Is US the World's Policeman or an Empire?

[The2ndWheel]

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0802-24.htm

Are we the world's policeman? Or are we an empire? The rest of the world has already made up its mind about us. The president of the Pew Research Center, whose latest poll of foreigners finds they hate the United Stats more than ever, says: "Obviously, when you get many more people saying that the U.S. a threat to world peace as...Iran, it's a measure of how much is sapping good will to the United States."

But we Americans remain deeply divided over American values and intentions, and it's high time that we got our story straight.

In 1975 Philip Agee published his explosive memoir of his career as a CIA operative, Inside the Company. The former black ops specialist provided proof for what critics had long suspected, that the United States government had assassinated popularly elected foreign leaders and propped up brutal right-wing dictatorships in countries such as Ecuador, Uruguay, Mexico and Argentina throughout the '60s and '70s. Published in the wake of Watergate and the forced resignation of Richard Nixon, disgust for the dirty dealings described by Agee contributed to a reformist wave that fed Jimmy Carter's successful 1976 bid for the presidency.

[htuttle]

1. I think we're a bit more like a dirty cop

And if we don't get our protection money in the form of business advantages for US-chartered corporations, we rough you up.

"Mighty nice country you have there -- it would be a shame if anything were to happen to it..."

I say this instead of 'Empire', because I don't think these same corporations are as 'US-oriented' in reality as Imperial corporations of the past were. The US government is more of a hit man for industry (cf. Smedley Butler, John Perkins, et al) than a traditional 'imperial power' (in the model of the British empire, for example).

[robertarctor]

2. The USG is just hired muscle for corporate overlords ...

... at this juncture.

[cyclezealot]

5. For that exact reason it is an empire.

When business comes first it is just like England's Tea company in India or the Fur empire in Canada.

[kenny blankenship]

3. Empire --750 military bases on foreign soil is an empire, regardless

of what you call it.

[sevenleagueboots]

4. "...i liked ya better when you was a whore!....."*

*From "Deadman" (Johnny Depp) ... when a drunk knocks the flower girl in the mud. We American's have become this:
Nosey neighbor. common rudeness, without restraint: George Bush ......
Good neighbor, common curtesy, staying out of trouble: Jimmy Carter

Yes, yes, that's the ticket....we're better than half way there. We'll become a nation of whore's....or maybe
think seriously winning with Carter and Nader in 2008.

[Vidar]

6. Word's shakedown artist.

[Briar]

7. Huh?

The US may see itself as the world's policeman, but since it is self-interested and self-appointed it is obvious that in fact this role is simply an excuse to patrol its own informal empire and punish and coerce those who resist it.

I am so sick of reading whiny posts in various forums about the rest of the world being ungrateful for US efforts as global policeman. We don't want American security guards representing American interests and effectively running a protection racket. A real global policeman would be impartial, representative of the whole world population, subject to international law and governance and able to ensure that law was obeyed by all countries, even the US. A real global policeman could arrest Bush and Bliar and deliver them to the Hague for fair trial.

[cliss]

11. Great post.

I agree with you, completely. You said it better than I could (and that's rare).:smoke:

[bemildred]

8. Decadent empire that believes its own bullshit. nt

[yurbud]

9. An empire that convinced own people we're cop, but Bush blew it

Other presidents pursued similar goals and not only got the American people to say thank you, but a lot of foreign governments too.

The Bushies are so ham-handed and blatant about their theft of resources and disregard for the lives of others, putting on just enough of a show of spreading democracy to fool the rubes that vote for them, that they have not only ruined the game for themselves but made it harder for the next administration to pursue those goals more subtly (which is good).

[Deja Q]

10. Uh-oh. And how long before it's done unto us, what we are doing unto them

And, worst of all, if that is intentional; as means to partially resolve the peak oil problem...

[jspaddock123]

12. unfortunate cops..

I think that we have been put into the unfortunate position
of being the worlds policemen, by the behaviour of the
world. Going back to the 1930's we were a mostly isolationist
nation, with an ineffective and badly funded military that had to
be practically dragged onto the world stage. One horror after
another crawled out of Eurasia that we had to contend with,
Nazism, Imperial Japan, Soviet communism, and now
Islamic Fundamentalism.

I think we have done enough. Its time for us to let the
world take care of itself. Bring all our boys home and roll up the
draw bridge.

[Pierzin]

13. America is an Empire. We have bases All over the World...

If the founding fathers knew this they would be appalled. We should never have propped up strong men, but should have allowed nature to take its course.

We cannot and we should not promote democracy at the barrel of a gun!
-Eisenhower(paraphrased)

I point to Iran- it is proof positive that the US propped up the Shah after the Iranians elected a democracy in the 50's, and the US government put in the Shah. Perfect.
Gee, i don't know why people hate us. Look it up, o non-beleivers.
the truth is out there.