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Actions have consequences

Reader comment on item: America the Unpopular

Submitted by Michael Elvin (United States), Nov 5, 2003 at 14:34

By its actions, America would seem to be promoting a more authoritarian future as well as a more divisive and unstable one. We bring about acquiescence toward our unilateral actions, counting on the support of a number of governments that do not enjoy the mandate of their own populations. You will note that poll results in the "street" in the UK, Italy, Australia, Russia, etc. are overwhelmingly against involvement in what are seen as being America's problems and America's belligerence. One would expect there to be a backlash at the polls, and expect this to be more likely the longer the Iraqi adventure festers short of complete victory.

We notice already in places like Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia that popular discontent with pro-US policies is installing governments less amenable to buckling under to US pressures. What is to become, in the passage of time, to places like Jordan and Egypt, with governments glued into place mainly by American dollars? Who is likely to come after their current leaders?

I think we need to make more friends. In Asia we see the results of our imperious attitude during the financial meltdown of 1997, where we offered no lifeline to nations suffering from WTO strictures and poorly drawn rules on the global movement of money. Now these same countries are beginning to realign around China, not us. This outcome could have been avoided.

So do we do whatever we want, and some day bring about a world where the US and Israel are all alone, and everyone else has aligned against us? If so, what are we accomplishing?
Submitting....

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Reader comments (59) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
With us or against us? [244 words]C. AtkinsonApr 28, 2004 07:4314917
Rule Britannia [41 words]English 'till I dieJul 18, 2006 17:0414917
1America is the spoilt child of the world [35 words]colinAug 7, 2006 18:0814917
Article of Mensa Quality [83 words]InfidelAug 17, 2006 17:4014917
AMERICA'S FUTURE [102 words]ralph crawfordDec 27, 2006 04:0414917
rule of britania BS [143 words]Biggles the manNov 28, 2009 22:0314917
I am an European [179 words]kjartan thommesenMar 2, 2004 05:0714036
I hate American Arrogance ...Response to Mr.Miller [260 words]SOLODec 22, 2003 05:1412763
Arrogance [52 words]JenningsMay 15, 2006 21:3012763
Foreign criticism [86 words]heatherJul 18, 2006 15:3812763
hey [50 words]akAug 15, 2006 23:3612763
Two Evils, Death or Prejudice [87 words]InfidelAug 16, 2006 12:0212763
ok [57 words]akAug 17, 2006 12:4312763
Nice Try ak [32 words]InfidelAug 17, 2006 16:1712763
Right back atcha [39 words]akAug 17, 2006 22:3012763
AK Rocks! [487 words]InfidelAug 18, 2006 23:5512763
Arrogance [22 words]Im so sureApr 14, 2007 19:2812763
One negative group [89 words]Biggles the manNov 28, 2009 21:5012763
America [6 words]UberMooJan 29, 2010 06:4712763
Nationalism [247 words]mastJun 22, 2011 17:4812763
Go for it [25 words]Gabriela RobertsDec 15, 2003 11:4212663
The Left is our enemy [79 words]Jason EritanoNov 27, 2003 15:5312351
Your arrogance will be your destruction! [253 words]Colonel TavingtonNov 25, 2003 12:0312293
The Left [279 words]Octavio JohansnNov 22, 2003 11:0012266
Respect and (some) Fear [106 words]Brian McCarthyNov 12, 2003 00:0312121
I Am Happy to Stay Informed, but [124 words]Reverend Mary Todd PendergastNov 11, 2003 12:5612119
Pray [12 words]InfidelAug 17, 2006 17:2112119
Amerca the unpopular is now radical chic [223 words]Allyson Rowen TaylorNov 10, 2003 00:3612115
Scholarship [163 words]Arlinda DeAngelisNov 9, 2003 03:0012111
Wildly unpopular [65 words]Glenn KlotzNov 7, 2003 17:5912106
How long can we fight the "Forever War"? [249 words]Brian EargleNov 7, 2003 00:4912100
Dealing with the Jihadis - Now, or Later [154 words]Ray KraftNov 6, 2003 20:1312098
America and Western Culture [200 words]Raymond LowNov 6, 2003 18:1112095
What do you mean, "we"? [322 words]Frank BradyNov 6, 2003 15:4012093
Remaining friends requires efforts [137 words]EdwardNov 6, 2003 14:2912092
to be killed or to be disliked, that is the question [335 words]Stephane HanoNov 6, 2003 12:3912091
Politicizing Everything [335 words]Arlinda DeAngelisNov 6, 2003 12:3512090
America the Unpopular - So be it. [211 words]Kent McDonaldNov 6, 2003 12:2312089
to Kenn: on American interests [232 words]Anubhav SinghAug 18, 2006 03:2312089
Free riding [24 words]Richard webbNov 6, 2003 00:2712088
RE: Hatred of America [119 words]PERRY TRATTENNov 6, 2003 04:1512086
Kudos [232 words]Peter J. HerzNov 5, 2003 23:2312083
Fight to win or to be popular? [186 words]Mike RocheNov 5, 2003 19:2812080
Not all AFL-CIO members are liberals [114 words]Robert FinkNov 5, 2003 17:5712078
Europe vs USA [90 words]William F. MillerNov 5, 2003 17:4412077
USA vs Europe [95 words]MarcellaJan 26, 2007 05:3312077
please, marcella ..read it!! [24 words]giancarloMay 24, 2007 01:2212077
Brrrrrrrrr [168 words]StigJun 8, 2008 20:4212077
Things have changed [9 words]EuropeanSep 26, 2008 09:1712077
us supremacy [41 words]johnOct 11, 2009 02:1212077
We're a bunch of low class bums! [45 words]Stephen BermanNov 5, 2003 17:3912076
Better to survive our own ignominy that to succumb to our enemy [100 words]Graham Rael-BrookNov 5, 2003 17:0012075
You're all just jealous [122 words]Anthony RizzoNov 21, 2006 23:0112075
Naive [92 words]CarlJul 14, 2007 18:0912075
I don't get it. [418 words]SimonaNov 5, 2003 16:3812074
Actions have consequences [265 words]Michael ElvinNov 5, 2003 14:3412073
Trying to turn a sow's ear into ...... [219 words]Ron ThompsonNov 5, 2003 14:2412072
Reaction [541 words]Delbert S. ButtmanNov 5, 2003 14:0512071
The struggle for preservation of Western culture [31 words]PhillipNov 5, 2003 12:5912070

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