Actions Matter; Intentions Are Irrelevant
SEARCH BLOG: WAR
To some, there is no apparent difference between actions of the U.S. around the world and those of China [which engulfed Tibet] and North Korea [that constantly snipes at its southern brethren] or Iran [which is run by pious individuals who seek nuclear fuel because they lack fossil fuels for energy].
These apologists for unethical and violent regimes and Islamists who terrorize not only their own people but those around the world who have allowed them access to open-society nations... these apologists refuse to see any difference between those nations and organizations and the U.S. which spends its money and risks its people defending others against the goals of those nations and organizations.
If the U.S. engages militarily and does so in a manner that is restrained and puts its own forces in greater danger in order to minimize casualties among non-combatants, these apologists will argue that the military is the basically doing the same thing as ... say the Taliban or the North Koreans. It only matters that the U.S. is using force... not the reasons behind the use of the force. These apologists will say "see, no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq" despite the fact that when actions began there was evidence presented by the United Nations that such weapons existed and that the United Nations itself sanctioned military action and that other countries worked with the United States. They will say, "it was all a lie just to get Iraqi oil" forgetting conveniently that the U.S. paid for its own efforts and got no oil as payment or tribute.
The reality is that the United States has and continues to be the defender and advocate of liberty around the world... a world filled with despots and terrorists... a world that would be a far more dangerous world if the likes of North Korea were simply allowed to invade South Korea without opposition. These apologists say, "let these depots and terrorists alone and they will simply go away." It is better to let your neighbor be enslaved than become involved. After all, intentions don't matter... only actions. And if your actions include military violence, then there is no difference between what you do and what they do.
Of course, the U.S. actions are not perfect. Sometimes efforts fail or one despot is replaced by another. The U.S. can't fix everything so it should not fix anything. Stay out of the way of what is happening elsewhere. If the world becomes engulfed in war or terror, forget it... as long as it is outside of U.S. boundaries. Everything will work out in the end. It can be fixed by trading goods and raw materials. That will be the win-win that the world has been seeking. Then all of the bad actions and bad leaders will disappear.
Perhaps these apologists are right. Perhaps the U.S. should stand by and see their friends and neighbors subjected to the whims of despots and terrorists. If the U.S. does nothing, then the apologists can say that we are not to blame if an effort is not perfect. If we do nothing, we are blameless... and without honor.
And they all lived... happily ever after.
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