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America First: Why we need to examine our insane Foreign policy
self | 12/29/2001 | Demidog

Posted on 12/29/2001 9:27:49 AM PST by Demidog

I am not an America hater by any stretch of the imagination. Nor are the plethora of folks calling for a re-examination of our foreign policies. But that's what we're called.

I wish I knew why.

I really don't want to be against any American. I don't like being on the butt end of insults. So if there were a way to somehow explain what it is that bothers me about our foreign policy without the resultant cries of "traitor! treason! Islam firster!" I would.

One of the main problems apears to be that any "agreement" with bin Laden and his band of murdering thugs is seen to be support. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is probably true that bin Laden knows that water is tantamount to life in the desert. If I agree with this, I am no more supporting bin Laden than you are by agreeing.

When we decry any actions taken by Israel, we are "anti-semites." When Israel admitted that they had set a booby trap near an area where children played and 5 Palestinian boys died when it went off, you couldn't get near the topic without being ridiculed.

This is puzzling to me. There is nothing wrong per se with Israel and certainly not Jews, but for certain they are not perfect. For some, Israel is perfection and any criticism is tantamount to racism. Those who disagree are shouted down with such fervor it makes one pause.

American policies aren't perfect either. It is arguable for instance that John Wayne's death from cancer could be attributed to nuclear tests performed back in the 40's. Movie locations happened to be in the area where tests occurred. Many film industry professionals who worked on movies filmed in Nevada died from cancer including that great American we called "the Duke."

Many soldiers who were in the vicinity of those tests also died from cancer.

Why is it an indictment on all of America to bring such mistakes to light? In general, the American population has no say so in the slightest regarding these sorts of activities nor do they have much say in our foreign policy.

But as usual, it is the American population that has to accept the consequences of Policy mistakes made by the government. To say that those who object to this "hate America" is completely absurd.

The truth is quite the opposite.

I love America. And those who decry our foreign policy blunders and the theft of our hard earned money that is necessary in order to carry out these blunders also love America. We're simply tired of having to pay the price for those mistakes, while those who carry them out never have to suffer the consequences.

One of the most bizarre claims by those who are calling us "America haters" and "Islam firsters" is that terorrists are simply angry that we are so democratic as a nation and love freedom. These terrorists "hate freedom" and thus hate America and Americans. They're "jealous," in other words, of our prosperity.

This is about as brilliant an analysis as claiming that Timothy McVeigh was upset that he was no longer an employee of the federal government and thus took out his jealosy and rage on that same federal government.

It is the analysis of the simpleton.

The fact is, we only know what the terrorists claim. Not that it matters much. The opinions of mass murderers are not that important. Clearly however, this is not what any of the terrorists are saying. What they are saying is that they believe themselves to be oppressed by our foreign intervention.

When students took Iranian embassy employees hostage, their reason given for such extraordinary measures was American meddling in Iranian internal affairs.

The Shah of Iran was our personally hand-picked leader for their country. The CIA had, in the time period between the time we basically annexed Iran during WWII, purposefully destroyed opposition to the Shah by using tactics they had learned in South America.

None of those tactics were even remotely related to "freedom" or the principles upon which this nation was founded. They were the actions of a government that believed the Iranian people were chattle and were not worthy of chosing their own leadership.

So what happened? A number of Americans paid the price for our meddling. When we allowed the Shah to enter America to receive medical treatment, the last straw was put upon the back of that proverbial camel.

And that is not to mention the American lives that were sacrificed in a botched rescue attempt. For some, these lives are expendable. They are the price a nation pays for being a "super power." I agree with that assesment. But I don't think we need to be a superpower. I don't think we need to meddle in the affairs of other nations in order to protect our borders.

As is proven time and time again, such meddling has a high price.

And therein lies the rub. Dying in order to defend this nation from an attacking force is national defense and is noble. Sending young men and women across the globe to secure oil fields and preserve the "American way of life" is a sick project. I for one, am not willing to lose a single American for the cynical goal of sub-dollar-a-gallon fuel for my SUV.

If that is the measure of value for an American life then you can call me an America hater all day long and I will be proud to wear that badge.

I criticize our foreign policies because they result in the deaths of American soldiers and citizens at home and abroad. In no way do I criticize Americans. In the aftermath of the Trade Center attacks, it wasn't the government that responded with such ferocity and bravery. It was the average American.

The Beaurocrats were busy playing CYA and letting us know that none of this was their fault. In the meantime, Americans came up with over 60 million dollars in cash and even more in valuable resources in spite of the fact that they are taxed to the extreme in order to pay for the very policies that helped to incubate the attacks of 9/11.

America proved it's greatness in the response to the attacks. The government proved it's complete disregard for human liberty by passing laws which violate the spirit and letter of the Supreme law of the land. Even while the fires were still burning.

America is a great nation and is full of great people. Unfortunately its leaders have no respect for its people or its laws. Pointing this out is not showing hate for anything but the lawbreakers who do so.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs
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To: sinkspur
Occam's razor says that the Duke died as a result of tobacco use.

My Grandfather is 97, still drives and smoked for over 50 years, and does not have cancer. The fact that a very high proportion of those who worked on films made in the area in question died from cancer puts Occam's razor at odds with your view.

I certainly do not blame you for what occurred there. I blame the morons who were more interested in getting the "job done" and covering their political butts at the expense of a few soldiers and other citizens who were "expendable."

21 posted on 12/29/2001 9:46:11 AM PST by Demidog
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To: Roscoe
Not reflected in the screed.

Says you.

22 posted on 12/29/2001 9:47:11 AM PST by Demidog
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To: Joe Hadenuf
After we won the *free* election the federal government stepped in and burned our ballots and declared our election unconstitutional

Wrong that was the very liberal ninth circuit court based in San Francisco.

23 posted on 12/29/2001 9:47:17 AM PST by Dane
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To: Dane
Trust me, it was the feds.
24 posted on 12/29/2001 9:48:02 AM PST by Joe Hadenuf
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To: Demidog
He was the second worst president we've ever had and the people elected him in a legitimate process outlined in our governing documents. But if you don't like those documents, there is a means to peaceably change them. Short of that, there is revolution or leaving the country.
25 posted on 12/29/2001 9:48:33 AM PST by anniegetyourgun
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To: Dane
Glad to see the "Jack Booted Thugs" supporter showed up.
26 posted on 12/29/2001 9:48:37 AM PST by steve50
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To: Joe Hadenuf
Trust me, it was the feds

No it was ninth circuit court.

27 posted on 12/29/2001 9:49:47 AM PST by Dane
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To: Demidog
Well an article that questions creationism keeps getting deleted. Is FR being any better than VH-1? And no I'm not a disruptor.
28 posted on 12/29/2001 9:50:24 AM PST by Bogey78O
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To: anniegetyourgun
Since when did I say I didn't support the founding documents? What are you trying to say?
29 posted on 12/29/2001 9:50:28 AM PST by Demidog
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To: Dane
I don't give a hoot what you call it. I know what happened and who did it.
30 posted on 12/29/2001 9:51:07 AM PST by Joe Hadenuf
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To: Demidog
"I love my country but I don't trust my government."

Some people can't handle that concept, and think only in term of either/or.

31 posted on 12/29/2001 9:51:08 AM PST by KirklandJunction
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To: Dane
Is the 9th circuit a part of the Federal government or not?
32 posted on 12/29/2001 9:51:25 AM PST by Demidog
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To: steve50
Glad to see the "Jack Booted Thugs" supporter showed up.

Yawn, page 50 of the Libertarian handbook. When in trouble call somebody(the growing old cliche) "Jack Booted Thug".

33 posted on 12/29/2001 9:52:03 AM PST by Dane
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To: KirklandJunction
"You're either for us or against us."
34 posted on 12/29/2001 9:52:15 AM PST by Demidog
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To: Demidog
Interesting read. One important comment:

"The fact is, we only know what the terrorists claim. Not that it matters much. The opinions of mass murderers are not that important. Clearly however, this is not what any of the terrorists are saying. What they are saying is that they believe themselves to be oppressed by our foreign intervention."

When the terrorists are speaking to the West of course they are going to want us to be sympathetic to them. But when they speak amongst themselves and think no one is watching they say "we must kill the Infidels until they swear allegiance to Allah" (This was part of the Bin Laden tape recently released, I can give you a link if you want).

You certainly have a right to your opinion, but here's my problem with your point of view: Do you think that if we did everything the terrorists asked, if we left Saudi Arabia, stopped the sanctions against Iraq, stopped aiding Israel, do you think Bin Laden would just give up? Bin Laden would just say "well the Americans have complied with my every wish, they are no longer the great Satan, I have no need for terrorism any more, maybe I will try my hand at becoming a basketball player"? I'm exaggerating, but you get the point, these people are evil murdering terrorists who will hate us no matter what we do. No amount of appeasing them will change things.
35 posted on 12/29/2001 9:52:27 AM PST by Michael2001
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To: Demidog
Last I checked it was.
36 posted on 12/29/2001 9:53:10 AM PST by Joe Hadenuf
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To: Demidog
I am an America Firster. If that is racist or insensitive...see if I care. REPUBLIC YES! EMPIRE NO!
37 posted on 12/29/2001 9:53:39 AM PST by Eternal_Bear
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To: Demidog
"I for one, am not willing to lose a single American for the cynical goal of sub-dollar-a-gallon fuel for my SUV. "

Then honor demands that you give up your SUV and ride in a Yugo.

38 posted on 12/29/2001 9:54:33 AM PST by gatex
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Comment #39 Removed by Moderator

To: Demidog
Interesting reading and some interesting points related to several issues we are all dealing with currently. Good post DemiDog.
40 posted on 12/29/2001 9:54:57 AM PST by cascademountaineer
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