WarAngel;708047 said:
I can honestly say I don't know of a single war in the 20th century and further where we fought for our freedom. Our allies' freedom, sure. Against Communism, sure. Against men in caves that we should all fear, sure.
Because someone wants to invade us and take away all our freedom? Uhh...
I'm not trying to flame anyone or be unpatriotic or anything, but I really don't understand why I hear this phrase so often when it really doesn't seem to be that true. I appreciate that you and everyone else has served in our military to fight for our nation, but I don't find truth in that stated mission. Maybe I missed something though. Please enlighten me if I did.
Our involvement has been because of our perceived best interest, because a problem was becoming intolerable or to preempt before things went too far away from our interest. This is true before this century, too. The causes of the American revolution were essentially economic, as were all the wars we have fought.
(They don't call me a cynic for nothing).
Consider:
American revolution - taxation without representation; economy captive as a colony to Britain.
War of 1812 - Britain attempting to restrict our use of the high seas & keep us in an inferior economic position.
Mexican War - Blatant land grab to achieve our "manifest destiny".
Civil War - king cotton required slaves; industrial revolution threatened plantation way of life; loss of political balance resulted in southern secession.
Spanish-American War - essentially about Florida & Cuba, another blatant land grab
WWI - Weakening of Britain & France threatened our valued trade relationships; Zimmerman note aroused fears of Mexicans reclaiming land (Pancho Villa raids were fierce at this time); interference with shipping by Germans
WWII - Essentially continuation of WWI with same threats, in addition loss of Pacific hegemony to Japan.
Korea - communist "dominoes" threatened newly conquered Japan and our control of Pacific - resources and trade.
Vietnam - same reasons as Korea
Iraq - Threat of terrorism but more fears of oil restriction than fears of repeated terrorist attacks. If middle east oil is largely shut off to us the average American will howl about the huge economic impact.
The truth is all wars have been about nations resorting to force to achieve or protect their interests when it appears other solutions are unworkable, are too expensive, or will take too long. They are not started by the common man but rather by those who have the most to gain or lose. Once started, the common man is persuaded or coerced into bearing the brunt of the misery.
I have not stated whether I am for or against all this. The fact is on some level I see validity for either position. I am just making cynical observations on human nature.