tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899606766246433608.post4724292766245096970..comments2023-11-08T12:09:20.020-05:00Comments on Prove Me Wrong: When US Foreign Policy Makes No SenseJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10530680372103907969noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899606766246433608.post-1487435086107323452009-12-01T17:56:09.289-05:002009-12-01T17:56:09.289-05:00Who's asking you to disprove anything like tha...Who's asking you to disprove anything like that? I asked the following questions:<br /><br />1-Why do you think we're involved in chemical warfare against Colombia when it is clear that this is the least cost effective method of drug control?<br /><br />2-Every time in the past that a state has been the most powerful in the world/region it uses it's force for malevolent/imperial reasons. Is America the first country to buck the trend?<br /><br />3-If I conclude that the stated reasons for intervention don't make sense, is it rational to turn to rational reasons that fit the historical pattern?<br /><br />Nothing here is a demand that you disprove an assertion about a conspiracy theory. You're obviously dodging.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10530680372103907969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899606766246433608.post-83562377201477830662009-12-01T12:02:40.501-05:002009-12-01T12:02:40.501-05:00How do you disprove a conspiracy theory? If I tell...How do you disprove a conspiracy theory? If I tell you that Bush and the jews were really behind 9/11...how do you disprove that?HispanicPundithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10220166238164432290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899606766246433608.post-7705697980450440762009-12-01T11:41:58.394-05:002009-12-01T11:41:58.394-05:00That's a total dodge, man. Come on. Give me ...That's a total dodge, man. Come on. Give me something to work with.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10530680372103907969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899606766246433608.post-11776064661518951482009-12-01T11:08:07.262-05:002009-12-01T11:08:07.262-05:00Yes Jon, your explanations make alot more sense: t...Yes Jon, your explanations make alot more sense: the real reason we are in Afghanistan, Columbia, Cuba, Vietnam, and other places is for our economic interests. <br /><br />These countries dont even have a GDP big enough to match our poorest states....but our corporate interests is what drives our intervention there??? Afghanistan Jon? Vietnam? Columbia? Cuba? Seriously??? Wow.<br /><br />Like I said above, the simple answer is the more probable still.HispanicPundithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10220166238164432290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899606766246433608.post-53374859549052340782009-12-01T07:49:00.914-05:002009-12-01T07:49:00.914-05:00So how many times did you say "conspiracy&quo...So how many times did you say "conspiracy" there. I think that's your method of discrediting a view without dealing with it.<br /><br />So why are we engaging in chemical warfare against Colombia when it is clear that this is the least cost effective method?<br /><br />I think rather than call my views conspiracies they should rather be called business as usual. It's usual for powerful people to gain wealth via force. Every country always lauds it's own forceful interventions. They perceive their own benevolent intentions, though outsiders don't see it. "Oh, were in the most important region of natural resources because we want to bring happiness and democracy, etc, etc." That's never been the way history has worked. You believe that's what's happening now? You believe the rhetoric of "American Exceptionalism"?<br /><br />Why did we overthrow the government in Guatamala? For the United Fruit Company. Why did we install a murderous dictator in Iran? For British Petroleum. These examples aren't even controversial. Look at Chile. Copper and other important resources. In each case we're dealing with a government that is looking to counterbalance a situation where oligarchs control 90% of the resources and the remaining 95% of the population lives in poverty. Altering that balance is a threat to the profits of corporations that fund our politicians, so interventions occur.<br /><br />My point is that Afghanistan, Cuba, and Colombia make no sense if they are really about the stated reasons but make perfect sense in a context of the pattern above. Is it irrational for me to think that in fact the stated reasons aren't the real reasons?Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10530680372103907969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1899606766246433608.post-50776172545801622152009-12-01T01:46:37.178-05:002009-12-01T01:46:37.178-05:00I'm not going to defend the US policy in Afgha...I'm not going to defend the US policy in Afghanistan, but I will say that your theories make even less sense.<br /><br />I bet most of your "conspiracy theories" never really pan out either. What real benefit is there to the United States with all its money its invested in the embargo with Cuba? Or the coups in Latin America? Or the war in Vietnam? Or even the invasion of Iraq? Nothing - all of these can be said to be a net cost on the country, even most of our corporations made little to no money. Yet I bet conspiracy theorists like yourself would have had many now debunked theories as to why we were "really" there.<br /><br />Same with Afghanistan. At the end of the day, I bet that we try to save face and leave - never building an oil pipeline, or any other conspiracy theory. But you will continue with your conspiracy theories.<br /><br />I bet its alot simpler than what you make it: The United States went into Afghanistan to destabilize the Taliban and shut down Al Qaeda operations and is now trying to find a way to leave without destabilizing the region, and having those forces return.HispanicPundithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10220166238164432290noreply@blogger.com