In the decade since 9/11, the United States has been
commonly criticized for its interventionist policies. That is, the government
has extensively interfered with the internal politics of other nations in the
name of safeguarding its national security and dominance in the world. United
States of America has always stood at the helm of things and decided what is
good or bad for the rest of the world. There have been instances where it has
been the decision maker and breaker. The most recent case has been that of the
internal conflict in Syria and the rising death toll of the common Syrian man
because of the fight between the Government and the rebels.
The United States is currently involved in at least
two major military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S.A intervention continues
to be an ongoing occurrence in international relations with a very thin line between military intervention and democratization. The thought process behind
U.S.A’s intervention in the world politics and crisis management is to reach
out and fix things for others. But is it really so?
The fact that America today has a major part of its
soldiers overseas getting injured or killed in the name of setting up Peace is
disturbing. America has taken up the onus of getting things right in the World
by muscle or talk but it is mostly muscle in the form of Military
intervention. This intervention is often
justified as a bid to promoting democracy abroad. The justifications do not
stand to reason and America should be realizing that by now.
What is befuddling is how America comes out with
this Heroic image each time it interferes with another nation’s affairs. Is it
all a political conspiracy? Is it the fact that America interferes only because
it holds a vantage point for them? Yes, we have seen that happening in
countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, the most highlighted nations in the long
list of American interference.
While the US received extensive global support
immediately following 9-11, the seemingly never-ending war in Iraq, the
accompanying thousands of civilian and military deaths, and the debunking of
the WMD pretext caused those in the international and national arena to
question US interventionism. In order for countries to mitigate their chances
for being involved in dangerous global disputes, countries should avoid
interfering with the internal politics of othe countries. Indeed, the quest of
global dominance often necessitates countries, such as the US, to get involved
in the domestic matters in other countries. In order to maintain its hegemony
in the world, the US government often interferes in the affairs of other
nations.
For example,
it may attempt to manipulate another economy through sanctions in order to
protect the dollar and secure its economic status. It may influence voting
results by funding groups advocating for democracy. It may also fund rulers as
a way to ensure their politics are in line with US interests. Most of these
influences are accomplished through diplomatic means; other times, the US uses
its military prowess to achieve goals. While interfering with other nations may
increase one's power, Anti-American groups and activities have multiplied due
to US hegemony. While they claim to be “protecting” US citizens and its global
status its interventionist policies have ironically made more and more people unsafe
in the homeland and abroad. There are, however, arguably good reasons for
countries to intervene in another country's internal politics. For example, the
US entered Bosnia in the mid-90s on a humanitarian mission---as a way to
prevent Kosovans from being killed in mass numbers. Granted, the US always has
extra motives when being involved in a humanitarian mission. After all, the
government chose not to rescue Rwandans in what was probably the worst case of
genocide in the 20th century; simply put, the US did not have anything else to
gain by involving its military in the region. Notwithstanding ulterior motives,
humanitarian interventions do save many lives and that fact, in itself, may
justify a nation's interference in another's domestic politics. The US, indeed,
has probably boosted its own status in the global arena by being heavily
involved in other countries' affairs. It is still holding on to its global
dominance, avoiding further major terrorist activities on the homeland, and
having foreign leaders supporting its goals. However, this grand-scale
intervention has come at a price. That is, the Anti-American movement has been
growing at a rapid pace and people around the world have come to resent the
fact that their national affairs are directly affected by US will. Indeed, in
order to mitigate chances of dangerous global disputes, nations should avoid
meddling with the internal affairs of other nations.
Sometimes it is better to take a step back and let
situations sort themselves out. This world has been war ravaged enough; one
does NOT need more from the American Politicians to secure their “well being”
by being interfering simply to boost their status, economy and hold on the
world politics. Is that what the American Dream is? Dominance? From where I am
sitting, it sure looks like.
Peace Out!
xoxo
