US Gov. - A bully Cowboy in a bar looking for a fight?

Question

The United States persists in responding to symptoms rather than to underlying conditions by trying to address every conflict by military means. It backs the Ethiopian army in Somalia. It occupies Iraq and Afghanistan. It threatens to bomb Iran. It supports the military dictatorship in Pakistan.

None of these military actions addresses the problems that led to conflict in the first place. On the contrary, American policies typically inflame the situation rather than solve it.

Time and again, this military approach comes back to haunt the US. The US embraced the Shah of Iran by sending massive armaments, which fell into the hands of Iran’s Revolutionary Government after 1979. The US then backed Saddam Hussein in his attack on Iran, until the US ended up attacking Saddam himself. The US backed Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan against the Soviets, until the US ended up fighting bin Laden. Since 2001 the US has supported Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan with more than $10 billion in aid,

Answer 1

Nope. It's not a cowboy, but an imperialist power desperately hanging on to the number one spot, as it declines in strength and ability to maintain that spot.

All imperial powers use military might. USA, Inc. may seem a little "cowboy" to you compared with other imperialist powers because they've never had to maneuver adroitly to gain that position, and thus are more crude in their methods. Since the end of World War 2 they've been the number one imperialist power as a result of the face-off with the old Soviet Union. Their imperialist rivals, such as ex-number one Britain, and France, were forced into line behind them by the situation. Thus, no maneuvering was necessary, and the crudest, stupidest, most muscular approaches in U.S. foreign policy were still successful for their liberal and conservative proponents in American politics.

Now that the USSR is gone, and China hasn't yet risen to its full potential, things are back to a situation more resembling that in the pre-World War I period -- inter-imperialist rivalry between the U.S. and its European and Asian rivals for power. And now that the U.S. needs political agility in its dealings with other nations, it's stuck with a political culture that has weeded out anyone with the ability to exercise any of that agility. Thus, its decline and fall will be accelerated.

A tradition among imperialist powers is an exaggerated public expression of respect for their soldiers, while at the same time treating them as poorly as they can get away with. Think of all the U.S. politicians talking about "support the troops" - and remember that there are military families on food stamps.

A U.S. in further decline might come to resemble Germany in the immediately-post World War I period -- the time of the overthrow of the Kaiser, and the communist Spartakus revolt. A cowboy hat could have a red star pinned to its front, too, you know.

And of course, if such a period came, we'd have to worry about what would happen if it failed. After the failure of the German left to take power in that period, a certain failed painter with a flair for public speaking signed up as a junior member of a certain right-wing extremist party. He rose to gain control of it, and then the country...

My goodness, "Erudite" - do you REALLY mean to say that the best argument you've been able to come up with is "go to Venezuela"? YOU are sure misnamed!

At least *I* fly under my real colors!

Answer 2

By the underlying conditions, do you mean the inept way that European powers carved up their former territories into countries, without considering the ethnic or cultural implications to the new borders?

Answer 3

What are you doing about this other than posting messages on Yahoo?

My advice is get involved....serve your country in a manner in which you think is in the best interest of Americans

Too many Americans.....whine about US policy....but don't get proactive

Their are many ways to serve your country other than the military which by the way fights and defends the American riht of Freedom of Speech....something most Americans take for granted....you would NOT be able to post messages like this if you were from Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Somalia without being scared of physical injury or confinement

I've fought in Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan......stop watching and listening to the media.....we are building schools, hospitals, governments and economic structures that the majority of the people in these countries want, neeed and praise us for.

Women in the middle east are allowed to attend school because of us. Basic human rights are being mandated and enforced for the first time for many of these countries because of our presence. Medical support from surgeons to dentistry are being offered to the poor for the first time. Paved roads that allow economic transport routes that connect markets for the first time.....I could go on and on....the media NEVER covers this....because people would rather watch violence and death, that is what drives ratings in the media.

America is the greatest country in the WORLD period....that is why everyone wants to come here.

A bully Cowboy in a bar looking for a fight?

How about a Humantarian first in line to offer aid during disasters?

We offer financial, military, diplomatic, medical, etc aid to more countries times 4 compared to the rest of the world.

Answer 4

Thanks for the laugh. The world chooses to rant and rail against the US until they need us and when we come to their aid they whine and cry about the way we give them help. Stop being so envious and try to fix your own home we are just fine.

To the idiotic socialist up there. Why don't you go live in Venezuela I'm sure Chavez would love to have you and show you how great it is to live in a Socialist country.

Answer 5

I haven't heard anyone in authority threaten to bomb Iran.

Answer 6

GRAT QUESTION -- but its more like BUSH is trying to Act like a Cowboy (when he doesnt really ride horses well)
Bush has the worlds most power military at his disposal...
and hes acting like a kid who just bought his first gun and feels tough because he has one.

Remmember Bush never saw combat in Vietnam..he couldnt even stomach a real deployment, and was technically AWOL.

With that said, hes the coward trying to act like a tough cowboy so that the world wont see what a coward he really is

Answer 7

Well tell you what if you don't like the USA than stay in whatever country it is that you currently live in.. When you can find a better form of goverment let us know in the meantime keep your oppions to yourself..

Answer 8

Where is the Question in this rant ??

reported for not being a Question, goodnight

Answer 9

You are welcome to leave my house anytime you want!