U.S. Marines depart a checkpoint and patrol back to Forward Operating Base Geronimo, Afghanistan, May 30, 2010. The Marines are assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mark Fayloga
William Astore, The Nation/Tom Dispatch: 7 Reasons Why America’s Wars Aren’t Ending Anytime Soon
How never-ending war became—and will stay—the new normal.
WNU Editor: This is a good summary on the American left's point of view on why is America at war .... and I confess that I always read these commentaries to better understand their reasoning/explanation on why President Obama .... the most "left-wing" President in U.S. history and one who has always believed philosophically that America has been a problem rather than a solution to many of the world's conflicts .... has personally ordered and engaged U.S. forces in more countries than any of his immediate predecessors. Saying (as William Astore does in this post) .... Since his election in 2008, Barack Obama has done little to alter the course set by his predecessors. He, too, has chosen not to challenge Washington’s prevailing catechism of war. .... is not a good enough explanation .... because President Obama has done far more than just that.
I do not expect an answer .... because the answer is not appealing nor easy to explain. Managing this blog has taught me that the world is a very messy place where ethnic/sectarian/religious/political conflicts and unrest are the norm rather than the exception. The U.S. .... for better or worse .... is a part of this global community, and it has defined its strategic interests based on economics coupled with a determination to also form alliances and partnerships with nations that share its political/economic/social points of view or who have expressed a willingness to one day accept the U.S. view of the world. Sometimes these commitments result in committing to a war .... and sometimes (quoting Trotsky) war decides to come to America. But these are the consequences and responsibilities of being a global power .... and since the Second World War the American people have accepted that role.
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