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Author Topic: Interventionism  (Read 660 times)
micfranklin
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« on: August 15, 2008, 06:38:18 PM »

I was having this conversation with some family earlier and one of them felt as though the United States is the "big kid" in the world, that we're the bully on the playground and every other kid (various nations) are at our mercy. And with that we get to go into other countries at our will.

So my question is do you believe an nterventionist policy is the way the US needs to handle things?
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gommi
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« Reply #1 on: August 15, 2008, 06:56:58 PM »

So my question is do you believe an nterventionist policy is the way the US needs to handle things?
Only in some circumstances. With the largest military force in the world, it is important that the United States does not abuse its power. I believe America should intervene to maintain peace and protect innocent civilians in war zones or areas of genocidal violence, however it should not actively overthrow foreign governments in my opinion.
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neue regel
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« Reply #2 on: August 15, 2008, 07:00:54 PM »

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I believe America should intervene to maintain peace and protect innocent civilians in war zones or areas of genocidal violence, however it should not actively overthrow foreign governments in my opinion.

Sometimes, those two aren't mutually exclusive, don't you think?
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Abraxas
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« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2008, 07:17:55 PM »

I read a lot of Chomsky... so I think, in the end, US intervention is short sighted, dangerous and tends to do more harm then good if you simply extropolate beyond the next 6 months.
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micfranklin
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« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2008, 07:33:55 PM »

Me personally, I'd like to see us keep a non-interventionist policy, trade is good but conflict is not something we should look for.
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Wiglaf
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« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2008, 12:29:10 AM »

I was having this conversation with some family earlier and one of them felt as though the United States is the "big kid" in the world, that we're the bully on the playground and every other kid (various nations) are at our mercy. And with that we get to go into other countries at our will.

So my question is do you believe an interventionist policy is the way the US needs to handle things?
The question isn't whether to intervene or not period.  It's when it's right to intervene and when such intervention is counterproductive.  I'd sure as hell like to intervene more in reducing human trafficking and ending genocides. I don't want us to intervene to protect the interests of a nation which is obviously funding our ideological enemies(Saudi Arabia).
Me personally, I'd like to see us keep a non-interventionist policy, trade is good but conflict is not something we should look for.
What about trade with a brazenly authoritarian regime which supports principles inimical to our own(China)?  We're strengthening them for a probable significant conflict with us.  Damned stupid if you ask me.
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« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2008, 11:29:53 AM »

I read a lot of Chomsky... so I think, in the end, US intervention is short sighted, dangerous and tends to do more harm then good if you simply extropolate beyond the next 6 months.

I thought Chomsky's central point is that US intervention is not intended to do good, but to further the interests of the US elite. If you look at it from that perspective they have been remarkably successful.
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Abraxas
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« Reply #7 on: August 16, 2008, 11:38:24 AM »

I read a lot of Chomsky... so I think, in the end, US intervention is short sighted, dangerous and tends to do more harm then good if you simply extropolate beyond the next 6 months.

I thought Chomsky's central point is that US intervention is not intended to do good, but to further the interests of the US elite. If you look at it from that perspective they have been remarkably successful.

There *IS* short term success and to an extent, benefit for the parties involved.

Sadly, this leads to action that may endanger future interests.

Look at Latin America. We did all we could to stop socialism - installing dictators and preventing democracies - but then those dictators established dictatorships and cut off their capital to US buisnessmen.

It's failed us.
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« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2008, 11:47:21 AM »

I read a lot of Chomsky... so I think, in the end, US intervention is short sighted, dangerous and tends to do more harm then good if you simply extropolate beyond the next 6 months.

I thought Chomsky's central point is that US intervention is not intended to do good, but to further the interests of the US elite. If you look at it from that perspective they have been remarkably successful.

There *IS* short term success and to an extent, benefit for the parties involved.

Sadly, this leads to action that may endanger future interests.

Look at Latin America. We did all we could to stop socialism - installing dictators and preventing democracies - but then those dictators established dictatorships and cut off their capital to US buisnessmen.

It's failed us.

From what I have read, those dictators who failed to recognise their place (e.g. Noriega) were swiftly removed.
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« Reply #9 on: August 16, 2008, 11:53:41 AM »

 Most of the world hates the US, not because we are free and wealthy. But because the US always does one thing ...we intervene.
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neue regel
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« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2008, 12:01:35 PM »

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Most of the world hates the US, not because we are free and wealthy. But because the US always does one thing ...we intervene.

I agree. All countries need to take care of themselves, including us.
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IamMe
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« Reply #11 on: August 16, 2008, 12:07:24 PM »

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Most of the world hates the US, not because we are free and wealthy. But because the US always does one thing ...we intervene.

I agree. All countries need to take care of themselves, including us.

No, that is not the point, and that is not a moral way to view the world.
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neue regel
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« Reply #12 on: August 16, 2008, 12:38:49 PM »

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No, that is not the point, and that is not a moral way to view the world.

Countries clearly don't want us to intervene...hate us for it, as freethinker so eloquently points out. If they hate us for it, then dang it, let's butt out.

It is absolutely a moral way to view the world. Look how many countries get by on living that way. They're not hated.
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« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2008, 05:46:58 PM »

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No, that is not the point, and that is not a moral way to view the world.

Countries clearly don't want us to intervene...hate us for it, as freethinker so eloquently points out. If they hate us for it, then dang it, let's butt out.

It is absolutely a moral way to view the world. Look how many countries get by on living that way. They're not hated.

I'm not opposed to us sending troops as part of a UN or possibly NATO peacekeeping mission if the situation is particularly bad and the international community decides to act, but in most cases we should not act alone.

Often, it's our support of a regime that garners criticism, and generally speaking, I think we ought to be giving less military aid out than we do.


It's not all or nothing, IMO. We just need to scale it back a bit.
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Abraxas
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« Reply #14 on: August 16, 2008, 07:48:41 PM »

I don't even mind unilateral action by the US if it's long term effects don't outweigh the postive ones.

All of what we do in the Middle East is placated on the US's energy future. The Hostage Crisis in Iran, September 11th, the net sum of hate from Arab countries because of our unabashed support of Israel... and God only knows what our buisness in Iraq (and Heaven forbid Iran) will do to us in the long run.

And look at Latin America. The contanent is full of bull-headed dictators because we set off the fad by installing some of them.

Russia feels excused in it's foreign policy because we're doing the same thing around the world.

The majority of the problems we have are the result of short-sighted foreign policy and liberal interventionism.
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Either you repeat the same conventional doctrines everybody is saying, or else you say something true, and it will sound like its from Neptune.
- Noam Chomsky

... you can almost see the high water mark - that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.
- Hunter S. Thompson
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