JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opinion/putin-plea-for-caution-from-russia-on-syria.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

The Russian president listed countries in which the United States has intervened in the past — including Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq — and said that force had proved pointless there.

This is a truth now........


It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States. Is it in America’s long-term interest? I doubt it. Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan “you’re either with us or against us.”

riverlass Loc: northern California

I wish more of you from other countries would weigh in on this. As an American, I would like to know what other people think of us, as a "model of democracy".
I'm beginning to think that we have done some damage to the ideal.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

NOT you, NOT the American people, the leaders who supposedly speak for the people without asking the people.

Photo-Al Loc: Sonoma County, CA

Please don't take this as absolute disagreement: I just think there is "more to the story" than 99% of us know about. Yes, it is called an internal conflict (civil war), but Russia has been supplying weaponry and munitions to the Assad regime for some time. So has Iran, and likely other nations as well. It has never been a "fair fight". Does that mean we (US) should intervene? Not necessarily. Does the use of chemical warfare mean we should intervene? I don't know. Viscerally, I would like to blast whoever did such a deed to smithereens, but I don't know who was responsible. Suspect, yes: Know, no. Is it right at any time for another nation to intervene in another country's conflict? If the answer is yes, who is going to do it? Who gets asked to do it? US. We assume that foreign people have the same values and think the same as we do ... they don't.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Libya was a minor interaction. Iraq we could have done without. Afghanistan, however, was a no-brainer and unavoidable. Had we concentrated all of our efforts there, as well, the war there possibly could have been over much more quickly. The bottom line, however, is that the world is much safer from terrorism than it was pre-9/11. Let's not forget that. Whatever else you may want to demonize him for, Bush did make the West a safer place to live in. Perhaps you've forgotten all the pre-9/11 terror attacks throughout Europe and even Japan.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

My only annoyance at reading this came in the very last line.

"We assume that foreign people have the same values "

Beware assumptions that we don't just because we don't follow you wherever you would like us to

sye Loc: The Old Dominion Near DC

It's unfortunate that we have an incumbent who has advisors that don't know squat about the Middle East and other "issues".

Not only that but HE LISTENS TO THEM !!!!!

I believe that most anyone could have SUCCESSFULLY predicted what would happen after leaders like Mubarak and Qadhafi were overthrown.

YES -- they were dictators and one was even allegedly elected by the majority to rule his country. HOWEVER, they brought or maintained stability in their respective countries. NO ONE wanted to hear the knock or the kick-in of their door in the middle of the night by the secret police.

Now, look what's happening in Egypt and Libya.

The same will happen in Syria. I agree that Assad is a bastard, like his father, but the country used to be stable.

Not only that but the US was able to live with those world conditions.

The so-called political track in keeping up a line of communications with Middle Eastern countries used to work. IMHO, not so much anymore.

If the US incumbent were to have his way, he might also want to do what Mubarak, Qadhafi, and Assad have done to "keep the peace" in their countries.

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

Just figure out who's going to benefit monetarily and there is your instigator.

Why do you think the Arab world is willing to foot the bill for us to get involved in Syria? They then can send oil and gas thru Syria.

Follow the money! It has always been true and will always be true!

crissx09 Loc: FL-USA

Lets face it. Since the end of World War II USA assumed the rol of the world savior. When we had surplus in all fields as producing foods, industrial equipment, automovil, etc and almost not competition in the world wide market that status or image stick.
The one with the gold put the rules and that rules included to install friendly governments where ever they could. Remember the United Fruit and all the dictators in Central America?
Times are a lot different now. We have competition in production, quality and ...prices. Expending the resources of the country trying to push democracy in countries that do not have any idea what is that, is not unwise. It is simple stupid. Let them live their way and just make business with them. If their government abuse their people ? So what!! It is their problem!! Whom we are to fix the way the world should be? What about our own country and its people? Wars? Almost always war has been commercial. We are not in jeopardy to lose our freedom; Corporations are at risk of loosing investment and traditionally the entire country is defending mainly their interest.
Lets keep the best armed forces in a way that no one will dare
to intent any wrong doing in our land and keep a strong fair diplomacy to establish commercial tides with everyone.
How to compete? That is our problem.....

Wellhiem Loc: Sunny England.

I would be interested to hear why America, which is a republic , wants to spread democracy to countries that don't want it.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

Putins not one to talk! The bloody Ruskies were in Afghanistan for 10 years or more & pulled out with their tails between their legs. Left their trail of garbage behind as they left.
Rusted hulks of tanks etc are still littered around the place I understand.
He whines about the US supplying arms to the rebels while he feeds the regime with much bigger armaments & kisses assads arse for what? Oil?
He is a mongrel & always has been. He's responsible for all those lives of innocents. Should have the bastard up before the war tribunal for not stopping the carnage.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

Yeah, I think USA has got a bit big for its boots over the last 10 years. Expectation of world sheriff is unfair but you're dammed if you do & dammed if you don't. With friends like you, who needs enemies.
I often wonder why are the yanks so despised overseas? It is also note able that where ever there is Muslims there is conflict. Nobody loves them either.
Most nations are lacking in credible leadership.

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

Our country has become a nation of busybody meddlers. We do it at home and abroad. The desire to shape, mold, control and lord over others has reaped a failing empire that will soon be on the ash heap of history unless we begin to live within our means and forsake the busybody nonsense.

There are two types of people in this world politically - Those who want everyone controlled and those who have no desire to do so. Collectively as a nation we are the former but many like myself are of the latter. The busybody progressives buy their way into power through "legalized" plunder of the Makers and give it to the Takers in exchange for their votes. Corruption of private property is the result. The Takers are now in the majority so barring a near or total collapse of the country financially there is no turnaround in sight. We will continue to sink into the progressive abyss of poverty and tyranny for all except for an extremely small elite group at the top.

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

Didn't the English used to say "the sun never set on the British empire"? Seems they did their fair share of military intervening back in the day. I can see why England wouldn't want to get involved in Syria after that fiasco they had over Poland in '39. Got their butts kicked but could have been worse if someone else didn't intervene and help pull their chestnuts out of the fire. Hitler deciding to attack Russia took a lot of the heat off the Brits, also. And yes, I'm rehashing ancient history.