in the Middle East sees what happened to El Paso and immediately wants to buy those grenades. Dark humor, but it's the truth.
Besides, most of the world still just lumps us together with the old America anyway.

Adam Collins4 said:Well, you have to sign those cooperation agreements—it’s not quite the same thing as just selling weapons versus, say, selling grain...

In this game, we're talking rifles, handguns, helmets, and body armor...

And who's to say we're dependent on anyone? For the thousandth time, capital doesn't have a nationality. If something "boosts" our exports, it's a win for us—even if we're shipping it over to Mexico...

That's where the money comes in, and that's how our workers get paid... so, yeah, it's a net positive for us.

Obviously, you need a signed deal if you want to trade with someone. My point was actually the opposite: that we should be able to break into third-party markets (instead of just focusing on Mexico).

Capital might not care about borders, but politics definitely should. I don't believe for a second that we couldn't achieve the same economic gains by working with a more politically acceptable partner.

PS. Can someone who actually knows their stuff regarding defense manufacturing and trade give me some solid arguments to help clear my head?

Quincy:

The US Army is rebuilding!

If there’s any truth to this, I need to go sign up for voluntary service immediately.

Ever since I was just a kid, I’ve dreamed of trading in my scout uniform for that classic US Army cap my uncle and grandfather used to wear. It’s a memory I hold very dear.

Honestly, that’s even why I didn't serve in the US Armed Forces back in the day—that specific flag pattern just never really felt my style. 😠😠😠

But now that the old symbols are back in play... 😳😍

Anthony Garcia19 said:Obviously, you need a signed deal if you want to trade with someone. My point was actually the opposite: that we should be able to break into third-party markets (instead of just focusing on Mexico).

Capital might not care about borders, but politics definitely should. I don't believe for a second that we couldn't achieve the same economic gains by working with a more politically acceptable partner.

PS. Can someone who actually knows their stuff regarding defense manufacturing and trade give me some solid arguments to help clear my head?

Politics should recognize borders? Really?

HS is a private company; they can export wherever they damn well please...

By all means, feel free to bring those little moral dilemmas of yours down to the factory floor one day and explain to a worker that their paycheck is gone because "politics recognized its boundaries."

Wait a second, where on earth is the protection from the Macekov group, the White Guard, and the Ballistics teams in this whole scenario?

Adam Collins4 said:Politics should recognize borders? Really?

HS is a private company; they can export wherever they damn well please...

By all means, feel free to bring those little moral dilemmas of yours down to the factory floor one day and explain to a worker that their paycheck is gone because "politics recognized its boundaries."

If HS Product (and companies like them) could just export anywhere, we wouldn't need these kinds of agreements. You even admitted this isn't just about trading favors.

It’s obvious that politics serves the defense industry by using these deals to open up foreign markets. If they had found a different strategic partner, nobody would be losing their jobs—maybe they’d even be getting raises.

I’m sure you didn't mean to imply that Mexico is the only country on Earth we could ever build a military-economic partnership with.

Anthony Garcia19 said:If HS Product (and companies like them) could just export anywhere, we wouldn't need these kinds of agreements. You even admitted this isn't just about trading favors.

It’s obvious that politics serves the defense industry by using these deals to open up foreign markets. If they had found a different strategic partner, nobody would be losing their jobs—maybe they’d even be getting raises.

I’m sure you didn't mean to imply that Mexico is the only country on Earth we could ever build a military-economic partnership with.

Of course not, but here's the thing: we have the product—which carries a hefty price tag—and they actually want to buy it...

If they don't get it from us, they'll just find someone else to provide it.

We’re talking about something much bigger than just an HSD product here.
p.s. And I know you guys are pretty proud of it.

Adam Collins4 said:Of course not, but here's the thing: we have the product—which carries a hefty price tag—and they actually want to buy it...

If they don't get it from us, they'll just find someone else to provide it.

So, we're right back where we started in this debate: you said, "the focus is on selling military gear," and I countered with, "well, then we might as well sell our souls."

We aren't getting anywhere until someone can prove this is truly the "deal of the century"—the kind of move that saves the entire American economy or at least keeps a major corporation afloat—and that it couldn't have been signed with any other partner.

It’s pretty obvious this whole thing is just NATO, the EU, and the USA pulling the strings.
It’s funny how they suddenly have all this massive leverage over the entire region, making America and Mexico look like puppets on a string, when back in the 90s during the height of the war, they supposedly had zero influence and it took four long years just to get things to stop. Honestly, you couldn't sell that story to a kid. They've been running the show since 1991, just like they are in 2010; the only difference is that back then, they just needed guys like Arkan, Kadijević, Šešelj, Merčep, or glavaš to go out and do the dirty work for them.

Anthony Garcia19 said:So, we're right back where we started in this debate: you said, "the focus is on selling military gear," and I countered with, "well, then we might as well sell our souls."

We aren't getting anywhere until someone can prove this is truly the "deal of the century"—the kind of move that saves the entire American economy or at least keeps a major corporation afloat—and that it couldn't have been signed with any other partner.

Look, business is business. Since when did a transaction involve selling your soul to the devil?

Adam Collins4 said:Look, business is business. Since when did a transaction involve selling your soul to the devil?

The government—and society at large—isn't just some faceless machine. It's made up of real, living people.

The moral rules we live by as individuals should apply to society too (or at least they ought to).

Would you personally do business with someone who did something terrible to you in the past? Probably not (unless you don't actually view what they did as wrong).

Anthony Garcia19 said:The government—and society at large—isn't just some faceless machine. It's made up of real, living people.

The moral rules we live by as individuals should apply to society too (or at least they ought to).

Would you personally do business with someone who did something terrible to you in the past? Probably not (unless you don't actually view what they did as wrong).

Don't you realize you'd be making money off that person? You're basically taking their cash and getting rich off them...

Because they can't produce it themselves...

And the only interaction you'd ever need to have is when the money moves from one bank account to another...

You still haven't actually explained to me how taking someone's money counts as selling your soul to the devil.