Quote:
Originally posted by Dramnek_Ulk:
From Americas polices it would seem that it stands for democracy at home, and dictatorship aboard, america has had no qualms about overthrowing goverments to install a dictator friendly to them.The USA government supported Noriaga in Panama then bombed it when he started drug running, they supported Osama bin laden in Afghanistan, then he turned on them and they bomb him now and they supported Pinochet in Chile. American and British companies supplied arms to Saddam Hussein, which he used against them in the gulf war and upon innocents. They supported the dictator Shah of Iran. ANY country that has supported dictators cannot be said to stand for freedom and justice when they have so blatantly allowed supported others in the abuse of what they supposedly stand for.
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You work with what you have.
Supporting the new friendly leader of a country, whose powers may be just as dictatorial as the previous leader, is a case of choosing "the lesser of two evils". We can't install democratic governments and enforce them across the globe, nor do we have the desire to force democracy on anyone.
We believe democracy (I realize we're actually more of a republic but you know what I mean) is the best way, but people have to choose for themselves. We frequently help those who want democracy, knowing that governments responsible to their civilian population are better for the world community, and for US.
During the Cold War, we were much more willing to accept a nations "claim" to want a more democratic government, because we wanted to defeat the spread of Communism. Some of those attitudes have to be reworked. We need a better screening process for our friends, but that's going to make people mad, too.
Even with that said, what countries haven't gained and lost the same allies over and over throughout history. All of the European countries have, at one time or another, been friends and enemies, and on more than one occassion family! The US helped open Japan to foreign trade in the 1800's, bringing them into the modern era. Fify or so years later they were our most hated enemy, but afterwards friendships were rebuilt. The US and the Soviet Union were allies, then became the most dangerous enemies the world has ever known, and now we're allies, again.
Removing rogue/illegal governments is something the world community has consistantly stood behind and claims to stand behind in the case of Afghanistan(remember, only 3 countries recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government). We don't want another state. We're not trying to expand our borders. We haven't fought for land to claim as American soil since WWII. We are simply trying to protect ourself the best we can.
Nations make wrong choices, but the problem is usually with individuals, both those who choose and those chosen, not national intent. Most citizens across the world don't want to rule the world; they want to live their lives in peace.
Our leaders try to allow us to do that, if they fail, they can be replaced without bombs or gunfire. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone in the world could say the same thing?
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[This message has been edited by Ronn_Bman (edited 10-23-2001).]