US citizens, why don't you start by cleaning your own house first?
Before you start criticizing other countries for their terrorism or human rights records, shouldn't the US government clean their own house first?
For example, over the past 50 years, the United States government:
1-Supported and actively organized coups d'etat against numerous third world countries, just to defend US bussiness interests and selfish geopolitical aims.
This includes many democratically-elected governments.
Some examples are Guatemala 1954, Chile 1973, Argentina 1976, Iran (Persia) 1953, Haiti 1957, Brazil 1964, Zaire (congo) 1965, S.Korea 1979, Grenada 1983, Venezuela 2002 (failed attempt), and many more.
In my country, Argentina, 'black lists' with dissidents to be killed were actually written and given to our local death squads by the CIA, during the 1976-83 dictatorship.
Additional Details
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2- Is known to practice 'low-intensity warfare', a set of war strategies that are actually very similar to terrorism itself in practice. This can be seen in the recent 1990's Sudan bombings, in recent bombings of civilian populations in Iraq and Afghanistan, in the support you gave to the Nicaraguan Contras to fight the gov. of said country, during the late 1980's. The 'contras' were an illegal guerrilla group, and were properly qualified as "terrorist" by the International Court of Justice.
3- Engaged in unfair economic blockades against countries that didn't bow to US bussiness interests. (example: Iraq, Cuba)
The excuse for doing this was 'dictatorship', but it's an hypocritical excuse, since other dictatorships enjoyed active US support during the same time frame.
4- Still supports numerous dictatorships around the world, specially if they are free-market and let themselves be puppeted by US policy.
Thsi includes S. Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, Ethiopia, among others.
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5- Mantains illegal "black prisions" with no right to trial and mild forms of torture, in many places in Europe and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
6- Has engaged in active industrial espionage over the past years, thanks to the Cold-war era Echelon network.
7- Has, as a country, poor democratic credentials itself, with only two parties that look very similar and a media that's comprised of mostly large corporations that usually don't dare to damage the interest of their partners.
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My country, of course, is not perfect either... but we are not trying to be world policemen.
We are all in this together, we should try to change things to make them more fair. I'm criticizing the US gov. simply because it's the world's only superpower, and with that comes a large responsability.
Other countries have their crimes too (The UK, France, China and Russia come to mind), and we should not forget about those either.
It just sickens me to my stomatch when I hear the US president talk about "democracy" and "promoting human rights", when they haven't even apologized for what they have done and are still doing, and people like Kissinger are allowed to walk the streets freely when they should be on trial for crimes against humanity.
2006-09-17 16:00:35 · 16 answers · asked by me 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
You need no answer. Your question is a smart and informative statement. I'm a US citizen and I want much more for my country than this mess. I also want more for the world even if it means a few million dollars less to a few Americans who don't even speak for us. They are supposed to be our servants, but we're the ones going to work and paying half our money without any say as to what global atrocities are done with it. It's a shame b/c this was and still can be the greatest country of all time. If we take care of the US and not just the interest of a few people, there would be peace on earth and we'll have less domestic problems to boot. I'm actually uncomfortable typing these words in the land of the free. That makes me want to CRY!
2006-09-17 16:14:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
When you mentioned that the US was the world's only superpower there is the answer to your question as to why we do what we do. Obviously, America makes mistakes as many countries do, yet when these countries get into a desperate situation who do they call. Its the US. I think in many cases we would prefer to not be involved but because of our responsibility to the rest of the world we do. I feel that our goal in the realm of foreign policy is to make democracies of all nations so that EVERY PERSON has the freedom to speak. Of course Freedom always comes with a price and sometimes that price may cost us friends of other nations and our lost soldiers. I think Americans have come to realize that our previous theology for foreign policy, "The enemy or my enemy is my friend" leaves America vulnerable and open to problems ahead in addition to looking weak and subject to criticism by her enemies. Even with all her mistakes I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, Her rights give you the freedom to praise and criticize without retribution.
2006-09-17 23:25:39 · answer #2 · answered by Karen N 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yea! We already do that ! Clean house that is.
Called Check and balances.
Also Democrats and Republicans!
I am tired of everyone beating up on us , because we do make mistakes, ( we try not too). As you said your country makes mistakes. Do they continuously. beat up on themselves?
As young as our country is, I think we have been tremendously successful! How did we get to be a World power Nation in such a short , if we are so bad.
2006-09-17 23:14:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a. The president only represents us on paper. Nearly everyone I've met actually despises him.
b. I am not a bad person just for happening to be born in America.
c. EVERYBODY that's of any power engaged and continues to engage in espionage INCLUDING us.
d. I can't help but wonder if this is an actual question or a foreigner wondering on to opur side of Yahoo! just to stir the **** and complain about how bad America is.
2006-09-17 23:10:32 · answer #4 · answered by Crossroads Keeper 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I have no control over political policies or foreign relations. I am happy to mind my own business, which is what I recommend that you do. I am not up for a lecture right now on the faults on the nation as I have no control over what the government does.
2006-09-18 00:41:08 · answer #5 · answered by Simplystunning 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We, the people......, clean our homes every day.
If you want to talk to our government than you have to write
to that group - Government of the United States of America.
President Bush and the others you name should be addressed
directly.
This site is note a political forum in the way you are going on.
I am sorry if my house is not clean enough for you - please call
me a day ahead of your arrival and I'll do a better job.
2006-09-17 23:11:28 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
You are undoubtedly an anti-American foreigner with an armload of BS that I am not going to dignify with an answer. Go back to Argentina and change that government. It will never be as good as this democracy and you know it.
2006-09-18 01:00:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
To be truthful, when US does all those kind of things, they are not really doing it for the sake of justice or human rights or at least not all situations. I'd like to believe that by our interference, it has beneificial outcomes for us (like you said, financial gains or security).
2006-09-17 23:05:49 · answer #8 · answered by leikevy 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Kissinger on trial for crimes against humanity??? He's a nobel Peace Prize winner ..... BAHAHAHAHA...you gotta be kidding me
2006-09-17 23:06:20 · answer #9 · answered by 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋
My frick. Gosh, so they US did strategies that were "similar" which could mean ANYTHING!! I already answered a question just like this a week ago.
2006-09-17 23:05:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋