America -- Bully of the World?
 

Do you think that America is genuinely trying to help the other nations it saves/occupies, or have we gone power mad? Whatever it is, its been going on for a while.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

We are not the only nation doing this with other countries. We just go to one nation everyone doesn't want us to go into and all of a sudden we are bullies. We are just trying to help.


Cry Me A River!

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

A problem for America is, countries i need of aid ask them to help, so they send in their troops, then about 2 years later, all the people who live in those countries start complaining, saying that the American army is bad and that they should leave from their country. It's their fault, they asked for the help.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Well, don't remebmer Afghanistan or Iraq asking the US to send their army.
Well, ok, metaphorically Aghanistan did :)

I voted neither, I don't regard the US as some kind of bully but I also think it is naive to think about the US like some holy samaritan. I'll better stop here or this will turn into another pro/con-Bush thread :)

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

I don't think i did say that they asked America to go in, did I??

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

I like neither, but since there was one vote for the first statement, I decided to even it out ;).

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Yeah I agree with you on this one Irrelevant, you are so smart :P

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

I know;) :nodding:

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

The USA IS NOT a bully now if we were dopping nukes every where i might chage my mind. I think the USA needs to get more agressive to show the terrorists that weare not messing around.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

^ I agree also, but that would probably also make some terrorist target us more. But it would, intimidate the smaller terrorists organizations.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

As Teddy Roosevelt once said "We are the Police Officers of the world." This great president also said "Speak softly and carry a big stick". That is very true.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

America holds tru to that statement.

I would have edited my previous post, but for some reason the edit button was not there...

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

America is neither a bully nor a savior. It has doctrinal inconsistencies that have caused it great international harm, as well as an executive that blindly follows this doctrine due to his black/white good/evil worldview. Neither political party within the government is fit to govern, nor are any of the prominent independents, *cough* Nader! *cough* so the American people are stuck with an unsatisfactory system that restrains them and their will at the altar of the almighty dollar.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

I vote colonel_bob as 'Troll of the forum' :p!

The answer to this really depends on what you think of American foreign-policy in the first place. And if you have an opinion on such things, you've already answered this question for yourself a long time ago.

Oh, and as an afterthought, a clever poll :naughty:... there's no real 'right' answer, just a 'wrong' one :p.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Yea, I don't think you can classify us as either. It's not a black and white issue...or a yes or no issue. :p

Matt you're back! :)

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

A gray issue then. I say both, not neither.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Eh? What? Aw man, I thought this was Jolt...

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Ya can't leave us now...you're hooked. :D

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

omg mr.matt we missed you

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

On topic, gentlemen. Don't make me use my lock.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Well, I thought you perhaps meant those last two wars, as they have the biggest influence on this topic, don't they?

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

So giving aid to countries is bullying? I need to think again before I help people.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

America defends it's liberty by bombing smaller, weaker, defenceless nations. Bully? Not really. America is simply lost. A relic of the Cold War.

Imagine a boxer, a boxer who has a rival. Throughout their careers these boxers postured, sparred, sometimes it got down to a grudge match. Then, the rival was suddenly gone. The boxer, who was used to having a rival suddenly had none. What does that boxer do? He beats up on smaller, weaker opponents in a futile effort to prove his superiority (or, to defend his faltering reputation). Each time this Boxer squares up to an opponent he mercilessly tears him apart. This does not glorify the boxer, it shows him in his true light. A machine of unimaginable power and a frustrating lack of an outlet. Each time he defeats his foe he expects the praise others but this is not forthcoming because the others are more refined, cultured and understanding of the situation. They know that the boxer is picking fights with unmatched opponents and they know these are empty victories, devoid of meaning or purpose. This boxer is fighting for the purpose of fighting, it's his nature. It is a nature which will lead to eventual defeat when a new challenger rises in the East...

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

:rolleyes: A bit like wishful thinking. Kinda funny since you live in the east. :rolleyes:

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

You're right, America will be strong forever. China's vast army, powerhouse economy and nuclear warheads will never challenge the all-mighty forces of freedom! If history has taught us anything, it is that powerful nations are never challenged and never fall, they go from strength to strength until the end of the world.

:rolleyes:

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Exaclty. HEY THATS SARCASM! I dought China will ever be a problem. I don't see any tensions surrounding China. I think N.Korea is a problem, even China, which is also Commie, thinks so.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

That's right, I live in the East and I therefore have a better grasp of what is going on here than you could ever hope to have. All Great Empires have their time and then fall. I do not support China, I was born here when we were a British Colony (my father is British), but I can assure you that any transgressions against Korea would lead to America getting a very bloody nose. Maybe not now, but within a decade China will reign supreme like America does now.

America grows fat and lazy (typical of the reigning champion ;)). The only way you could hope to stop China is by mutually assured destruction, and if that is what you want... God help us all.

Edit:

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

That wasn't very nice.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

It wasn't supposed to be insulting, and if it came across in such a manner I apologise. I was merely referring to the fact that I have to live and breath within Communist China and therefore understand the goals and motivations of the Chinese government and people on a level you couldn't.

I apologise if it sounded harsh.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

It's ok ;)

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

of the world? no, of the middle-east? sure.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

America is only the bully of the world, when it's not giving money out. All other times, the world likes the US until it gets money.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Well, of cousre. Everyone loves money.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Well, China and Cuba and North Korea are all going to go the way of Russia. Communist countries are simply not self-sustaining. China's powerhouse economy is based on foreign investment and military spending. The first is unreliable and the second is only a short-term fix with long-term negative effects. Its vast army is an army of conscripts and 1960s tech. Its nukes are insignificant compared to America's vast arsenal. China, in no way, compares to the U.S. or any developed nation in terms of overall economic health. America has a more powerful military, a (in the long term) healthier economy, and a more progressive government. For these three reasons, China is no threat.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

The boxer thing was a terrific metaphor.

As you may guess from the SN, I am American. I feel that my nation is a fighting nation, and it fights on the right side: we are by no means "Invincible in war" but we are damn close! However, there is less need for us when our rivals fall. America will forever be a military superpower: nothing more, nothing less. I despise both Bush and Kerry, but am proud to be in a place I do not need to fear for my well-being.

Here is something that MAY help someone understand America's situation:

The UK, the US's closest ally and, ironically, the nation with just about as much power, is not much more liked in the world as the US. I'll give an example: In 1916, there was an uprising in Dublin, Ireland. After a week of extreme bravery on both sides, the rising was crushed and Dublin was in ashes. From these ashes rose Micheal Collins and his IRA. They started a war that rages to this day, one that once assisted in nearly ending Britains run as a superpower: the world thought it was overeacting to the IRA and being needlessly ruthless, when in fact, they were trying to defend themselves. Until the Second World War began, Britain was consistently losing favor because of this war and a few other instances like it. After the war, they started regaining their reputation and are now as great as they ever were.

I am afraid that Iraq will be my country's Easter Rising: We are being seen as psychos overeacting to a minor situation. We will not get out of this hell any time soon, but when we do, we will be in the same posistion we once were. Of course, by then, someone would have risen up to have more political or economical power then us. My bets on Germany.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

I think that no other country shall ever has as powerful of a military of the United States. But sure, they could beat us in economical power. I do think this iraq conflict was an important one, first of all to get a horrible ruler out of power. I think that the United States helps other countrys.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Man, your just a trouble maker. This is a stupid question. Ya were the bully of hte world. HAH. There's so many country's out there that are 10x worse then the US for both the people and the goverment that runs it. Get a grip, were not the nazi's.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

I see the government's been working it's magic on you... I'll bet somebody said that about Britain a hundred and fifty years ago!

I don't think that's entirely it. America's always seems to have religiously fought against an enemy, be it the British, the Native Americans, Germany, communism, terrorism... I probably missed a few. To an outsider, it almost looks as though America needs an enemy.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Lol, you do realise you need an economy to stay a military superpower?

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Yes, you need an economy, but not necessarily the best one around. I also said "A military superpower", not THE military superpower. Britiain never really fell, it just got less powerful gradually in the years between the two big wars.

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Do you realise theres a war going on? In afgahnistan and Iraq? It takes money, and it will do wierd things to the economy. But the Us is doing quite well. Watch, as soon as tensions lessen, and we start to pull some troops out of Iraq, our economy will be back at it's pre-war level, erm pre- 9/11.

I can see it in your mind, you just want to see the US fall from power, funny thing is, who will be the person giving all the AID and military support then? Just say The EU, please...

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

Owkeeeyyyyyyy...

1. I was reacting to him saying that the US would always be a military superpower, yet to have a big and advanced army, you need an economy. This was in no way a reference to the situation at the moment.
2. The EU? China? Some island in the Pacific? I don't give a fuck. The EU is an economic power, and has no military to speak off (yeah, yeah, except Britain, I was talking about the EU as a whole). I am not blind.
3. Once you stop 'giving' military support, another one will do that. And AID to countries isn't the highest thing on your list, now is it?

Re: America -- Bully of the World?
 

1. Flot, don't wish that the economy was back to pre-9/11 levels. That economy was bad and worsening.

2. America has the largest economy, and also has the healthiest large, developed economy in the world. To assume otherwise is foolish.

3. Britain is still the third most powerful nation in military terms and has a good economy. They just had such a bar in the British Empire that they can't reach, which makes them look weaker than they really are.