Does the US really cares about the world or her own interest?
By wergild
@wergild (189)
Philippines
August 14, 2009 3:09am CST
I've seen a lot of modern-day powerful dictators come and go and almost all of them suffer the same fate as what other dictators of the old world has suffered: A life of opulence, power and prestige that ended in ignominy and shame ( with some exceptions).
But if you take some little analysis of it all, the US has been very instrumental in toppling unpopular and oppressive regimes across the world. From Hitler to Noriega to Idi Amin, one cannot dismiss the hand of the powerful American nation that champions the cause of freedom, democracy an peace.
When Saddam got to evil for his own good, good thing the US decided to remove him and install stability in the middle east. And day by day im impressed with her unflinching willingness to go against global outrage in order to fulfill her destiny as guardian of the world.
But what is really worth pondering for us developing nations is that she seems to suckle other dictators instead of going after them and turn then in to the world court to be tried and be served justice. Mobuto Seseke of Zaire is just one of the example. While the US is busy biting the heels of Fidel and his Cuban regime, she seems to turn a blind eye on her allied tyrants.
Does the US really wanted to rid of the world of oppression and promote order or just bring down regimes that seems to detrimental to her interest?
When she went to vietnam, afghanistan and iraq, she says its about defending freedoms and democracies over the world. I wonder what she says about somali warlords and genocidal maniacs in the balkans.
What are your thoughts on this?
4 responses
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
14 Aug 09
Very thoughtfull thread. I think the interests of one's own nation should always be first in formost in the minds of it's elected servants. I expect this of those I send to my town ahll, my state capitol and washington D.C. I expect them to be compasionate and I do expect them to care about the world, but I expect them to do whatis in the best interests of those they serve first, the people of my town, my state, my country.
The U.S. does have a habbit of getting in bed with dictators when it seems to serve us. We supported Saddam Husein for years, even as he was killing his own people. We supported the Sha of Iran, even as our CIA began warning us Iran was becomming unstable under him and something much worse was rising because of that supprt. We aquies to the ruling family of Saudi Arabia, even as they still employ barbaric punishments on their own people, draconian laws and blatent sexist society.
This practice has often put is in sticky positions, especialy when we needed the moral capital to go after other dictators or the same dictators we once supported. But I think as a NATION, as a PEOPLE, we have always been on the side of whats right, what is good, on the side of helping those we could, often sacrificing our dignity and drawing the ire of the world and our fellow citizens in some cases.
A scene that will forever be burned in to my mind, came after the tsunami of 2004. Once news began to come in in the hours and days following on how horriffic it was, no one imagined at first just how bad it had been. I remember turning on the news one morning after our military and private groups began ariving in the region, and watching aid workers handing off crates of supplies.....to people wearing Bin Laden T-shirts. .
3 people like this
@wergild (189)
• Philippines
15 Aug 09
Well sometimes politics makes strange bedfellows don't they. I guess you can't really find a nation that will support other peoples interest. From your viewpoint the US may not be a perfect police to protect the world but atleast she done her part to keep other tyrants in line.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
14 Aug 09
I think history as shown us that the concept of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" hasn't served us very well. Yes, the US has done well in taking out petty tyrants, but sadly she has also propped them up.
You are correct in your assessment that the US has served the interests of the US when carrying out foreign policy. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, all national leaders should have the interests of their nation at heart. It would be a good thing in general if what was done was always what was best. Cooperating with other nations and national leaders does have its merits, but can also be turned against us later on.
But that is not unlike ourselves. We often help people who end up hurting us later. Does that mean we quit helping? Probably not. But it does mean we should learn a few lessons along the way.. as should nations.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
14 Aug 09
As an American I feel the US has done a hell of a lot
'to help other countries. I will not bash my own
country because some othrs have a mad on against
'us because we cannot possibly help every cou ntry
in the whole world.how about some of them help
themselves for a change? we are always there when
people ask for help. I dont think one country by itself
can possibly help all the different places that have
wars going on and people being down trodden, maybe several
countries like the US and England could work together
for total peace All around the globe.Let me ask you
this,does whatever country you are from care About the'world
or only their own interests?
@wergild (189)
• Philippines
15 Aug 09
good question you got there. i guess im just a firm believer in great powers comes great responsibility. As with Uncle Sam, maybe he has the power to change the world and make it a more stable world but then you can't expect the great nation to be always be the messiah for others.
I guess sometimes US has to look out for himself, its interest and its self-preservation but judging from the track records, mistakes are prevalent. Politics sometimes makes strange bedfellows of enemies and friends but I think the US has done its part to make tyrants toe the line.
