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pan6467 · 03-02-2004, 05:32 AM

The Monroe Doctrine from which our foreign policy was govnered from since 1820-1948 basically said our military was only to defend ourselves with. It also stated that we would leave Europe alone so long as they left the Americas alone. It was this doctrine that "proclaimed" us the watchdog of the Western Hemisphere.

Hence for the Spanish American War we needed to be attacked (the USS Maine) in our hemisphere before we did anything. Same goes for WWI and WWII.

Korea and Vietnam drew us away from that in most aspects BUT to the leaders of our country they were fearful of the USSR and China. So defense albeit a faux defense reason could be used.

With Iraq in both cases, Kosovo and Africa, Afghanistan and so on, both Bushs have trully turned us into a more agressive and warlike country.

There will be those that could argue that America has always been a warlike country, but that doesn't seem to be the truth, according to history.

The people did not want the Civil War, Lincoln had no military ambition towards the South, he felt he could resolve the Union with peace. It was the South that started the war by firing on Fort Sumter.

In the Spanish American War, again it was yellow journalism and the sinking of the USS Maine, (which there are arguments with much credence that say we sank it). Hearst knew there was money to be made in war and we were in a depression at the time. If anything it was this war that made us a world power.

WWI while we, the people didn't really care, but the government was quietly supporting the British, but we had no intention of getting involved troop wise. It wasn't until the sinking of the Lusitania (a cruise ship carrying US arms to England) that allowed us the reason to get involved.

WWII again we, the people didn't want involved, but our government quietly supported the British but again had no desire to get involved. It was not until we had Pearl Harbor that we went in.

Korea was supposed to be just a stopping of an invading force and a UN action. We weren't supposed to take any offensive and when we did it cost MacArthur his command. It was a quiet action and the people accepted it.

Vietnam, there was the incident in the Gulf of Tonkin which gave us a reason. Again we were there supposedly under the UN flag to just stop the invasion not to be the aggressors. The people here had finally had enough of war, and took a stand.

Today, we are the aggressors. There is no true reason to be in Iraq, hence the change of reasons every time the polls show Bush losing support.

03-02-2004, 05:32 AM	#93 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	The Monroe Doctrine from which our foreign policy was govnered from since 1820-1948 basically said our military was only to defend ourselves with. It also stated that we would leave Europe alone so long as they left the Americas alone. It was this doctrine that "proclaimed" us the watchdog of the Western Hemisphere. Hence for the Spanish American War we needed to be attacked (the USS Maine) in our hemisphere before we did anything. Same goes for WWI and WWII. Korea and Vietnam drew us away from that in most aspects BUT to the leaders of our country they were fearful of the USSR and China. So defense albeit a faux defense reason could be used. With Iraq in both cases, Kosovo and Africa, Afghanistan and so on, both Bushs have trully turned us into a more agressive and warlike country. There will be those that could argue that America has always been a warlike country, but that doesn't seem to be the truth, according to history. The people did not want the Civil War, Lincoln had no military ambition towards the South, he felt he could resolve the Union with peace. It was the South that started the war by firing on Fort Sumter. In the Spanish American War, again it was yellow journalism and the sinking of the USS Maine, (which there are arguments with much credence that say we sank it). Hearst knew there was money to be made in war and we were in a depression at the time. If anything it was this war that made us a world power. WWI while we, the people didn't really care, but the government was quietly supporting the British, but we had no intention of getting involved troop wise. It wasn't until the sinking of the Lusitania (a cruise ship carrying US arms to England) that allowed us the reason to get involved. WWII again we, the people didn't want involved, but our government quietly supported the British but again had no desire to get involved. It was not until we had Pearl Harbor that we went in. Korea was supposed to be just a stopping of an invading force and a UN action. We weren't supposed to take any offensive and when we did it cost MacArthur his command. It was a quiet action and the people accepted it. Vietnam, there was the incident in the Gulf of Tonkin which gave us a reason. Again we were there supposedly under the UN flag to just stop the invasion not to be the aggressors. The people here had finally had enough of war, and took a stand. Today, we are the aggressors. There is no true reason to be in Iraq, hence the change of reasons every time the polls show Bush losing support. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"