Is the U.S. military the world's "bully"?

a discussion in another thread has spurred me to post this question: Is the U.S. military the world's "bully"?


My stance is that we (the U.S.A.) go and start/get in the middle of conflicts that have no bearing on the safety of OUR country. We ignore the UN and take conflicts to the front door of others. We get involved in issues half way around the world, when others that are right there in the geographical neighborhood are steering clear.

I say the U.S. military is a Bully and tend to believe that the majority of the world sees the U.S. in this light.

What does everyone else think? I don't care about the philosophical flip side to this issue, this is a simple survey that ONLY requires you to agree or disagree.

edited to comply yes and no

[edit on 14-8-2008 by justamomma]

I say the U.S. military is a Bully and tend to believe that the majority of the world sees the U.S. in this light.

What does everyone else think? I don't care about the philosophical flip side to this issue, this is a simple survey that ONLY requires you to agree or disagree.

I'm not sure how tallying yes or no answers can result in an informative or useful thread but to start I think......oh wait.....

DISAGREE

reply to post by justamomma



Please abide with the OPs request and keep your answers to AGREE or DISAGREE.

He ain't interested in all them big words and ideas, just grunt and move on.....

The Americans seem to believe that the US are doing it out of their good heart and they like to see themselfs as the heroes liberating people from the bad guys, just like in the Hollywood movies.

I think the connection between oil and the middle east is quite interesting.



The US government are not doing this out of their good heart. When the world's oil resources are starting to run out, it will be very good for them to have military bases all around the middle east.

Of course the sales pitch is easy. Considering the American public has only seen Muslims in hollywood movies where they are playing the role of the bad guys (like the Vietnamese and Russians before them), its easy to sell them a story about liberating people.

Bully is not the correct term. Militaristic regime is more like it, but people still think they are living in a democracy because they can still speak their mind and select between two candidates every 4 years or so. Both of which are bought and payed for by the corporations.


[edit on 14-8-2008 by Copernicus]

reply to post by Comma8Comma1


Because this is meant to be a survey, but there is no Survey option on starting threads here on ATS. So, that is how it becomes informative...by a show of hands to see how the U.S. military is perceived. It is important, because that public opinion is a blanket that covers U.S. civilians too! if the world thinks something about our military, then it translates to how they feel about our country as a whole.

Originally posted by Comma8Comma1
reply to post by justamomma

 

Please abide with the OPs request and keep your answers to AGREE or DISAGREE.

He ain't interested in all them big words and ideas, just grunt and move on.....

Oh yes, let us dumb down the thread, by throwing insults. I don't mind discussing...but lets do it in another thread, or else, this thread will quickly turn away from it's intent....TO TAKE A SIMPLE SURVEY.

So, Comma8Comma1, since you would like to discuss further, I suggest that you start your own thread and I will come and throw my CONSTRUCTIVE 2 cents in. Hell, I'll even debate you on the topic!

reply to post by no name needed


Sorry, just being cute.

Your OP just seemed a little off when you explain your position in detail but seem to close the door on a healthy debate by suggesting one word responses.

Aside from myself (so far) it seems those who share your feelings have added their 2 cents with no rebuttal.

Not trying to get into the "philosophical flip side" of things, just trying to mix it up with some healthy debate.

reply to post by Comma8Comma1


I don't mind healthy debate....just don't want my thread derailed, as I am simply trying to see if I am in the minority on my feelings. I don't mind peeps putting in their 2 cents here, it's just that I know from experience here on ATS that once people start putting in their personal/philosophical beliefs, then people will lose sight of the intent of this post and the survey will turn into a heated debate that would best be discussed in a separate thread.

I think Bully is an understatement.

We are siphoning off our men and materials to any skirmish that the world throws at us. Are we a generious nation....yes. Is there a point in time when others have to do for themselves...yes.

I understand the connections between aid and the IMF banks...but as for military involvement around the world....stay the he** out, and get the he** out. It's time to heal the wounds in our own country and not be the "rich uncle" to the worlds populations.

www.commondreams.org...

..the Pentagon currently owns or rents 702 overseas bases in about 130 countries and HAS another 6,000 bases in the United States and its territories."

[edit on 14-8-2008 by cdoug1]

I don't think ive ever thought of the US Military as a Bully, thinking about it i would have to say no, what i see is like the Bully at school, he/she always had his buddies with him or her.

Military are just doing what they where trained to do, FOLLOW ORDERS, upto a certain rank anyhow.

I would say that Cheney is the Bully, Bush his best friend who accepts the punches and kicks as long as he still has his bud, and then i see them both hiding behind the Military, if you remove the Military, your left with a sniveling little kid, who watches as his best friend points the finger and blames everything on him.

But later in life he bumps into one of his victims and well, we have a better movie to watch then.

Disagree.

[edit on 14/8/2008 by azzllin]

The US Military are being used as nothing more than paid mercenaries to do the carpet bagging of the elite that control the US, so the answer is yes they are bullies and cowards. They are attacking nations that cannot fight back on an level playing field against the US forces and as in any such situation the indigenous population have to resort to freedom fighter tactics to try and eject the bullying aggressor from their countries.

I AGREE yes the U.S army are bullies in my view well the gov or higher up. I am not aiming anything at the people who go out fighting for the higher up guys and when told to shut their mouth they shut their mouth.

The U.S are bullies but I bealive that builder burg has must to do with this.

I don't fully think Bush is responsible for everything but most of the stuff.

Their are alot of people that are slowly screwing this country up.


I am not voting this year becuase I think it's all rigged. If I were to vote it would be nader because I don't trust the democratics and Republicans.

They already done their show. I say vote for Nader. take a look at naders website.

www.votenader.org...

Of course we aren't bullies.

Various countries in the world absolutely LOVE to talk trash at us and call us names... until THEY need something and then, who's the first nation they call on for help? You guessed it, the US of A. You can't get caught with your hand in the cookie jar and scream "foul! foul!" when your dad swats your ass and then turn around and gleefully run and tell daddy when you see your brother stealing a cookie. It makes you look childish and is hypocritical. Hmm... seems like a pretty good description of most of the world now that I think about it, childish and hypocritical.

Burman, Perhaps your not up to date with current events but read this. Iraq, no WMD's, Iraq took no part in 9/11, Iraq illegally invaded by the US and its friends. Millions dead in Iraq caused by the US, Millions dead in Vietnam caused by the US, which bit of were bullies and aggressors dont you understand.

But in a wider sense the title should read are US forces cowards, yes as they only attack those who cannot fight back. You wont see the brave US attacking or invading China, India or Russia will we so yes its cowards.

Originally posted by magicmushroom
But in a wider sense the title should read are US forces cowards, yes as they only attack those who cannot fight back. You wont see the brave US attacking or invading China, India or Russia will we so yes its cowards.

Let's test your theory. Get yourself 2 pairs of boxing gloves, put one pair on yourself and take the other pair to the nearest USMC base near you (or Navy, AF, Army, Coast Guard, your choice) offer the second pair to any serviceman you see and call him a coward. Let's see if he refrains from knocking you on your butt since you will be equally armed and appear to be in a position to defend yourself.

If you live in the United States, please move. There's absolutely no reason for you to stay here benefitting from the defense of your freedom from a bunch of "cowards." If you don't live in the United States, just chill where you are and I'm sure someday you'll see our military in person.

Bullys seem to bully for fun. America is all about getting the oil power+ it is not fun for any involved. More like America is the Godfather of the mafia.

America is vile...along with most of the west.

Yip its two lines...

Burman, I think you have just proved my point, just because some thick head grunt does not know that he/she is being used does not excuse his or her actions. And yes they are cowards becuase only cowards and bullies prey on the weak. They dont pick on the strong because they know they will get their butts kicked, can you grasp that or are your gloves catching on the floor.

Lethil, the West is not vile, neither the East, different cultures and different people, only when one forces the other to accept their ways then wrong is done.

Originally posted by magicmushroom
Burman, I think you have just proved my point, just because some thick head grunt does not know that he/she is being used does not excuse his or her actions. And yes they are cowards becuase only cowards and bullies prey on the weak. They dont pick on the strong because they know they will get their butts kicked, can you grasp that or are your gloves catching on the floor.

The Germans in WW1 and WW2 were pretty strong. They lost.

The Japanese ruled the Pacific after Pearl. We beat them back to their home islands.

I don't count Korea since that was a UN operation and a lot of countries were involved with that.

Vietnam was lost by politicians. The VC were wiped out after the Tet offensive.

Iraq had the fourth largest Army in the world full of combat vets from the Iran-Iraq war during Desert Storm. We had total control of the air by practically the first day. The war was over in something like 100 hours.

And how soon did we reach Baghdad this time? They had to resort to insurgence in order to do any damage to the US military.