If America cannot protect itself how can it claim it to protect others?

Question

America has been in trouble in the past facing terrorism and is in the risk to face it again (as all countries are). How can it still claim it can ... help ... other countries and protect them against terrorism???

Do you think that if America keeps a lower profile then conflicts can minimise to a minimum? Or is it a culture thing that Americans feel so much in power on the planet to keep a low profile and this pisses off the weakest races that invented an unethical war (terrorism)?

By not being able to protect its citizens I mean not able to prevent terrorism on US ground (9.11 example) and not able to prevent panic amongst people that a new 9.11 can happen again and that its security means are adequate

Answer 1

how has the US gov NOT protected the americans?

since 911 its has protected us thru probably THOUSANDS of possible attacks we read about almost each day in the papers.

and its not like we're talking about a mechanical security system here, we're talking about spineless thugs who try to stab us in the back when we're sleeping... get real.

Answer 2

To answer the first part of your question, the United States is the world leader in defense spending and many in current and past administrations seem to have a "might is right" philosophy. Essentially, since we are the strongest, we have the right to be the world's policeman. We have often historically put defense priorities above civillian ones (for example, Reagan's cuts of civillian programs while vastly increasing military spending). Also, see the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine for an example of the philosophy being the official philosophy to the U.S.

To answer your second question, I don't believe that the United States keeping a lower profile will cause conflicts to decrease. In fact, you may not be aware of this, but the number of conflicts in the world is at an all-time low. Often times our problem is that we "ignore" regions of the world which don't interest us (see AIDS and poverty in Africa).

Finally, for your last question, what I think you are asking is that we believe we are so powerful we cannot stay out of world afffairs and so others are angry about this and resort to terrorism. This is true, and I agree that many Americans cannot imagine not leading the world (although it didn't end up badly for England after its days of leading the world).

Answer 3

All anyone (or any country) can do is TRY to protect themselves.

And who says that by trying to protect others that we aren't protecting ourselves as well.

The reason that Hitler was almost able to win WW II is that the French, British and others pulled their heads into their shells like turtles.

If he had been stopped in Sudetenland, then there would not have been war in Europe.

Answer 4

The United States should lookout for one country...the United States! Everyone else can fry! If we kept our nose out of other country's business things would be alot better.

Answer 5

American is the strongest and richest country in the world today.
The rest of the world is jellous of what we have and want it for themselves but will not actualy work for it. So it is natural to hate us.

Answer 6

Hey, sweet cheeks, we get suckered into everyone's Podunk bush war, and when we don't respond then we are considered asses, when we do respond we are asses, so we cannot win.

Answer 7

you know, you would be able to get a bunch of answers to this question if you posed as someone else, like bono, or willie nelson or something

Answer 8

Life is like that. Somtimes we help others a lot and we cannot even help ourselves.

Answer 9

the losing cultures always like to blame the winning ones for their faults...dont you..???

Answer 10

who knows