I am speechless, HFS. Do you get all of your information from Fox News and American talk radio? America has "stepped up to the plate" several times in history -- World War II (several years late, but still welcome), Serbia (including brutal aerial assaults on Belgrade's population), Korea (with the support of the United Nations) and Somalia (with an ignominious retreat after their first defeat). EVERY other time, it has been in the interests of American investors and capitalists, NOT for "freedom and democracy". A much abbreviated list:
- Annexation of the American continent from the native inhabitants, and simultaneous annexation of large portions from Mexico (who had no greater right to those lands than the Americans, really, except that they stole it from the natives first)
- The capture, torture and slavery of innocent Africans
- Dozens of military interventions and occupations of Latin American countries (Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatamala, Panama, Dominican Republic, etc. etc.) throughout the last two centuries, often with brutal suppression of the locals, usually in defense of United Fruit or other economic interests.
- Followed by military support and training for brutal dictators and military governments in those and other countries in Latin America and elsewhere in the world --- only one example that bit them in the ass later was the coup against Mossedegh in Iran and his replacement by the tame Shah.
- The brutal wars fought over decades to gain control of The Philippines (ceded to them after a disgraceful war picked with Spain to appeal to American voters)
- The military forcing of Japan to accept international trade.
- The staging of a coup and subsequent annexation of the Kingdom of Hawaii (at the behest of sugar planters)
- Vietnam. ..and the resulting destruction of the societies in Cambodia and Laos.
- The overthrow of democratically elected governments who disagreed with American policies (Chile and Nicaragua are only two recent examples)
The current arrogance and brutality on display is not an anomaly. It is a continuation of history. The four examples quoted above are the only ones that I can think of where Americans acted militarily in support of an ideal of any kind. Their current foreign policy has been dreamed up by ignorant children, who have no respect for human life and dignity....the difference is that the profits of Haliburton are now the goal, not those of United Fruit.
And you really wonder why the rest of the world don't greet American soldiers with open arms and flowers?
