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Yoepus,
You named a lot of good examples to back up your view. Sadly, I'm not that knowledgable about all conflicts the U.S. has been involved in but I still have a feeling that if one does a little research and try to follow the money/power trail I think reasons of self interest will rear it's ugly little head (I would do this myself out of pure interest but I can't find the time right now).
The Balkans for example. A pure European concern that quite possibly should have been taken care of by the Europeans. For whatever reason (the usual politcal difficulties to agree on anything and the stigmatizations about the european military and war since WWII, I would guess) Europe never dealt with it on it's own. However, I have the feeling that if left alone this conflict had the potential to spread to it's neighbouring countries and affect western europe more directly. Maybe drag the whole continent into war. This would of course hurt the U.S. who need Europe as a trading partner (and vice versa obviously) and maybe the U.S. had to act because of the potential risks?
This is of course speculations from my side but I need to know a lot more about each conflict in order to change my views about the existence of benevolent nations. Financial aid might be out of pure benevlonce but as soon as the military gets involved with the potential risk of people getting killed and all the other costs involved I think self interest is a necessity.
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| Originally posted by Dj_Irish Yoepus, You named a lot of good examples to back up your view. Sadly, I'm not that knowledgable about all conflicts the U.S. has been involved in but I still have a feeling that if one does a little research and try to follow the money/power trail I think reasons of self interest will rear it's ugly little head (I would do this myself out of pure interest but I can't find the time right now). The Balkans for example. A pure European concern that quite possibly should have been taken care of by the Europeans. For whatever reason (the usual politcal difficulties to agree on anything and the stigmatizations about the european military and war since WWII, I would guess) Europe never dealt with it on it's own. However, I have the feeling that if left alone this conflict had the potential to spread to it's neighbouring countries and affect western europe more directly. Maybe drag the whole continent into war. This would of course hurt the U.S. who need Europe as a trading partner (and vice versa obviously) and maybe the U.S. had to act because of the potential risks? This is of course speculations from my side but I need to know a lot more about each conflict in order to change my views about the existence of benevolent nations. Financial aid might be out of pure benevlonce but as soon as the military gets involved with the potential risk of people getting killed and all the other costs involved I think self interest is a necessity. |
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| Originally posted by Perfect_Cheezit Maybe not specifically benevolence but not necessarily only greed, everyone loses in the end if the conflict spreads to say Greece or Austria and more people are going to get killed if both America and Europe sat and did nothing. Rwanda on the other hand was a travesty |
Also, in WWII, I think the U.S. saw the potential for a united Europe mostly under the control of Germany. It's (sorry, don't have a reference from political figures at the time backing this up) the same view the England was faced with during WWI. How would you feel with a united Europe under a single leader like Hitler. The U.S. would have been the next on the palat. Also, then Europe would be the superpower and basically controlling resources, exports etc.. There is the arguement that Germany and the Axis would have run out of resources anyways like they did and not have been able to take over Europe.
To fight for what others believe in is self-interest.
To fight for what oneself believes in, now that is a wonderous thing!
Ok guys I'm gonna tackle of you of you guys in this reply.
First we have a reader from Austin, Texas who wants to know:
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| Originally posted by DaveSZ One thing I've been meaning to ask you: Did you come to America to escape compulsory military service in your country? It's an honest question, and all the more relevant based on your foreign policy views. |

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The catalyst for most US military and CIA backed interventions are of course to advance US economic interests |
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| I feel quite sorry for those who believe every US military intervention past and present is based on advancing the �cause of freedom.� |
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| Originally posted by DR86 it was more the US trying to contain communism than them helping the South Vietnamese. now yoepus is going to yell at me and tell me that americans are the most benevolent people on the face of the earth, and how they do everything out of the goodness of their hearts. |
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| Originally posted by Dj_Irish Yoepus, You named a lot of good examples to back up your view. Sadly, I'm not that knowledgable about all conflicts the U.S. has been involved in but I still have a feeling that if one does a little research and try to follow the money/power trail I think reasons of self interest will rear it's ugly little head (I would do this myself out of pure interest but I can't find the time right now). |
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The Balkans for example. A pure European concern that quite possibly should have been taken care of by the Europeans. For whatever reason (the usual politcal difficulties to agree on anything and the stigmatizations about the european military and war since WWII, I would guess) Europe never dealt with it on it's own. However, I have the feeling that if left alone this conflict had the potential to spread to it's neighbouring countries and affect western europe more directly. |
Actually in World War 1, Germany had the second largest navy right after Britain. I don't know enough about the second world war to talk about that, but in WW1 that is the reason why britain sped up its already existing Naval program, because they saw that the germans were cathing up fast after the building of the Dreadnought. I believe if the Germans had held France and had a firing-stopping "Waffenstillstand" with Russia, it would have been a totally different situation. But the arguement still stands that the Germans eventually would have run out of resources anyways and not been able to continue the war. And if Britain was eventually taken over, then you have the 1st and 2nd best navies in the world combined. But of course these are all speculations and there are of course holes in the arguements.
Yes, but after the next 5-10 years when the oil starts pumping, american companies are going to profit. I think we would be nieve to say anything else. And what about Afghanistan? Why isn't the US pumping as much money into Afghanistan? (Enter pipeline)
But I do agree with you that the US has definatly done alot of good for the world and has been benevolent.
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| Originally posted by priveye03 Actually in World War 1, Germany had the second largest navy right after Britain. I don't know enough about the second world war to talk about that, but in WW1 that is the reason why britain sped up its already existing Naval program |
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Yes, but after the next 5-10 years when the oil starts pumping, american companies are going to profit. |
Hooray for America!!!
US Foreign Interventions and Invasions since Vietnam
Cuba 1963 - today - US blockades island for 39 years. Numerous assassination attempts against leader. Continued actions condemned by Human Rights Groups and the United Nations General Assembly.
Australia 1973-75 - CIA interferes and manipulates free election process.
Chile 1973 - CIA backed coup ousts elected president, installs military Gen. Pinochet. Decades of human rights abuses follow.
Portugal 1974 - CIA funnels millions to destabilize and sabotage NATO ally.
Angola 1976-92 - CIA assists South Africa-backed rebels.
Afghanistan 1979-82 - US supports, arms, trains Mujahadeen rebels including rebel leader Osama Bin Laden.
El Salvador 1980-92 - US aids government condemned for gross human rights violations.
Nicaragua 1981-92 - US directs and illegally supports contra war, mines harbor. Allows open flow of narcotics into US. US actions condemned by the United Nations World Court.
Chad 1982 - US supports overthrow of government. CIA supported secret police kill and torture tens of thousands.
Libya 1982 - USA shoots down 2 Libyan jets.
Honduras 1982 -90 - US builds bases near borders, supports government that uses Death Squads against it's citizens.
Lebanon 1982-84 - US bombs and shells Muslim positions, expels PLO from territory.
Grenada 1983-84 - US military invades tiny island. 400 Grenadians killed. "Gross violation" of international law condemned by United Nations.
Iraq 1987-88 - US supports and arms Saddam Hussein's Iraq in war against Iran.
Iran 1988 - US shoots down Iranian passenger airliner, killing 290 civilians.
Claims it was an "accident".
Libya 1989 - US bombs capitol Tripoli killing 55 civilians. Calls it "collateral damage".
Philippines 1989 - US supports corrupt govt of Ferdinand Marcos against citizen uprising.
Panama 1989 - US invades with 27,000 soldiers. Kills 3000+ Panamanians, kidnaps it's own installed drug-dealing leader and CIA asset. Illegal US actions condemned by nearly unanimous United Nations and Organization of American States.
Kuwait 1991 - US invades Middle East, contradicting its position by intervening in inter-Arab affairs. Returns Kuwaiti Monarchy accused of human right abuses to throne.
Iraq 1990 - today - US randomly bombs civilian areas. Blockades Iraqi ports, allows no humanitarian or medical aid. est. 10,000 Iraqi's starve/die monthly as result. (That would be approximately 1.5 MIllion, mostly children and the elderly dead through US policy. If the Arabs are determined to "even the score" we're due for considerably more
bloodshed.)
Bulgaria 1991 - CIA funnels millions to destabilize one of the first freely elected governments.
Somalia 1992-94 - US sends in humanitarian aid. Becomes involved in Civil war, takes sides attacking one Mogadishu faction. Kills 500+ Somalis.
Peru 1992 - 01 - US provides military support, millions of dollars to corrupt
Fujimori government. Drug kingpin Vladimir Montesino on CIA payroll while serving as Intelligence Chief. Involved directly in shooting down missionary aircraft, killing American woman and her infant child.
Colombia 1992 - present - US supports Colombian military, heavily involved in drug trafficking. 1,640 pounds of cocaine lands in Ft. Lauderdale Florida hidden inside Colombian Air Force cargo plane. Nearly 20,000 people killed by US supported military and para-military so far.
Bosnia 1993 - US naval blockade of Serbia and Montenegro.
Haiti 1994 - US blockades island government, CIA supports military coup to remove elected President Aristide, then forcibly re-installs Aristide as President after he agrees to US conditions of rule.
Sudan 1998 - US bombs Aspirin Factory in Khartoum killing civilians.
Afghanistan 1998 - US missiles kill 28 civilians.
Yugoslavia 1999 - US laser-guided bombs destroy Chinese Embassy in
Belgrade killing three Chinese journalists.
US involvement in Foreign assassinations or attempts
-- prohibited by Presidential decree since 1976 --
1960 - General Abdul Karim Kassem, leader of Iraq
1961 - Francois Duvalier, leader of Haiti
1961 - Patrice Lumumba, Prime Minister of the Congo
1961 - General Rafael Trujillo, leader of Dominican Republic
1963 - Ngo Dinh Diem, President of South Vietnam
1960s - Fidel Castro, President of Cuba , numerous attempts
1960s - Raul Castro, brother of Fidel.
1965 - Francisco Caamano, Opposition leader, Dominican Republic
1965-6 - Charles de Gaulle, President of France
1967 - Ernesto Che Guevara, Cuban leader
1970 - Salvador Allende, President of Chile
1970 - General Rene Schneider, Commander of Chilean Army
1970s, 81 - General Omar Torrijos, leader of Panama
1972 - General Manuel Noriega, chief of Panama Intelligence
1975 - Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire
1976 - Michael Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica
1980-86 - Moammar Qaddafi, leader of Libya, numerous attempts
1982 - Ayatollah Khomeine, leader of Iran
1983 - General Ahmed Dlimi, Army commander of Morocco
1983 - Miguel d'Escoto, Foreign Minister of Nicaragua
1984 - All nine leaders of the Nicaraguan National Directorate
1985 - Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, Lebanon Shiite leader
1991 - Saddam Hussein, leader of Iraq
1998 - Osama bin Laden, former US trained "freedom fighter".
1999 - Slobodan Mlosevic, President of Yugoslavia
EDIT: To the topic starter - How the fuck am I supposed to respect America for this
On that note, sources, common sense, and context surrender.
http://members.aol.com/bblum6/American_holocaust.htm
Yes, because we all know how aggressively the expansionist juggernaut that is the United States has been expanding her borders.
Re: Hooray for America!!!
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| Originally posted by Cal EDIT: To the topic starter - How the fuck am I supposed to respect America for this |
Re: Re: Hooray for America!!!
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| Originally posted by rizen Cause we'll invade and own you |
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| Originally posted by Cal http://members.aol.com/bblum6/American_holocaust.htm |
Re: Re: Re: Hooray for America!!!
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| Originally posted by Cal And since when is profanity censored here? What happened to this place? You used to be cool TA.com |
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| Originally posted by occrider Ok well unfortunately the link fails to provide sources to about 70% of the sources there. Then the assassinations page fails to provide any sources at all. Then some of the items on the list are just plain silly (the UN embargo on Serbia? Taking "sides" in Somalia? C'mon). Of the items that do have sources, some of them document well known american supported regimes in the cold war that were guilty of human rights violations, no argument there. However, a good portion of the rest, such as "Iraq: Desert Holocaust", are fraught with misinformation, misrepresentations, and logical fallacies. What is is supposed to be referring to anyway? The Basra highway? Those are all issues that can be intelligentely discussed in a manner of thorough debate as was accomplished quite nicely in this oldie but goodie thread regarding the basra highway: http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...es&pagenumber=2 |
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| Originally posted by Cal lol im sure the other 70% of his book is just blank pages then if theres no link for them. Even Noam Chomsky got suckered into rating it so highly didnt he, what does he know about this subject. |
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Just calm down and go back to watching CNN. |
You didnt do too good in your logic class did you.
This isn't about Jordan endorsing Hanes undies
Its about verifyable sources being quoted anyway, hell theres lots of american media quoted too. And Noam Chomsky knows his shit.
Premise - Canada is evil ???
You mean conclusion?
And by justification you mean premise?
Seriousely if you want to argue logic learn how to first.
Heh quite right on the CNN thing though, I apologize...you redneck you 
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| Originally posted by Cal You didnt do too good in your logic class did you. This isn't about Jordan endorsing Hanes undies Its about verifyable sources being quoted anyway, hell theres lots of american media quoted too. And Noam Chomsky knows his shit. Premise - Canada is evil ??? You mean conclusion? And by justification you mean premise? Seriousely if you want to argue logic learn how to first. Heh quite right on the CNN thing though, I apologize...you redneck you |
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| Originally posted by biznology 'seriousely' if you want to comment on logic, arguments, etc it may behoov you to learn how to spell| |
This sort of emphasises my point where I said people can decide to believe whatever regardless of the true context of the facts - as they do. I gave holocaust denial as an example, but we got Cal right here to make the point for us in person.
Thanks Cal
Then again I could sort of put evolution deniers in the same context...

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| Originally posted by Cal This isn't about Jordan endorsing Hanes undies Its about verifyable sources being quoted anyway, hell theres lots of american media quoted too. And Noam Chomsky knows his shit. |
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Premise - Canada is evil ??? You mean conclusion? |
america is right about...
Anyways, i think every country in this world has a history of mistakes just like America. We just have more because we are involved a lot more international affairs and programs that other countries cannot afford, like sending their own troops or their own aid to issues of their interest and opinions. I'm sure a search on google about your home country would be filled with blunders and mistakes, things that may have taken people's lives by accident or in line of civil/international affairs.
I live in america and i am blessed and thankful by its economic system and (shaky) freedoms. In a world of survival, i feel we must involve ourselves in international affairs because it affects us, wether it be warfare, outbreak of disease, and overall help and aid. We did something right to be on top, all i feel america is doing is helping others to join us.
spend all your free time researching on new ways to bash america, but just take 5 minutes to review the history of your home country and realize that we've all made mistakes, yes, including the US.
My god the guy is trying to sell his book and so he doesnt give his work for free on most of his articles.
Whats hard about that? You've still got some of his full articles where he gives you your context and TONNES of sources. Is it a representative sample of his work? Is it well backed-up? A whole bunch of people seem to think so. Even amazon.com. And even Noam Chomsky, who is an authority on this subject agrees.
I see this all the time. Some kid takes a logic course and tries to argue everybody wrong. Well guess what fallacies and reasoning arent about proving everybody wrong they are about critically evaluating things.
And yes premise is what you give to support a conclusion.
Like your Canada is evil is a conclusion, not a premise, supported by premises whose strenghs you evaluate.
Jeez
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