That isn't news to me at all, but in arguing that the US is a rogue state or the bully of the playground, one must ignore the beneficial nature of US involvment in tsunami relief in Asia, famine and AIDS relief in Africa, and countless other projects around the world. We spend huge funds on foreign aid in places where we have no strategic interest, only human interest.
Even just taking Afghanistan and Iraq, the US goal has been to promote long-term peace and stability by removing thugs and dictators- the real bullies of the playground- from power and allowing the people of these countries to determine their own fate. Our soldiers have fought and died alongside Iraqis and Afghans so that their people could be free from tyranny. I suppose in that sense you could say we pursue our own ends for our own purposes in disregard of international law. If freeing people who have been opressed for centuries means being labelled a rogue state, then we'll wear the label with pride. Before you deride my attitude as typical American bravado and arrogance, consider this- what kind of situation would the majority in Iraq and Afghanistan have been in by now if we had not intervened? Can you sit idly by while people are tortured and murdered by thugs and zealots? Is it not our duty as human beings to defend those who are too weak to defend themselves from the iron fist of tyrants? By a great many people - sorry if this is news to you but Americas > reputation is not good internationally at the moment, it is definitely > seen > as a rouge state in that it that ignores international law and does what > suits it's own purposes regardless of how that affects the rest of the > world. > > We are > > the leaders of the international community > > > In the same way as a bully is leader of the playground. > > To be fair it is the Bush administration that is seen in these ways, few > people actually think that they reflect the views and morals of all > Americans. Most of us still have a lot of respect for Americans, just not > America at present. > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:199714 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
