Because the USA is a supper power, what does the world expect of us?

Question

We receive a lot of criticism yet we help a lot of countries. What does the world expect us to do about people of other countries being wronged?

Should we keep our hands off and let them suffer ?

When people are being ravaged and murdered by their leaders, should we say "To hell with them" and turn our backs?

Remember, Americans want to have peace also, we don't want to send our young men and women to die for some other country's benefit.

As the world's super power, if we don't do it who will?. I hope you notice that we don't keep the lands that we free up, we give the free lands back to their people.

What do you want from us?

I'm not crying, I'm asking you. What do you expect us to do?

When you think of us remember Americans are your cousins. We are made up of you, we are not a separate race, separate creed , separate religion, etc, Americans are everyone.

KCD provides some interesting thoughts yet the answers to the question seem to be of the non-commital type.
When WWII was over, a solution to the world's problems was thought to be the United Nations but that group failed to do anything of value and, as a result, the major powers were left to solve or become involved in the conflicts that the UN was supposed to handle. Some of those major powers themselves were remiss in that they sat and watched, like vultures waiting to see where defenceless prizes might develop, instead of jumping in to help solve the problem. While China and Russia stayed on the sidelines and watched America and Britain involved themselves and responded to the "all for one and one for all" theme that the United Nations was formed to observe.
The world's problems cannot be solved by one or two nations, if we want peace in our time all of the nations have to participate in the effort.

Thank you KCD, You brought up some interesting items and I think I can now see a feature of America that tends to explain why we get into some of the predicaments.
Because we are made up of blocks of people from all over the world, when Country A has a severe problem, the American people from Country A contact their Representatives and ask them to help their "former or parent" country. And if the block from Country A is big enough, it tends to influence what the entire country does. And, since Americans are brothers and sister to each other, we take on each others problems and try to solve them as our own.

Answer 1

The problem with such a question is there are so many people pro and against America, American way of life, American goods etc. The list is long. To decide what is expected from the American goverment in terms of looking back at history and their involvement in various regions of the world especially wars they led, it always comes back as a boomerang to them that they should participate and police the world. I believe the most justified war they led outside there boundaries was WWII where they did along with the allies save Europe without doubt and finished of Hitler and his crazy mass destruction army. So basically 100 points for the American goverment. But things look quiet differently in Vietnam. Did that war really concern the world or even America! Who can justify young Americans dying back in the 60's and partly the 70's. while some back home in your country where protesting the war some others where just all about flower power. Arlington is a place of pride for some and for some I guess only agony and generations of youth wasted. Can anyone who is or was personally involved go to the Vietnam Wall and say every name there should be there because that war was necessary. My answer is no! Loyd Johnson did apparently not want that mess either and left the scene altough he was as far as I know the most popular American president and would most likely be relected etc. But he gave up because the war machine was unstopable. I guess Mc Namara was the bady then, judging so by watching " Path to War" where he seems to be the bad one
pushing onwards not to mention the army "people" who believed they could finish the war with precision bombing and so on. Let me remind you or make you aware Napalm bombs destroyed Vietnamese soil and alot of people due to the effects of agent orange are crippled. Talking about the American side of all this would mean mentioning alot of POW, drugs used on soldier,the agent orange used also effected them as well. There is no end to criticism that can be applied and lets face it Vietnam was a ghastly mistake reflecting the greed of strong nations to prove strength and the trial of weaponry and nothing else. Hence if I was from that region of the world I do not think that I could say I am to happy about America offering protection where it is not actually needed. Lets have a look at Iraq. The first Gulf War was justified I believe but the second is nothing but a Petroleum war.
On top of all that alot more Americans are dying and it is supposedly to established peace and order. Why does the American goverment not assign Israel to that war and tell them to fight in the Middle East themselves to establish peace. A peace which I believe is mostly distrupted because of them since the establishment of Israel (I think that was 1943?). So
what can one say. Bombing Lebanon while America is at war in the Gulf is the way this world is going to believe in peace and establishing good relations, saving lives etc. Where is the good side of all that America has done since approximately the last 50 years in this world. It is all a matter of perception and where one belongs to and how one is affected by the wars and the aid that might have been given. Another issue: Afganistan - what was that all about - 9/11 ? Bombing a flat country and making it more flat and saying later; we established order and also fought for 9/11 victims and the homeland? This is an ugly case of lies and deceit I guess! 9/11 is a whole different ball game where there is alot of unknown dark games going around. It might even be an inside job to give a reason to fight wars and do war mongering and nothing else. So as we all heard they are getting ready for Iran! What for? Basically I personally find America is a country
which is fascinating when it comes to matters of the ordinary life ie. way of life, the people, its self as a country,movies and alot more. But when it comes to policing the world the benefit is not clear anymore as it would have been WWII.

Addition: I agree almost fully with the fact that America is a mixed culture and hence alot of people and creeds are represented. This is a fact. As for the UN: it was part of a good ideology back when it was created. By now it is a platform where the stronger nations can veto each other or "gang" up for good or bad causes.
As time has shown wars and negative issues are handled there with vigor and the results are not always very satisfying. The ideology has become a facet which is very questionable in terms of positive aims being followed fairly by all. Here again as an example: The present gulf war is not everyones war. May you be where ever you are from or live on this planet, do you care that the petroleum price is up or down. If you do drive a car, than think abaout the people dying whether American or Iraqi or others actively at this point in time. If you are the consumer stereo type
than you will most likely anyhow not care. This is the aditude of most people I guess. Those that do care for the reason I gave, or many other ones I did not give, most likely are not in a position to change anyhting anyhow. So what can they do but watch it all happen. Lets put down a simple fact: Iraq was under embargo for 10 years and was already cooperating with the UN when Mr. Bush after his dad, who was as you would know the president of America at Desert Storm, decided he should go back to Baghdad and finish off what he says needs to be done. I think this is some Bush family war where the young son was put in a position of doing what his dad has done and thought: Well if my dad says so or did so, I guess it is the right thing. I fully disagree with all this. The UN and the countries represented of course do not want to take part in the present Gulf war because of the 10 years and after issue, as well as many other reasons. Among these, I think it is a blunt fact that definetly this war was not necessary. Sadam did not challenge anyone, he did not fool around with petroleum or weapons anymore since he was already defeated. Am I wrong? So why are all the troops there
fighting on again just like yesterday? Sadam is captured and is being trialled which I believe should be done. However is one man the real solution for the active war. I believe it is a theater
of shame were some man with a beard and Midlle Eastern looks
is a puppet of the whole war machine and Holywood type of scenarios are made to emphasise "We are here to establish order and are doing so by acquitting the responsible people...."
Am I not right in questioning these things? Lets not forget I am not involved in all this in any mentionable way. If I was a Marine,
could I just let all this pass and say "We are here for this and that. I am proud etc." I am sure such a man is saying this to justify what he is doing under the command of his high ranking officers. Nothing else! Entering a village fighting at close range, seeing blood gashing. This is a trauma for even a professional soldier. These poor souls are an instrument of a war machine
that can only be truly stopped by another one of equal strength.
I think there is so much that can be written abaout all this it might not really answer your query but I am sure it makes you see things under a different light and aspect. There is no real answer to your question or other ones other people not only on Yahoo but all over the world poise in such matter. Where action is needed virtually all people are tied up and cannot really move and change things. Even politicians are not the ones, believe me they are also pupets of a theater led by industrialist and influential people who do not care at all. Money is the cause and being basically the root of evil I guess, it is a question of war economies being part of such utter horrible mess being created all over the world. Yes, you are right it concerns us all and wtihin the next 10 years or so it looks like things are going to get worse.
This global village, earth, is going to become a place where the stronger, as always, will try and opress the weak. The cause being money, greed, self imposing etc. Maybe the good old days
of Clinton were better. At least some humanly funny things happened. He was more sympathetic. His election campaign in the nineties promising. A president who plays the saxsaphone and has a musical ear as well. Thats somehow fun and interesting to. Unfortunately his musical talents went astray in the White House with Monica Lewinsky and as you would now all that playing around with musical instruments went astray and I guess escalated to very much unwanted, unexcpected results. At least Hillary Clinton is not the one before and after the person who would approve of such talents and practices. However this example is even much better than the Bush example of the world with an American goverment (republican) that is not reflecting human natures more positive or from a natural side. Of course the Clinton incident is not and should be, how Americans or other people from different nations see as a landmark of behaviour
for people but it is a human mistake. Nothing else. It does not concern the world, the UN, the marine corps, navy, air force, politicians, the world economy and many more unlike what Bush
and others have started in the world without even a valid reason.
Going back to Bill Clinton: I am sure he did not spend 8 years in the White House following up on women etc. Why did Americans elect Bush. God knows! I am sure looking back most Americans are not happy with the voting they had done. To sum it all up, maybe the answer to your question at a political, basic level would be looking for the answer domestically. Hence I suggest it has alot to do with internal affairs rather than crying for help of other nations or people thereof.

Answer 2

I don't see why americans should answer to this question.

Being a non US citizen and half a globe away. i'd like to see the US not too agressive in its policy outside its own border. let each country deal with its own problem every country and its citizen/good or bad is sovereign entity. if their policy is bad, leader is corrupt, their potential is dangerous to the US, then you just make sure they don't get to you. but as long as nothing endorsed as political by other government done to the US and its citizen, the US military agression anywhere outside the US border is never necessary. come down for assistance only when asked as nobody likes to be policed around.

the world's not about protecting and providing for "fellow US citizen". there are other people too, if some hadn't noticed.

the Terrorism is a threat, but to get to the bottom of it you need to secure your OWN homeland, not other's.

never invade other people's countries with intentions of "freeing" its own people from its leader.
so what if your enemy's hiding at someone else's house. you don't want to raid their home, do you? unless there's something in that house interesting. what a perfect timing to invade. lets get to it while wer'e at it.

i love americans, great people, great products, technology, their willingness to go the extra mile to defend each human's rights. but i think the gov't should keep their guns within the border only.

Answer 3

It seems the most important thing to USA is it's superpower status. USA opposes Russia as it is a potential contender for superpower status ( on the Ukraine issue). But does not speak on Kashmir issue. If USA was so great it would have spoken against Pakistan over occupying POK bcoz speaking the thing which is right will lead to over losing an ally.

Answer 4

We're a supper power. Everybody wants us to give them free food.

Answer 5

dont mess with anyone's business. if sumbudy needs help tell them u got ur own country to run. they wont like it but eventually they'll understand. but to be frank i dont think anyone's gonna ask US to come invade their country :)

Answer 6

To bail em out of their troubles.

Answer 7

I thought the U.S.A. was a dinner power.

Answer 8

just keep your bloody hands out of the rest of the world.
That is it

Answer 9

Just because you can squash every bug you see doesn't mean you HAVE to squash every bug you see.