> Yeah because not intervening in one marginal conflict invalidates all the good America has done in WWI/II, Israel, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Kosovo, Africa and the fact we already do more than the rest of the world...
The Philippines, where US soldiers slaughtered almost everyone over ten on an entire island, as retribution for attacks from fighters upset at being invaded by the USA. In total hundreds of thousands of people, likely over a million were killed - as usual, mostly civilians. Or is this not what you were thinking of?
Africa like how you stood by and watched Rwanda butcher itself, quibbling over using the word 'genocide' to avoid hurting your allies, and own, historical images.
Or how WW2 the USA waited out much of the war while its allies were getting pummeled. Joining the war only when the USA was attacked. As spoils the USA has military bases in Germany, Italy, Japan, etc, and joint political control of much oil-rich and strategically important territory.
As I said, intent is key. The hugely egregious wrongs 'you' have committed show yours as being to help yourselves at all costs.
> you're still claiming we're the worst.
No, but for the standards you purport to uphold, you're still doing a horrible job. Torture? Really?
> You would never be happy and we don't have to please psychotics like yourself.
Ahh yes. My dissenting view clearly labels me psychotic. Never mind that it's the view (That the USA manufactured the Iraqi war on totally false pretenses) held by your allies' leaders, many foreigners, and anyone else who knows the facts.
>> you easily gain more value than that in ensuring American control of Iraq and Afghanistan's resources and in permanent military bases in more countries.
> More conspiracy theories, devoid of logic, reality or facts.
The facts are the military bases you've got in nearly every country you've gone to war for or against, and that this gives you tremendous military and intelligence assets, as well as political clout - dictating beneficial treaties and policies.
>> Or where you'd want others to help you, and thus should help them.
> Syria would never help the US under any circumstances,
Syria the country/regime, or Syria the people? The regime already helps you constantly, such as by torturing your detainees. The people might help you if you hadn't been a key ingredient in their plight.
> You wouldn't be happy no matter what.
Sure I would. But not as long as you feel you have a right to go to war such as against Iraq or Afghanistan.
> So why did I even bother?
To justify or evade your country's crimes, and thus minimize your perceived role in them.
> You're clearly mentally imbalanced/unstable and have some issues with conspiracy theories.
Yes, clearly I'm psychotic. Remember?
> And like I've asked repeatedly: If the USA is so bad who is better?
As others have asked repeatedly: What kind of person, when taken to task for their actions, points at another to avoid the question?
> I'm taking you repeated avoidance as tacit admission that the USA has done the most good to the world and received the least back from it.
The USA has done much good - liberating areas held by the Nazis for instance. But this is self-serving - literally. To serve/save yourselves. If you could have safely driven the Germans into continental Europe and left them bottled there - harmless to you, you would have.
And as for receiving the least back from it, not only does the USA occupy incredibly rich land it won through deceit and conquest, but it has control of many valuable resources around the world that it has gained in 'rescuing' others, or has itself taken directly by force.
> And please explain to me our world 24-7-365 everyone/everywhere wiretapping program you referenced?
Which countries do you think you don't wiretap and otherwise spy on?
> Also in case you haven't noticed, PG/Y-Combinator are from the USA?
So? WW2 didn't make Germans racially evil, being American doesn't mean PG supports unjust wars.
You still can't answer the question or cite any facts.
As anamax says:
while it's clear that America is far from perfect, it's unclear who, if anyone, is anywhere near as close. Suggestions? (Note - the answer has to have significant capacity. Otherwise I'll nominate some random church group in Texas. Come to think of it, random US church groups do more good than most countries.)
Until you've got something better, the appropriate response is "thank you".
You're allergic to facts. Whenever I use them you blank out the entire section.
Note how you never ask if anyone wants you to help, or what they'd rather you did to help. All you do is harp on this supposed help you provide whenever anyone points out a problem you caused.
Your country has killed millions in wars of aggression. That cancels out the good you accidentally do while fighting dictators you've installed. Some good is being done but it's not your primary intent.
How many roads do you think you'd have to build to cancel out the drone-guided bombing on an entire wedding party? If someone killed your family, how big of a check would they have to hand you before you agreed it was a good thing?
You might want to think about how "But I ended up helping some people" is not a defense against murder - a crime your country commits at an average rate of 500+/day in the Middle-East.
Go get some mental help for your own sake. I'm not allergic to facts you just haven't cited any and you're still avoiding answering my original question. Why are we in Afghanistan? 9/11. Why are we flying drones? Because your governments are corrupt/inept and incapable of eliminating terrorists. Any innocents who have died are collateral damage. Your country should have done a better job of preventing terrorists like Osama Bin Laden from launching attachs at the US. Remember before 9/11 we weren't attacking you, until you killed 3,000 civilians (including American Muslims).
You only have yourselves to blame.
"Your country has killed millions in wars of aggression."
Cite this please?
This is where I stop responding since your argument is based on the fantasies/voices in your head and not on facts/reality. You clearly have made up your mind that America=evil, but you still can't even answer if America is so bad, who is any better?
And if you can't offer up any country that does more good, then just be grateful and say "thanks".
Then consider Vietnam, the American Indian wars, etc
> You clearly have made up your mind that America=evil
Just those of you who support unjust war (murder). You've clearly decided you must justify all their actions.
> but you still can't even answer if America is so bad, who is any better?
Anyone not fighting unjust wars. Anyone who doesn't murder innocents on false pretenses. One unjust killing is too many.
You can't fall back on past deeds (especially when they're largely propaganda) to justify current atrocities. Nobody cares if your grandfather was selfless (newsflash, he wasn't - see the Philippines/American war) when you clearly are not.
You won't cite facts because you can't cite them using any reliable sources.
Your examples are from HUNDREDS of years ago. A little out of date no?
You're just pathetically complaining about America while you're here reaping the benefits. Why not move if the USA is so bad?
As anamax says: while it's clear that America is far from perfect, it's unclear who, if anyone, is anywhere near as close. Suggestions? (Note - the answer has to have significant capacity. Otherwise I'll nominate some random church group in Texas. Come to think of it, random US church groups do more good than most countries.)
Until you've got something better, the appropriate response is "thank you".
One example was from a current war, another from fifty years ago, another from one-hundred years ago, and the last from two-hundred or more. It shows a pattern.
> A little out of date no?
What's the statute of limitations on murder?
> Until you've got something better, the appropriate response is "thank you".
How about "No, thank you"?
You're in Iraq under false pretenses, and in Afghanistan on unsound reasoning. I don't know what you think you're achieving but nobody wants it, so knock it off.
If you're asked for help, as you have been by Egyptians, Syrians, etc, then by all means, you should expect thanks after - if you'd actually go help that is. This is the fundamental problem - you're looking out for yourselves and you don't see anything in it for you. Fair enough I guess, but then you've got to stop pretending to be everyone's buddy.
> You're just pathetically complaining about America while you're here reaping the benefits.
Why don't you go to Iraq and demand thanks for the benefits you've given them.
> it's unclear who, if anyone, is anywhere near as close [to perfect as America]
You'd have to be psychotic to suggest otherwise!
> random US church groups do more good than most countries
In that they rarely kill people, yes. By merely being mostly harmless they come in far above (almost?) all countries.
Of course they'd do a lot more good if they just fed people instead of indoctrinating them.
"Why don't you go to Iraq and demand thanks for the benefits you've given them"
We don't get any oil from Iraq. Here are America's 4 largest suppliers:
Canada is #1
Saudi Arabia is #2
Mexico is #3
Venezuela is #4
Absolutely nothing you've said makes any sense because you're cherry picking your examples and being completely unreasonable. We also fought the Civil War, WWI/II, Philippines (who last time I was there were quite fond of Americans), created Israel, stopped genocide in Kosovo, Korea (look at N.Korea and tell me the USA's actions were pointless), Vietnam. We pressured Mubarak also...
And like I pointed out the United States has always been the world's largest donor: The biggest portion of U.S. aid goes to Iraq ($4.27 billion), Afghanistan ($1.46 billion), Sudan ($725 million), Colombia ($562 million), Egypt ($541 million), Nigeria ($514 million), Democratic Republic of Congo ($486 million) and Pakistan ($465 million).
(Figures are for Gross Bilateral Official Development Assistance, 2006-2007 average).
Yes we have messed up a few times, but we've gotten it right more often than not and you still count point out an example of anyone else doing it better. You don't live in reality.
The Syrians do not want US intervention, that is bullshit and like I already pointed out--we're already "liberating" three other Muslim countries and that isn't going out so well.
---
Where are you from that is so great? And you might want to go get some help for your True Believer Syndrome. It must be painful to have to live in a country you hate so much. If so, why not move? Why are you here? You clearly hate America, so why stay?
---
So...while it's clear that America is far from perfect, it's unclear who, if anyone, is anywhere near as close. Suggestions? (Note - the answer has to have significant capacity. Otherwise I'll nominate some random church group in Texas. Come to think of it, random US church groups do more good than most countries.)
Until you've got something better, the appropriate response is "thank you".
---
Oh and you're welcome for the freedom our country extends to you because if you were living wherever you came from I'm doubtful your own government would extend the same freedoms.
You're in control of it. Even if you don't buy it, specifically, you've inserted American companies into its production and can decide who receives it, what currency it's sold in, etc.
> Absolutely nothing you've said makes any sense because you're cherry picking your examples and being completely unreasonable.
Not at all. You're responsible for the horrible deaths of millions. As long as you keep thinking that some good deeds justify murders you're killers.
Do you know what they kill a faithful 20-year librarian who only killed one innocent kid? A murderer.
Do you know what they call a dedicated doctor who only raped one anesthetized patient? A rapist.
> We pressured Mubarak also...
Ohhh, "pressure". That's like doing something but it's guaranteed not to cost you anything. How... bold.
> And like I pointed out the United States has always been the world's largest donor: The biggest portion of U.S. aid goes to Iraq ($4.27 billion) [...]
And also the largest proportion of your ordnance.
And like I pointed out, that money is less than you spend on bombs, ammo, or air-conditioning for your soldiers. You pay trillions to flatten some place and a pittance on fixing them up. More-over, much of the aid, not only isn't, but gets delivered by profiteering American companies and comes right back to you.
> Yes we have messed up a few times, but we've gotten it right more often than not
You're blind to your failures - if we listen to you you've never gotten it wrong.
People who excuse their mistakes can't cherry-pick and claim credit for their successes. As long as you're running around justifying killing any innocents and covering it up, you aren't doing good the rest of the time even if your rose-colored view was accurate, which it is not.
> you still count point out an example of anyone else doing it better. You don't live in reality.
Did Scientologists kill tens of thousands last year? No? Well then they're better than you. Because as long as you're unabashed killers who reserve the right to fight war for profit you're not being anyone's friend.
> The Syrians do not want US intervention, that is bullshit and like I already pointed out--we're already "liberating" three other Muslim countries and that isn't going out so well.
You're attacking two on false pretenses. That's not liberation and your intentional blindness to this is the issue.
Perhaps the Syrians are more afraid of you than their dictator.
> It must be painful to have to live in a country you hate so much. If so, why not move? Why are you here?
The land and resources are as much mine as yours.
> You clearly hate America, so why stay?
You hate America - you refuse to admit errors, learn from your mistakes, and adapt.
Nobody outside really cares about the USA. If you weren't invading people you could quietly go do your own thing.
> Oh and you're welcome for the freedom our country extends to you
Oh yes, the freedom to be apprehended and shipped off to Syria for years of waterboarding and electroshock. (The same Syria you claim to have no influence over.)
You're an absolute hypocrite. If America is so bad leave.
Scientologists are better? Laughable.
And please what country/government hasn't committed some wrong? You're holding the USA to the most unreasonable hypocritical standard. Why are you not condemning Russia for Stalin or China for Mao or N. Korea or Iraq for Saddam etcetera? They've all killed tens of millions more. Your silence speaks volumes.
The Philippines, where US soldiers slaughtered almost everyone over ten on an entire island, as retribution for attacks from fighters upset at being invaded by the USA. In total hundreds of thousands of people, likely over a million were killed - as usual, mostly civilians. Or is this not what you were thinking of?
Africa like how you stood by and watched Rwanda butcher itself, quibbling over using the word 'genocide' to avoid hurting your allies, and own, historical images.
Or how WW2 the USA waited out much of the war while its allies were getting pummeled. Joining the war only when the USA was attacked. As spoils the USA has military bases in Germany, Italy, Japan, etc, and joint political control of much oil-rich and strategically important territory.
As I said, intent is key. The hugely egregious wrongs 'you' have committed show yours as being to help yourselves at all costs.
> you're still claiming we're the worst.
No, but for the standards you purport to uphold, you're still doing a horrible job. Torture? Really?
> You would never be happy and we don't have to please psychotics like yourself.
Ahh yes. My dissenting view clearly labels me psychotic. Never mind that it's the view (That the USA manufactured the Iraqi war on totally false pretenses) held by your allies' leaders, many foreigners, and anyone else who knows the facts.
>> you easily gain more value than that in ensuring American control of Iraq and Afghanistan's resources and in permanent military bases in more countries. > More conspiracy theories, devoid of logic, reality or facts.
The facts are the military bases you've got in nearly every country you've gone to war for or against, and that this gives you tremendous military and intelligence assets, as well as political clout - dictating beneficial treaties and policies.
>> Or where you'd want others to help you, and thus should help them. > Syria would never help the US under any circumstances,
Syria the country/regime, or Syria the people? The regime already helps you constantly, such as by torturing your detainees. The people might help you if you hadn't been a key ingredient in their plight.
> You wouldn't be happy no matter what.
Sure I would. But not as long as you feel you have a right to go to war such as against Iraq or Afghanistan.
> So why did I even bother?
To justify or evade your country's crimes, and thus minimize your perceived role in them.
> You're clearly mentally imbalanced/unstable and have some issues with conspiracy theories.
Yes, clearly I'm psychotic. Remember?
> And like I've asked repeatedly: If the USA is so bad who is better?
As others have asked repeatedly: What kind of person, when taken to task for their actions, points at another to avoid the question?
> I'm taking you repeated avoidance as tacit admission that the USA has done the most good to the world and received the least back from it.
The USA has done much good - liberating areas held by the Nazis for instance. But this is self-serving - literally. To serve/save yourselves. If you could have safely driven the Germans into continental Europe and left them bottled there - harmless to you, you would have.
And as for receiving the least back from it, not only does the USA occupy incredibly rich land it won through deceit and conquest, but it has control of many valuable resources around the world that it has gained in 'rescuing' others, or has itself taken directly by force.
> And please explain to me our world 24-7-365 everyone/everywhere wiretapping program you referenced?
Which countries do you think you don't wiretap and otherwise spy on?
> Also in case you haven't noticed, PG/Y-Combinator are from the USA?
So? WW2 didn't make Germans racially evil, being American doesn't mean PG supports unjust wars.
> You're commenting here on their site. Ironic.
Alanis?