Is America The Angel of Death and Destruction?
Aby June 28th, 2007
You might have pondered this question, especially if you live outside of America and are aware of the activities of US around the globe. Or perhaps you are an American and want to know why the world detests America so much. There are several reasons for this, one of them is the US foreign policy which irks most nations - be they democratic, autocratic or communists. After the World War 2, the United States of America has followed a foreign policy which is increasingly aggressive and extremist against countries not complying to American will and its petty interests.
Bodies of Vietnamese children massacred by US forces: Victims of American Foreign Policy
Successive American governments (with a few exceptions like Clinton, Carter, etc.) have shown in the last few decades that they are ready to kill hundreds of thousands of people for the sake of their political or business interests. At times the issue is so trivial that if a local government is not supportive of American companies or US influence, attempts are made by American agencies like CIA to destabilize that government by mass dissent, genocides, military coups or assassinations. United States owes apologies and compensations for the genocides of at least 11 million people around the world. The United States administration is guilty of so many crimes against humanity that they could have given Adolf Hitler a complex for not being able to rival the US in genocides. A few of the serious ones among them are shown below. The links for more details are given and if you find these unbelievable you can consult the relevant reports and historical records to verify these -
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100000 civilians in Guatemala (1954), mostly the Mayans perished in the US organised coup to overthrow the popular Jacobo Arbenz. Reason was given as Arbenz’s close ties and friendliness with USSR and to improve the living standard of the Guatemalans.
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600000 people died in bombings by USA on peasants and their fields in Cambodia (1973). Many historians agree that Cambodia is the most bombed country in history and they did not have any credible air of land defence to protect themselves.
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1000000 Iranians were killed in the Iraq - Iran War from 1980 - 1990 by US backed and financed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. It is ironic the US tried Saddam for the same crimes it was an ally to and more ironic that it financed and backed Saddam to topple the democratically elected Iraqi government.
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During end of Vietnam war (1975), US was defeated and it failed to put its choice of government into power against the people’s choice - Ho Chi Minh. To avenge the defeat and death of its 58022 killed soldiers, it released several million tons of Agent Orange and Napalm bombs which killed at least 2500000 Vietnamese civilians. The sanctions and blockades forced by US killed an additional minimum of 1.5 million people.
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1200000 children died in Iraq between 1990 - 1997 as a result of US and UK led sanctions against medicine and food supplied to Iraq after the gulf war and also because of bio-chemical weapons used on Iraqis - according to World Food Program and UNICEF reports.
Every act of these mass genocides and massacres was given a catchphrase justification to suit the American tastes, most commonly being, in the ‘interests of America‘, ‘for freedom‘, ‘war or terrorism‘, ‘war against evil of communism‘, etc. but without a credible justification for the massive losses of human lives and property a war would cause. And yes, a lot of things which the US forces and special forces carry on around the world go unnoticed by the media and public alike till it gets leaked or gets declassified decades later - after the issue has ‘decayed’ (can no longer cause outrage as a fresh incident would have caused).
In the long run such activities create a dissent for Americans around the world. It makes them a target of mockery, hate, attacks both in foreign countries and attacks in mainland America itself. While no sane person would justify attacks on innocent civilians, understanding the root causes which cause such attacks is the first step to solving the problem. If critical issues are brushed under the carpet nothing can be achieved except further death and destruction of American people who often have nothing to do with what their governments are up to in rest of the world.
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How true! Much trouble is caused because American have short term memory and their victims have elephants memory. They can forget their deeds and victims cannot.
Please read “A People History of the United States” by Howard Zinn
Gosh! It is sick to kill so many people just like that! This people have dreams and life too and not to be crushed by others.
We have used the Bible to justify slavery then, now we will do the same for world domination. Yes it is our duty to correct every Asian nation which is not Christian or which is trying to outsmart us. God bless USA - no we will bomb God with our sophisticated bombs if he dares oppose our atrocities. It takes a real kick in the ass from third world nations to wake us up.
These genocides probably mean nothing to the majority of Americans, mainly the conservatives. Their sense of superiority and isolation from the world isolates them from the pain felt by humans in the rest of the world. Why does the life of an American soldier has to be more precious than the life of 43 Vietnamese civilian?
I’m back. I have thoroughly read the article. You have it about half right, half wrong and some of statements are outright propaganda in my opinion. Allow me to explain:
Example 1: 100000 civilians in Guatemala (1954), mostly the Mayans perished in the US organised coup to overthrow the popular Jacobo Arbenz. Reason was given as Arbenz’s close ties and friendliness with USSR and to improve the living standard of the Guatemalans.
Response: I can’t comment on this because I have no expert knowledge concerning that event in Guatemala (although I wouldn’t be surprised if the CIA attempted to replace one ruler for one more favorable to the U.S) I have lived in Guatemala for a short time; the Guatemalan people and government consider the U.S government allies at this time..
Example 2: 600000 people died in bombings by USA on peasants and their fields in Cambodia (1973)…. Many historians agree that Cambodia is the most bombed country in history and they did not have any credible air of land defence to protect themselves.
Response: The numbers are generally agreed to be anywhere from ~500,000 to ~800,000 people killed. The Communist Khmer Rouge were gaining power and attempting to topple the then current government and seize power. The U.S started a bombing campaign in Cambodia to disrupt known Viet Cong bases and supply lines that were running through Cambodia and Laos. Many monsters were at work in this region of the world and it clear that the Khmer Rouge was at the top of the heap as far as monsters are concerned. If you don’t who the Khmer Rouge is– Google The Khmer Rouge + genocide.
Example 3: 1000000 Iranians were killed in the Iraq - Iran War from 1980 - 1990 by US backed and financed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. It is ironic the US tried Saddam for the same crimes it was an ally to and more ironic that it financed and backed Saddam to topple the democratically elected Iraqi government.
Response: Iran was a U.S ally up until the late 1970’s. Iran was overthrown and became enemies with the U.S (the same government is in power to this day). The U.S then started to back Iraq and Saddam Hussein throughout the 1980’s in order to maintain influence in the region (just like Russia and China are doing today). Saddam Hussein and members of his regime were tried with crimes against humanity for using biological weapons to kill the Kurds in the late 1980’s (1987 I believe). Saddam Hussein was NOT democratically elected! The very sentence is absurd. Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator.
Example 4: During end of Vietnam war (1975), US was defeated and it failed to put its choice of government into power against the people’s choice - Ho Chi Minh. To avenge the defeat and death of its 58022 killed soldiers, it released several million tons of Agent Orange and Napalm bombs which killed at least 2500000 Vietnamese civilians. The sanctions and blockades forced by US killed an additional minimum of 1.5 million people.
Response: The Vietnam conflict formally ended in 1975. Agent Orange is a herbicide that was used to defoil the jungle making it more navigable. Furthermore, Agent Orange was used from 1961-1971; it was not used in retaliation! The harmful side effects of Agent Orange were probably discovered in the mid-1970’s and an official study on the subject ended in the late 1980’s. Several lawsuits were filed (and won) against the government and the makers of the chemical before and after the study. Sanctions and blockades by the U.S killed 1.5 million people? Prove it.
One more note about Vietnam. I sincerely believe we indeed took the wrong side in Vietnam. The U.S should have sided with Ho Chi Minh and ousted the French. Ho Chi Minh asked the U.S for help; the U.S declined. Ho Chi Minh was forced to get help elsewhere–and did, the Communists. Ho Chi Minh himself stated that Communism was but a means to achieve Vietnam’s independence–as odd as it may sound, I don’t think he had much choice in the matter.
Example 5: 1200000 children died in Iraq between 1990 - 1997 as a result of US and UK led sanctions against medicine and food supplied to Iraq after the gulf war and also because of bio-chemical weapons used on Iraqis - according to World Food Program and UNICEF reports.
Response: Has everyone forgotten the corruption as it relates to UN’s former secretary Kofi Annan’s son with Iraq’s Oil for Food Program? The real monster was Saddam and corrupt UN officials. Look it up for yourself!
#citizen kane - And where did you get these claims? From the people who are running your favorite American administration. Doesn’t that make you think? Can a regime change justify the murder of millions of people? Would it be fine then if the Iraqis nuked Washington to kill your administration?
@ citizen_kane - “Saddam Hussein was NOT democratically elected! The very sentence is absurd. Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator.”
I am unable to see anything which might have hinted that Saddam was a democratically elected leader. Perhaps in your haste to make an outrageous contradiction, you chose to argue against a non-existent argument.
Sorry for such a long response.. Here is why I made the statement.. thanks and sorry it sounded absurd.
“#1000000 Iranians were killed in the Iraq - Iran War from 1980 - 1990 by US backed and financed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. It is ironic the US tried Saddam for the same crimes it was an ally to and more ironic that it financed and backed Saddam to topple the democratically elected Iraqi government.”
Seraph: Sorry.. I don’t recall stating that any regime change at the cost of millions of people is justified. Thanks.
” #citizen kane - And where did you get these claims? From the people who are running your favorite American administration. Doesn’t that make you think? Can a regime change justify the murder of millions of people? Would it be fine then if the Iraqis nuked Washington to kill your administration?”
Sorry Aby.. I indeed mis-read the passage concerning Saddam toppling the democratically elected Iraqi government.. Thanks for pointing the error out–I have re-read that passage and understand what the author was referring to.
Thanks
Americans are like police cant live with em but you well darn cant live without em.
If they all practice what they preach the world would be better off.
…. You forgot to post the 250,000 to 1,000,000 of my filipino countrymen who were killed in concentration camps by U.S forces during the Philippine-American war for my country to become a fully democratic and independent nation in Asia… and not become a part of the U.S commonwealth.
Why do Americans hide this war, is it because of the propaganda and the need to show that they are the good guys?
Pinoyman, I agree with you this genocide campaign that America conducted in the Philippines seems to be largely ignored in world history even though it caused outrage across the globe at the time and even amongst some good people in America.In the list of monstrous war criminals the name of “howling wilderness Smith” the butcher of Samar should be up near the top.Also the disgusting Kansas Regiment who [as evidenced by their letters home] considered the torture and murder of Filippinos a sport.This is where the Americans perfected the torture method know as “water boarding”.The least the world owes to their victims is that they not be forgotten.