Why does America see itself as the world's policeman?

Question

Consider past wars like Vietnam, Iraq (spot the missing WMDs) not just Israel now.

Answer 1

This is in answer to the answerers. Especially you, Earl.

Please, Americans, I have said it before and I will say it again:

"AMERICA HAVE NEVER GOT INVOLVED IN WORLD AFFAIRS FOR ANY OTHER REASON APART FROM AMERICAN SELF INTEREST!"

They get involved because they either
A) Want to gain or gain control over resources.
B) To assert more authourity, power and influence over a region
C) To prevent a swing of power that would not be advantageous to America
D) To prevent future problems for America
E) To set a precedent for future potentially controversial actions.

And don't bring up World War II AGAIN, please. Do you think America would've joined the war if the Japanese didn't attack them first. Austria / Hungary DECLARED WAR ON THE US. Of COURSE they got involved.

I'm not sure the reasoning behind some people thinking that America actually makes other countries richer? America are far from self-sufficient. They rely on an economy that is built on the back of immigrants and world trade. If America just decided to close all borders, it will be AMERICA that sinks not the rest of the world.

Answer 2

I don't know and I don't agree with it.

I think we should close the borders. Stop all trade outside the U.S. build everything we need here. Export nothing, including technology. Then let the world sink or swim on its own!

America has been very self-reliant in the past. We need to stop outsourceing, we need to stop making the rest of the world rich.

Let England and France do all that.

Let's pull out of the world. Move all our troops around all four borders to keep the rest of the world out and just mind our own business and let the rest of the rest of the world deal with the Mid East, Near East, Far East, Africa and South America.

We deport everyone that isn't a citizen, send them back where they came from.

Everyone else gets conscripted into the U.S. militia for the common defense of the US in case of an attack or invasion over the borders.

Keep stock piling weapons. Develop new ones. Maybe make something that makes the A bomb look like a toy. Tell no one about it. Use it only if attacked.

How's that for a plan!

I even have a motto for it:

"Don't tread on me!"

Catchy!

Answer 3

America wants to have what the British Empire had many years ago. They plan to take over the world bit by bit because they think they are better than everyone else. They aim to do this by 'helping' countries in dispute but they really want to watch and run the places from afar. They want to be the Puppet Masters of the World and pull all the strings. Chipping away at the World like a bar man attacking an ice block.

God Bless Bush!

Answer 4

from the beginning the americans always thought themselfs to be better than the europeans... Although I don't belive a man who immigrated from his country, where in most of times one had commited warious crimes etc. can be a really good citizen (ok, there were some people who immigrated by religous reasons, but they were not the majority).

anyway, from the beginning they started killing all those indians, then the Monroe doctrine (the europeans should not interfere in interamerican relationships and the america won't interfere in european policy) - at that time the americans where not as strong as they are now (no nucs, no texas and california, no eastern territories, no alaska etc.)...

so, but when they got mor powerfull ant that happened some time between 1WW and 2WW, and espessially after 2WW when whole europe owe them money (landlease, marshal plann etc.) and when they got also powerfull they had a feeling they should teach everyone how to live....

2 components - they know "which way is right" (?????????), and they have enough power to make everyone live the right way, and no place for diversity....

that is so called PAX AMERICANA...

earlier we had PAX ROMANA - when civilised Roman Empire tried to teach the barbarians how to live and he got destroyed, then there was PAX BRITANICA - with a huge colonial territories (140 times bigger than GB itself - and the empire was also destroyed), inbetween there were PAX PIRENEA (Spain and Portugal), PAX FRANCE, PAX ARABIA/MONGOLIA etc.

but the history shows that the empires which is agressive against diversity will be destroyed sooner or later... :-)

Answer 5

The US International policies aim to monopolize advantages by monopolizing things without considering nature of other part of the World. NATO's umbrella was the biggest shield used, and US only intervene where it has interest in that part of the world. e.g. Military base, Fuel, or where it feel inferior in international trade hence plays with propaganda of hate rage to a specific part of the world.

Answer 6

America does not see itself as the policeman of the world. I think, its more like the rest of world that looks to America to protect them when they are in deep ****. Personally, I wish they would go and settle their own damn problems and leave us alone. Nothing would please me more than to see America for Americans only.

Answer 7

People get really pissed when we don't help.
In fact we get blamed for world war II
because we were playingthe "isolationist"
game.

However if we interfere then they hate us anyway.
Its a catch 22, everyone hates us no matter what.
Even if we did everything perfect , the world would
still hate us.

Answer 8

Be nice to us or we will kick YOUR a s s too! And complain as much as you like, but if it were not for the US entering WWII the entire continent of Europe and beyond would be goosestepping and speaking german just like Hitler wanted! No one complained that we were bullies then, now did they?

Answer 9

Pompous egoism and desire to dictate terms with nations not falling in line. makes america act like corrupt politician.

Answer 10

We're the only superpower left(other than China). But china doesn't care. We protect our status. Don't F-U-C-K with us!

Nevermind, Bobby D answered it!