Quote:
Originally posted by JR@Sep 28 2003, 05:37 AM
I dont believe that people hate america for its double standards because NO country is different in that respect. Every country acts in its own selfish interests while trying to convince others that they are actually acting to the benefit of all. Thats nothing new and its not unique to any country.
What i believe to be the real underlying issue and what is unique is the USA's disproportionate ability to influence others.
But its behavior is not unique.
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Oh, bingo. I am truly with you on that, JR. It is a rare nation indeed that does not attempt to influence the world in proportion to its ability to do so.
Such nations have often been reviled (Great Britain, Spain, France, Rome) in much of the rest of the world.
I have to throw "the fall of the Soviet Union card" on the table. "Anti-Americanism" rose steadily throughout the 1990s in much of the world, dipped on September 11, 2001 and has now begin its journey down again.
I swear there's a conservation of fear and loathing in the world. Looks like the US has inherited the lion's share of the Soviet Unions. Europe, for example, can afford to throw some hatred this way now that they don't have 180 Red Army divisions on their borders at constant alert.
The foreign policy thing in the Middle East is largely a lark. Has anyone else noticed that when the US does something in the Middle East it is "poor foreign policy" and when the US doesn't do something in the Middle East people ask "Why didn't America help?" Who supplied Afghanistan for ten years against the Soviets? Who armed Egypt? Who armed Saudi Arabia? Who armed Kuwait?