The World's Policeman

I understand that people have to settle their own problems, and I understand the question as to why should our sons and husbands lose their lives for others thousands of miles away. Because ultimately, they become involved anyway, and they lose their lives later rather than sooner. I could argue that less life would be lost if the "sooner" intervention route would be taken- as in Kuwait. George! -you surely did the right thing even if we had oil interests at the heart of our motivation.

Bosnia-Hertzigovina is a prime example of how we could have intervened much earlier and stopped what was clearly genocide on the part of the Bosnian Serbs. We sat on our thumbs during World War II as well by refusing to take in victims of the holocaust when the Nazis were willing to let it's Jews emigrate, and again when we refused to bomb the railroad lines leading to the concentration camps. Yes I would allow my son to be used for that purpose- to prevent murder and torture - and I would go myself!

We must use not only our moral persuasion and diplomacy, but also our military power when it is clear that we are dealing with Nazis in any form- be it Saddam Hussein, Ayatollah Kumeini, Adolph Hitler, or the leaders of the Bosnian Serb army. Isn't it interesting that they will probably never be brought before any court of international justice for their complicity in these crimes. They will be let go as the price of settlement. If Hitler weren't as disturbed with his superman complex as he was, he probably could have avoided death the same way- through negotiated settlement earlier in the war.

I maintain that we have to be the world's policeman until we are no longer the super- of super powers. Otherwise we may as well stop preaching the morality we do. It has a hollow ring to it when people are starving and freezing and do not have water to drink or medicine for the sick. Preaching from the other side of the Atlantic and sending envoys and rattling saber's is just to hypocritical folks. Sure we try to involve others- but we don't condone murder and ethnic cleansing, or any other form of killing and just casually sit by mouthing "tsk tsk- that's not nice."

It is very clear that the murders intensified in Bosnia when the Serbs realized that the world and U.S. would not intervene. Bill - your politics are astute- your morality- I wouldn't give two cents for.

We need a policeman at this time in our history- right now we are it. Let's do it when we need to. But let's make sure we get the guy who makes us have to risk our citizens and his own by being a Nazi. (George!- you should have never allowed Saddam to escape and stay in power. There are those who suggest that you did it because someone put millions into Swiss bank accounts for you. I personally have no comment on that.) That is my opinion. -- Manny

I agree with the writers that we, unfortunately, have become the world's policeman. However, I believe that the civilized countries of Western Europe could also do more of their share. It is very difficult to intervene in Bosnia, for example, since the hatreds go back to the time of the crusades. When we all leave what will happen? If there is a clearcut action that we could take to insure safety and security of citizens that would be ok?

Look at Vietnam--even the politicians knew it was impossible. It was a revolution just like we had one in 1776. Because of that situation we are skeptical of our government's policy to intervene. You say George did the right thing in Iraq? Well Saddam is still in power with a lot of capability left. Why did he stop too soon? So if you do intervene, then finish it properly. Now look at our troop deployments around the world. We are in Japan and Okinawa for 51 years and in Korea for 46 years. In the case of a prosperous South Korea, they should be able to defend themselves. Who is the big enemy with respect to Japan? The Peoples Republic Of China is not invading anybody. They are building their economy as are all the Asian nations. As the policeman of the world, we have neglected our own citizenry. We should have no homeless. We should have a reasonable national healthcare system. Our educational system should be world class. Our infant care should be no. 1, etc., etc., etc.

Let's balance the budget, in part, by bringing home our troops--but keep them in the service, only stateside, and stop giving wasted foreign aid. Also stop dumb things like NAFTA. We loaned Mexico a lot of money after NAFTA and they devaluated the currency, no big orders came in to create jobs in the USA. What a deal for the tax payer. Do you know that our Defense Department has taken military equipment orders away from US manufacturers and put them into Mexico? Those US tax dollars should be spent here.

So are we to be the military policeman of the world as well as the economic policeman of the world? US aid built new Korean steel mills and they beat us competitvely in the world markets. Our policy toward illegal aliens gives them a better deal than our own working poor. Is that ok in your opinion? So don't give us that nonsense about its the right thing to do. Even the Bosnians only wanted the arms embargo lifted.