Meanwhile, In Pakistan... interesting doings in the Swat Valley.

Yeah, that Swat.

^^ UG is correct.

I think history will suggest otherwise UG. In fact, it's already being lectured on in Australian Universities. I took a course called 'Colonialism in the South Pacific' a few years ago. The US featured pretty heavily.

I really don't have anything more to add to this discussion than I've mentioned previously during other discussions, so I'll just leave it at that. :)

I don't think you'll hear me say we're completely free in all times and all places of the temptations of empire -- but we have a fundamental understanding that colonies and tributary, puppet regimes aren't the way to go, precisely because they will distort free trade. We've had this from our beginnings, and we'll hew to it. I've never seen a simon-pure anything, ever, anywhere where politics exist.