Usa needs more public diplomacy

[Badlun]

Sometimes I wonder USA inspite of its democracy, human rights, development, prosperity , international aid has a negative image problem and many hate this superpower in spite of all its virtues. This country has changed the life of many persons and families. Many poor people of the world after entry to this land of opportunities become prosperous which completely change their life standard and that of their families. I personally know many such persons and families.

USA is spending billions of aid on poverty and social development. Its extending all possible help against natural disasters. Its running thousands of education and health projects through out the world.

Their war in Iraq and Afghanistan besides their national interest is against terrorism and dictatorship.

What they lack is public diplomacy and positive propaganda to let the world know what they are contributing to the development of the world. Once people know it they ll start loving USA instead of hating this great country. They need propaganda as was done by USSR for communism although communism is worse than democracy and the record of USSR is bloodier than USA.
YOUR COMMENTS PLEASE.

[Badlun]

USA has fought wars like any other country, nation or power. Former USSR has not only fought wars but also conquered countries and made them part of the Union. We all know the history from Poland , to East Germany to Tajikistan to Afghanistan. The same has done by Muslims , by Pashtuns by Germans, by Turks and others when they were in power. Its all power politics and balance of power game. This is what Realism teaches us. Thats why USA is not the only country or nation in this regard.USA like any other country or power has reasons for her wars.

We should not only look at USA only as a country which fights wars or invades others,,,at least it does not conquer countries physically like others,,,we should also consider its humanitarian , developmental and other positive role in the world as well as its own internal development and progress as a nation.

[Badlun]

Many are of the view that usa should withdraw its forces from Afghanistan. The withdrawal or defeat of USA/NATO in Afghanistan will be the defeat of democracy and the war against terrorism.

What USA should do is to rethink its strategy for Afghanistan and Pashtuns. The hearts of common Pashtuns should be won with books not with bullets. the bullets should only be used against the terrorists in an intelligent way so that the terrorists dont cash the collateral damages against USA and win more sympathizers for their evil cause and against democracy, Wests and USA.

USA or an NGO working for democracy and human rights in Afghanistan and Pakistan should use its funds on education, publicity and awareness. USA may start a special newspaper and a magazine of good quality in Pashto where the Pashtuns should be educated against terrorism and should provide good news and healthy entertainment. USA may learn from the past how communism won hearts even for its ugly agenda. There is a dire need of intense public diplomacy on the part of USA. Majority of things they are doing is good but people don't know and cant appreciate it.

[Badlun]

USA may notb be a paragon of virtue but whatever I know that they toppled communist , Nazis, fascists, and dictators and are now crushing extremists like Taliban and Al qaida. I don't know a single case where it has toppled a democratically elected government.

In its own national interest it might have invaded countries but the same is the tradition of all big powers including Muslims and Pashtuns. What I know that except few very tiny states, USA has never physically occupied a country and has merged it with United states of America as was done by the former USSR and others.

USA is not perfect and such kind of discussions may point out whatever they lack in their policies and strategies and if they are intelligent enough, can learn from such discussions so that they can better tackle world affairs being a super power of the world.

What I see is that USA being a state may look for her national interest first. This world is mostly based on realism and real politik not on idealism or wishful thinking . If USA cheat others, they may do it in their own interest. the cheated party may guard against their own interest so that they may not be cheated by USA. However USA being world super power may play more ethically , may not forget her good friends and may not let their allies and friends to feel cheated.

[Badlun]

USA is a very strange country. Spending billions and trillions on humanitarian and other aids but dont cash it in public diplopmacy.I am surprised that why USA not like the earstwhile USSR does not launch an ideological campaign for democracy and human rights as used to be done by the former USSR for the barbaric Communism.

USA can earn hearts and minds of the millions of Pashtuns and Muslims if they launch such an intellegint propaganda program. USA can serve their saviour from the terrorists. from poverty and ignorance.

I wish to know comments from some friends from USA , a US citizen or the one who is living in USA to comment that how is life overthere and how the ideal life people aer enjoying in USA can be exported to other countries specially to the backward Muslim world and to the conservative world of Pashtuns. I wish the world may follow USA as a great model for success, happiness and great life.

USA and its system may be followed as an ideology, as a code of life. Scholars should construct theoritical background for it , a philosophy and then a working plan as how the American ideals can be propogated in other parts of the world specially in Muslim countries, third world poor countries and in our case for Pashtunland.

[imb706]

Couldn´t this be one post?

I don´t see how a ¨defeat¨ of NATO would be a defeat of democracy. If anything, if we got out now, it would open up better opportunities in the future. Real politik? Lol, now that´s a recipe for disaster.

I don´t think US leaders really put the US, or any nation or people first. They largely put corporations first, and that´s a serious problem.

The USA has brought democracy and open society to parts of the world, like Japan, but it´s also held back other parts of the world and brought anti democratic forces in power. That´s also been a serious problem.

[Badlun]

actually I had to say many things and one post would be boring!

The defeat of NATO will be the victory of the Taliban and Salafism which are highly antidemocratic forces and for them democracy is infidelity or Kufr. Also it will be the triumph of the warlords and other conservative and non democratic elements.

Contribution of USA towards democracy is more than its anti-democracy attempts or support for some dictators or kings as in Middle east. However USA like every nation first looks to its own national interest then interest of a friend or ally. But this trend for USA being the sole super power of the world may change as a super power may not think only as a country but a responsable state in the world affairs whose decisions not only affect its own people but the world at large.

My basic point in above posts is that the US needs more propaganda for what they are doing. They do but dont get the credit.

[شمله ور خراساني]

America's list of terrorism


America's list of terrorism



Ever since the United States Army massacred 300 Lakotas in 1890,

American

forces have intervened elsewhere around the globe 100 times. Indeed the

United States has sent troops abroad or militarily struck other

countries'

territory 216 times since independence from Britain. Since 1945 the

United

States has intervened in more than 20 countries throughout the world.



Since World War II, the United States actually dropped bombs on 23

countries. These include: China 1945-46, Korea 1950-53, China 1950-53,

Guatemala 1954, Indonesia 1958, Cuba 1959-60, Guatemala 1960, Congo

1964,

Peru 1965, Laos 1964-73, Vietnam 1961-73, Cambodia 1969-70, Guatemala

1967-69, Grenada 1983, Lebanon 1984, Libya 1986, El Salvador 1980s,

Nicaragua 1980s, Panama 1989, Iraq 1991-1999, Sudan 1998, Afghanistan

1998,

and Yugoslavia 1999.



Post World War II, the United States has also assisted in over 20

different

coups throughout the world, and the CIA was responsible for half a

dozen

assassinations of political heads of state.



The following is a comprehensive summary of the imperialist strategy of

the

United States over the

span of the past century:



Argentina - 1890 - Troops sent to Buenos Aires to

protect business interests.



Chile - 1891 - Marines sent to Chile and clashed with

nationalist rebels.



Haiti - 1891 - American troops suppress a revolt by

Black workers on United States-claimed Navassa Island.





Hawaii - 1893 - Navy sent to Hawaii to overthrow the

independent kingdom - Hawaii annexed by the United

States.



Nicaragua - 1894 - Troops occupied Bluefields, a city

on the Caribbean Sea, for a month.



China - 1894-95 - Navy, Army, and Marines landed

during the Sino-Japanese War.



Korea - 1894-96 - Troops kept in Seoul during the war.





Panama - 1895 - Army, Navy, and Marines landed in the

port city of Corinto.



China - 1894-1900 - Troops occupied China during the

Boxer Rebellion.



Philippines - 1898-1910 - Navy and Army troops landed

after the Philippines fell during the Spanish-American

War; 600,000 Filipinos were killed.



Cuba - 1898-1902 - Troops seized Cuba in the

Spanish-American War; the United States still

maintains troops at Guantanamo Bay today.



Puerto Rico - 1898 - present - Troops seized Puerto

Rico in the Spanish-American War and still occupy

Puerto Rico today.



Nicaragua - 1898 - Marines landed at the port of San

Juan del Sur.





Samoa - 1899 - Troops landed as a result over the

battle for succession to the throne.



Panama - 1901-14 - Navy supported the revolution when

Panama claimed independence from Colombia. American

troops have occupied the Canal Zone since 1901 when

construction for the canal began.



Honduras - 1903 - Marines landed to intervene during a

revolution.



Dominican Rep 1903-04 - Troops landed to protect

American interests during a revolution.



Korea - 1904-05 - Marines landed during the

Russo-Japanese War.



Cuba - 1906-09 - Troops landed during an election.



Nicaragua - 1907 - Troops landed and a protectorate

was set up.



Honduras - 1907 - Marines landed during Honduras' war

with Nicaragua.



Panama - 1908 - Marines sent in during Panama's

election.



Nicaragua - 1910 - Marines landed for a second time in

Bluefields and Corinto.



Honduras - 1911 - Troops sent in to protect American

interests during Honduras' civil war.



China - 1911-41 - Navy and troops sent to China during

continuous flare-ups.



Cuba - 1912 - Troops sent in to protect American

interests in Havana.



Panama - 1912 - Marines landed during Panama's

election.



Honduras - 1912 - Troops sent in to protect American

interests.



Nicaragua - 1912-33 - Troops occupied Nicaragua and

fought guerrillas during its 20-year civil war.



Mexico - 1913 - Navy evacuated Americans during

revolution.



Dominican Rep 1914 - Navy fought with rebels over



Santo Domingo.



Mexico - 1914-18 - Navy and troops sent in to

intervene against nationalists.



Haiti - 1914-34 - Troops occupied Haiti after a

revolution and occupied Haiti for 19 years.



Dominican Rep 1916-24 - Marines occupied the Dominican

Republic for eight years.



Cuba - 1917-33 - Troops landed and occupied Cuba for

16 years; Cuba became an economic protectorate.



World War I - 1917-18 - Navy and Army sent to Europe

to fight the Axis powers.



Russia - 1918-22 - Navy and troops sent to eastern

Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution; Army made five

landings.



Honduras - 1919 - Marines sent during Honduras'

national elections.



Guatemala - 1920 - Troops occupied Guatemala for two

weeks during a union strike.



Turkey - 1922 - Troops fought nationalists in Smyrna.



China - 1922-27 - Navy and Army troops deployed during

a nationalist revolt.



Honduras - 1924-25 - Troops landed twice during a

national election.



Panama - 1925 - Troops sent in to put down a general

strike.



China - 1927-34 - Marines sent in and stationed for

seven years throughout China.



El Salvador - 1932 - Naval warships deployed during

the FMLN revolt under Marti.



World War II - 1941-45 - Military fought the Axis

powers: Japan, Germany, and Italy.



Yugoslavia - 1946 - Navy deployed off the coast of

Yugoslavia in response to the downing of an American

plane.



Uruguay - 1947 - Bombers deployed as a show of

military force.



Greece - 1947-49 - United States operations insured a

victory for the far right in national "elections."



Germany - 1948 - Military deployed in response to the

Berlin blockade; the Berlin airlift lasts 444 days.



Philippines - 1948-54 - The CIA directed a civil war

against the Filipino Huk revolt.



Puerto Rico - 1950 - Military helped crush an

independence rebellion in Ponce.



Korean War - 1951-53 - Military sent in during the

war.



Iran - 1953 - The CIA orchestrated the overthrow of

democratically elected Mossadegh and restored the Shah

to power.



Vietnam - 1954 - The United States offered weapons to

the French in the battle against Ho Chi Minh and the

Viet Minh.



Guatemala - 1954 - The CIA overthrew the

democratically elected Arbenz and placed Colonel Armas

in power.



Egypt - 1956 - Marines deployed to evacuate foreigners

after Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal.



Lebanon - 1958 - Navy supported an Army occupation of

Lebanon during its civil war.



Panama - 1958 - Troops landed after Panamanians

demonstrations threatened the Canal Zone.



Vietnam - 1950s-75 - Vietnam War.



Cuba - 1961 - The CIA-directed Bay of Pigs invasions

failed to overthrow the Castro government.



Cuba - 1962 - The Navy quarantines Cuba during the

Cuban Missile Crisis.



Laos - 1962 - Military occupied Laos during its civil

war against the Pathet Lao guerrillas.



Panama - 1964 - Troops sent in and Panamanians shot

while protesting the United States presence in the

Canal Zone.



Indonesia - 1965 - The CIA orchestrated a military

coup.



Dominican Rep- 1965-66 - Troops deployed during a

national election.



Guatemala - 1966-67 - Green Berets sent in.



Cambodia - 1969-75 - Military sent in after the

Vietnam War expanded into Cambodia.



Oman - 1970 - Marines landed to direct a possible

invasion into Iran.



Laos - 1971-75 - Americans carpet-bomb the countryside

during Laos' civil war.



Chile - 1973 - The CIA orchestrated a coup, killing

President Allende who had been popularly elected. The

CIA helped to establish a military regime under

General Pinochet.



Cambodia - 1975 - Twenty-eight Americans killed in an

effort to retrieve the crew of the Mayaquez, which had

been seized.



Angola - 1976-92 - The CIA backed South African rebels

fighting against Marxist Angola.



Iran - 1980 - Americans aborted a rescue attempt to

liberate 52 hostages seized in the Teheran embassy.



Libya - 1981 - American fighters shoot down two Libyan

fighters.



El Salvador - 1981-92 - The CIA, troops, and advisers

aid in El Salvador's war against the FMLN.



Nicaragua - 1981-90 - The CIA and NSC directed the

Contra War against the Sandinistas.



Lebanon - 1982-84 - Marines occupied Beirut during

Lebanon's civil war; 241 were killed in the American

barracks and Reagan "redeployed" the troops to the

Mediterranean.



Honduras - 1983-89 - Troops sent in to build bases

near the Honduran border.



Grenada - 1983-84 - American invasion overthrew the

Maurice Bishop government.



Iran - 1984 - American fighters shot down two Iranian

planes over the Persian Gulf.



Libya - 1986 - American fighters hit targets in and

around the capital city of Tripoli.



Bolivia - 1986 - The Army assisted government troops

on raids of cocaine areas.



Iran - 1987-88 - The United States intervened on the

side of Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War.



Libya - 1989 - Navy shot down two more Libyan jets.



Virgin Islands - 1989 - Troops landed during unrest

among Virgin Island peoples.



Philippines - 1989 - Air Force provided air cover for

government during coup.



Panama - 1989-90 - 27,000 Americans landed in

overthrow of President Noriega; over 2,000 Panama

civilians were killed.



Liberia - 1990 - Troops entered Liberia to evacuate

foreigners during civil war.



Saudi Arabia - 1990-91 - American troops sent to Saudi

Arabia, which was a staging area in the war against

Iraq.



Kuwait - 1991 - Troops sent into Kuwait to turn back

Saddam Hussein.



Somalia - 1992-94 - Troops occupied Somalia during

civil war.



Bosnia - 1993-95 - Air Force jets bombed "no-fly zone"

during civil war in Yugoslavia.



Haiti - 1994-96 - American troops and Navy provided a

blockade against Haiti's military government. The CIA

restored Aristide to power.



Zaire - 1996-97 - Marines sent into Rwanda Hutus'

refugee camps in the area where the Congo revolution

began.



Albania - 1997 - Troops deployed during evacuation of

foreigners.



Sudan - 1998 - American missiles destroyed a

pharmaceutical complex where alleged nerve gas

components were manufactured.



Afghanistan - 1998 - Missiles launched towards alleged

Afghan terrorist training camps.



Yugoslavia - 1999 - Bombings and missile attacks

carried out by the United States in conjunction with

NATO in the 11 week war against Milosevic.



Iraq - 1998-2001 - Missiles launched into Baghdad and

other large Iraq cities for four days. American jets

enforced "no-fly zone" and continued to hit Iraqi

targets since December 1998.



These **100** instances of American military

intervention did not include times when the United

States:



(1) deployed military police overseas;



(2) mobilized the National Guard;



(3) sent Navy ships off the coast of numerous

countries as a show of strength;



(4) sent additional troops to areas where Americans

were already stationed;



(5) carried out covert actions where American forces

were not under the direct rule of an American command;





(6) used small hostage rescue units;



(7) used American pilots to fly foreign planes;



(8) carried out military training and advisory

programs which did not involve direct combat.





U. S. Government Assassination Plots

====================================



Following is a list of prominent foreign leaders whose assassination

(or planning for same) the United States has been involved in since

the end of Second World War. The list does not include several

assassinations in various parts of the world carried out by anti-Castro

Cubans employed by CIA and headquartered in the United States:



LIST A: NON MUSLIMS



1949 - KIm Koo, Korean opposition leader

1950's - CIA/Neo-Nazi hit list of numerous political figures in

West Germany

1955 - Jose' Antonio Remon, President of Panama

1950's Chou En-lai, Prime Minister of China, several attempts

on his life

1951 - Kim Il Sung, Premiere of North Korea

1950s (mid) - Claro M. Recto, Philippines opposition leader

1955 - Jawar Lal Nehru, Prime Minister of India

1959 and 1963 - Norodom Sihanouk, leader of Cambodia

1950s-70s - Jose Figueres, President of Costa Rica,

two attempts on his life

1961 - Francois "Papa Doc"Duvalier, leader of Haiti

1961 - Patrice Lumumba , Prime Minister of Congo (Zaire)

1961 - Gen. Rafael Trujillo, leader of Dominican Republic

1963 - Ngo Dinh Diem, President of South Vietnam

1960s - Fidel Castro, President of Cuba, more than

15 attempts on his life

1960s - Raul Castro, high official in government of Cuba

1965 - Francisco Caamanao, Dominican Republic opposition leader

1965 - Pierre Ngendandumwe, Prime Minister of Burundi

1965-6 - Charles de Gaulle, President of France

1967 - Che Guevara, Cuban leader

1970 - Salvadore Allende, President of Chile

1970 - General Rene Schneider, Commander-in-Chief of Army, Chile

1970s and 1981 - Gen. Omar Torrijos, leader of Panama

1972 - General Manuel Noriega, Chief of Panama Intelligence

1975 - Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire

1976 - Michael Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica

1983 - Miguel d'Escoto, Foreign Minister of Nicaragua

1984 - The nine commandantes of the Sandanista

National Directorate

1980's - Dr. Gerald Bull, Canadian Ballistics Scientist

assassinated by Mossad in Belgium.



Partial List of Muslim Leaders Assassinated or

Attempted Assassinations

1950's Sukarno, President of Indonesia

1957 Gamal Abdul Nasser, President of Egypt

1960 Brigadier General, Abdul Karim Kassem, Leader of Iraq

1980-86 Muammar Qaddafi, Leader of Libya, several plots and

attempts upon his life

1982 Ayatullah Khomeini, Leader of Iran

1983 General Ahmed Dlimi, Moroccan army Commander

1985 Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadllallah, Lebanese Shiite Leader

(80 people killed in that attempt)

1991 Saddam Hussein, Leader of Iraq

Reference: Blum, William, "KILLING HOPE - U.S. Military and

CIA Interventions Since World War II," Appendix III

U.S. Government Assassination Plots, page 453,

Common Courage Press, Monroe, Maine 1995. ISBN 1-56751-052-3



Very likely Victims :

April 4, 1979 - Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Leader of Pakistan, for pursuing

making

of

Nuclear Bomb.

August, 1988. General Ziaul Haq, Military Leader of Pakistan.

1995 - Murtaza Bhutto, Son of ZUlfiqar Ali Bhutto, Anti-American

would-be Leader - Pakistan.

March 25, 1975 - King Faisal of Saudi Arabia through his Nephew, Saudi

Arabia

for imposing 1973 Oil Embargo.

August 24, 1999. Mullah Mohammad Omar, in Kandhar, Afghanistan.

|

"À"List of Known Assassination Plots

1950's Sukarno, President of Indonesia

1957 Gamal Abdul Nasser, President

2001 Since early this year more than 40 Palestinian leaders

assassinated

through surrogate Israel.

[شمله ور خراساني]

Does this country have the moral authority to lead the world?


Does this country have the moral authority to lead the world?

http://www.mediamonitors.net/

by Stephen Gowans

It claims to be conducting a war on terrorism against a network

(al-Qaeda)

it helped create to fight proxy wars on its behalf (in Afghanistan and

the

Balkans.)



It says it must bring anthrax terrorists to justice, but has the

world's

largest stockpile of smallpox, anthrax, and other biological weapons.

It

continues to experiment with new weaponized pathogens. It refuses to

agree

to measures to strengthen a biological weapons treaty. And there's

evidence it has used biological weapons (in the Korean War.)



It has called some its past adversaries empires, bent on world

domination

(the Soviet Union), but it has 200,000 soldiers permanently stationed

in

dozens of countries around the globe. Its global military presence

expands

every year, encircling one of the few countries left to challenge its

hegemony -- Russia.



In one country alone (South Korea), which it has occupied for over five

decades, it has 45,000 soldiers.



The country's wars are always said to be fought for some high moral

purpose: to stop ethnic cleansing, to prevent tyranny, to uphold

international law, to defeat communist expansion, to root out

terrorism,

but somehow, while this is being done, the country always seems, as

John

Flynn once put it, to capture its enemies' markets while blundering

into

their oil wells.



It's always strapped for cash when it comes to social spending, health

care and Social Security, but can find billions at the drop of a hat

for a

new weapons program.



Its colossal military is more than two and half times larger than the

militaries of the next nine largest potential adversaries combined

(Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Cuba.)



Its military spending, combined with that of its allies (NATO, Japan,

South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia), is five times greater than that

of

the next nine largest potential adversaries together. Yet, it says,

it's

always under threat.



In the last five decades, it has attacked no less than two dozen

countries. In the last four years, it has bombed four countries

(Afghanistan, Sudan, Yugoslavia, Iraq) one of them in two separate

campaigns (Afghanistan), and one almost daily (Iraq.)



Even though the raison d'tre of the major military alliance it leads

(NATO) has vanished, the alliance is more robust than ever, and is

expanding.



It refuses to sign a treaty banning land mines.



It refuses to sign the Kyoto Accords, limiting greenhouse gasses.



It uses cluster bombs -- bombs consisting of dozens of tiny land

mine-like

bomblets -- which continue to kill, usually children, well after a war

is

finished.



It has 30,000 tons of chemical weapons.



It has the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapons. It refuses to

sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.



It refuses to renounce the first strike use of nuclear weapons. It

won't

commit to refraining from using nuclear weapons against non-nuclear

weapon

states.



It is the only country to ever use nuclear weapons.



It says it doesn't target civilians, but, in maintaining the world's

largest arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, is prepared to kill

civilians in countless numbers.



In one major campaign lasting over ten years (Vietnam War), it carpet

bombed three countries (North Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos), killing at

least

three million civilians. A decade earlier, it carpet bombed North Korea

so

thoroughly it ran out of targets to bomb.



It issues ultimata to other countries (Yugoslavia, Afghanistan), and

when

the ultimata are rejected, it says the other side refused to negotiate.

When the other side begs to negotiate, it's bombed.



It promotes the deception that a country can be bombed around the clock

with only a few civilian casualties. It announces in advance of a

bombing

campaign that some civilian deaths are inevitable, and then, when they

occur, say they were accidental and unintended.



It bombs civilian infrastructure -- water treatment facilities, power

plants, dams, flood control systems, irrigation, water storage, pumping

stations, sewage facilities, bridges, transportation facilities,

petrochemical plants, fertilizer factories, auto-plants, as well as

hospitals, schools, old folks homes, Red Cross buildings, and

residential

neighborhoods. After reducing its enemies to rubble, it imposes

sanctions

to hinder the rebuilding of all that was destroyed (Yugoslavia, Iraq),

until a puppet regime is installed (Yugoslavia.)



It enforces one sanctions regime (Iraq) that is estimated to have

contributed to the deaths of 1.5 million civilians. One of the

country's

leaders (Madeleine Albright) said the deaths are "worth it."



If it doesn't like another country's economic policies, it tars the

leadership as tyrants and brutes, declares the country a dictatorship,

and

raises concern about human rights violations (Yugoslavia, Belarus) and

railroads the leaders into jail (Yugoslavia) or arranges to have them

overthrown in a coup (Iran, Chile, Guatemala, Yugoslavia.)

Authoritarian

countries whose leaders are tyrants and brutes and who routinely

trample

human rights are called friends and allies if they have the right

economic

policies (Iran, Chile, Guatemala, Philippines, El Salvador, Haiti.)

Their

leaders don't go to jail (Pinochet.)



It routinely intervenes in the elections of other countries, funding

political parties, NGO's and media, but prohibits other countries from

intervening in its own elections.



It commits war crimes unrestrainedly, free from censure and

prosecution,

because it controls the international body that establishes war crimes

tribunals. It refuses to sign a treaty to establish a international

criminal court that could prosecute war crimes free from its

interference.



Its media is described as practicing "suck-up" journalism, afraid to be

too critical of the country's leadership, for fear of being frozen out

and

refused access to "news makers." The media regards itself as duty-bound

by

patriotism to assist in the production and dissemination of propaganda

in

times of war, a now permanent condition.



The majority of its population consists of honest, humane,

peace-loving

people, who are poles apart from the barbarous, sociopaths who run the

country. They are kept in a fog as to what's being done in their name.

If

they knew, they wouldn't stand for it for a moment. This, the

leadership

knows, and so spends liberally on public relations to keep the

population

pliable and in the dark.



It has the largest prison population per capita in the world.



In one of its largest states (California), it spends more on prisons

than

education.



The infant mortality rate in its capital is higher than that of a third

world country it has blockaded economically for four decades (Cuba),

and

whose politics it doesn't like.



Criticism of the country's foreign policy is dealt with by assigning

dismissive labels to the critics (anti-American, communists), threats

of

legal sanction (charges of sedition), or threats of deportation (to

Cuba.)

The criticisms themselves are never addressed.



The country forces the poor and wretched of the world to adopt austere

economic policies that it, itself, would never adopt, for fear of

economic

ruin. The polices have the effect of intensifying the misery of the

world's poor, while increasing the wealth of the country's business

elite.



The country claims to have a free press, but only the wealthiest can

own

the press. Not surprisingly, the press reflects the interests of the

wealthy. It's said that anyone can become leader of the country, but

only

those who can ingratiate themselves with the wealthiest citizens can

raise

the funds and backing to occupy the country's highest offices. The

president, the cabinet, and most elected representatives, have either

been

bought by, or are members of, the country's economic elite.



The country's foreign policies have caused illimitable suffering

throughout much of the world for decades. This has led to it being

reviled over the greater part of the globe. Its leader (George W. Bush)

can only reply, "I don't know why. We're doing such a good job."



Mr. Steve Gowans is a writer and political activist who lives in

Ottawa, Canada.

[imb706]

actually I had to say many things and one post would be boring!

Well, I mean it´s a bit deceiving, makes it seem your thread is more active than it is. Couldn´t you just separate the text into a single post?

The defeat of NATO will be the victory of the Taliban and Salafism which are highly antidemocratic forces

Yes, if they somehow destroyed NATO and caused it to disolve, but that´s never going to happen. Getting the hell out of there or ending all hosility and facilitating the growth the country would certainly not be a victory for the Taliban, it´d just lead to their demise. Staying there and blowing the crap out of the country strengthens the Taliban.

Contribution of USA towards democracy is more than its anti-democracy attempts or support for some dictators or kings as in Middle east.

Well, youĺl have to give me some examples, because I can give you an entire history of US actions that sabotaged democracy around the world, and in fact specific actions that led to the Taliban. Go read War is a Racket, written by the most decorated US Marine at the time it was written. Written by the same guy who foiled the coup attempt against FDR.

However USA like every nation first looks to its own national interest then interest of a friend or all

Maybe the people of the US do, but the leaders of the US overwhemlingly represent business. Obama is a privatizing friend of business.

But this trend for USA being the sole super power of the world may change as a super power may not think only as a country but a responsable state in the world affairs whose decisions not only affect its own people but the world at large.

Why do we need to be a superpower, and why does the world need superpowers? We should be putting all our efforts into maximizing welfare and the general quality of life of the citizens here and perserving our future. The road we´re going down will lead to our eventual demise.

My basic point in above posts is that the US needs more propaganda for what they are doing. They do but dont get the credit.

Why do we need to lie?

[Badlun]

If we start making a list that how Arabs started from Makkah and Madina and conquedred the whole known world at that time then the list of the wars of the USA will seem very tiny. Arabs not only conquered the land but also made it part of their empire and changed the culture and religion of the people they conquered.

As I said above


USA has fought wars like any other country, nation or power. Former USSR has not only fought wars but also conquered countries and made them part of the Union. We all know the history from Poland , to East Germany to Tajikistan to Afghanistan. The same has done by Muslims , by Pashtuns by Germans, by Turks and others when they were in power. Its all power politics and balance of power game. This is what Realism teaches us. Thats why USA is not the only country or nation in this regard.USA like any other country or power has reasons for her wars.

We should not only look at USA only as a country which fights wars or invades others,,,at least it does not conquer countries physically like others,,,we should also consider its humanitarian , developmental and other positive role in the world as well as its own internal development and progress as a nation.

[شمله ور خراساني]

If we start making a list that how Arabs started from Makkah and Madina and conquedred the whole known world at that time then the list of the wars of the USA will seem very tiny. Arabs not only conquered the land but also made it part of their empire and changed the culture and religion of the people they conquered.

As I said above


USA has fought wars like any other country, nation or power. Former USSR has not only fought wars but also conquered countries and made them part of the Union. We all know the history from Poland , to East Germany to Tajikistan to Afghanistan. The same has done by Muslims , by Pashtuns by Germans, by Turks and others when they were in power. Its all power politics and balance of power game. This is what Realism teaches us. Thats why USA is not the only country or nation in this regard.USA like any other country or power has reasons for her wars.

We should not only look at USA only as a country which fights wars or invades others,,,at least it does not conquer countries physically like others,,,we should also consider its humanitarian , developmental and other positive role in the world as well as its own internal development and progress as a nation.

Yes, they gang-rape Pashtun women and massacre our people but we should focus on their humanitarian aid: http://vimeo.com/9388088

[imb706]

If we start making a list that how Arabs started from Makkah and Madina and conquedred the whole known world at that time then the list of the wars of the USA will seem very tiny. Arabs not only conquered the land but also made it part of their empire and changed the culture and religion of the people they conquered.

Well, all countries and all societies have imperialism in their history and blood on their hands. Yes I´ll agree Islamic societies and history is more violent, but to be fair, Islamic societies are a lot older than the US, by like a thousand years. That´s a lot more time to do such things.

My point was that the US doesn´t always fight for democracy and justice and such, sometimes quite the opposite.

We should not only look at USA only as a country which fights wars or invades others,,,at least it does not conquer countries physically like others,,,we should also consider its humanitarian , developmental and other positive role in the world as well as its own internal development and progress as a nation.

I hate to sound like some US basher here, since I´m not, but we´ve conquered areas before. Look at the Phillipines, for example.

[Badlun]

I would highly appreciate feedback of my friends especially ones from Centcom on my different posts in this thread.

[Badlun]

An excellent article

Anti-Americanism in Pakistan: A brief history

http://www.dawn.com/news/1144214/anti-americanism-in-pakistan-a-brief-history