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The Imperial Appetite
in response to reader comment: The West is still here

Submitted by C, Feb 9, 2008 21:19

In the long history of human civilization, lies a impulse to have war. Jane Goodell in her research of chimpanzee discovered that these animals also have wars just like human beings. This discovery should remind us that wars were not the inventions of human beings but our inheritance from animals.

The United Stapes's particular embrace of this trait has cause its citizens much suffering. Of course this country was born in war and so we continue to the present day. The Europeans indulgence in this sport caused the collapse of their worldwide empires. Very few people are included in empires by peaceful means. Most are forced into them by force or the threat of force. So it has happened since humans first gathered together and had neighbors to subdue.

Does the US military presence in so many countries across the globe mean that the US is the greatest empire in the world today? It certainly does not look like the empires of old. Empires in the past had appointed ruler who governed. Maybe this is the new form of empire; although it is really hard to say. In any case, economic power produces empires nowadays. The US is currently spending hundreds of billions of dollars to subdue Iraq. It sure looks like a money losing proposition to me. Just like Rome gave up it hold on the British Isles when it ran out of money, so the US will do the same in Iraq. Of course other countries might be able to make it pay.

One day the American people will tire of the Iraq war and will decide its not worth it. The war in Afghanistan is about revenge; something that any Moslem understands perfectly. The US was attacked by Bin Laden who used Afghanistan as his base. The death or capture of Bin Laden will remove this motive and the US will leave after hopefully giving enough aid to rebuild the place.

Somewhere in some other place, some humans have the desire for war and empire, it will never end. The Chinese and Indians are ascending the economic pile, maybe in time they will fall in this human trap. The Chinese currently have troops guarding oil industries in Africa. Are they empire building?

Time will tell.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
The Puritan rhetoric (our City on rhe Hill syndrome) which has kept median Americans from realizing how imperialistic we've covertly... [MORE]	Patrick D.Hazard	Feb 8, 2008 12:03
self-delusion on both an individual and collective basis is crucial for the human psyche. Russians remain proud of the might... [MORE]	Frankly Speaking	Feb 9, 2008 22:19
The imperial appetite of certain countries has never ended, indeed if anything it has grown. What has changed are the... [MORE]	Siddhartha S.Bhadrakumar	Feb 10, 2008 23:40
I wonder if Mr. Hazard would have the courage to spout the same if America hadn't saved him and his... [MORE]	Glenn Smith	Feb 12, 2008 18:15
I've just now had a chance to read "Frankly Speaking".It is a very thoughtful response for which I am grateful.... [MORE]	Patrick D.Hazard	Feb 13, 2008 10:26
Don't be so quick to assume America is about to elect either a woman or an African American man as... [MORE]	BklynGal305	Feb 14, 2008 17:38
Dear Mr.Smith: I came not to bury American Exceptionalism but to raise it:-- from Ideals to Realities. I used to... [MORE]	Patrick D.Hazard	Feb 21, 2008 03:00
Hey Sidd, what have you been smoking? Do you really think China is the victim of imperialism rather than the... [MORE]	ricardo maxwell	Feb 21, 2008 08:51
Upon reading Patrick Hazrads article I kept looking for substance, concrete unambiguous facts that would stand alone without the distraction... [MORE]	Michael Rodriguez	Mar 4, 2008 14:05
So, the burden of the intelligentsia is to show the poor masses the errors of their ways and to enlighten... [MORE]	Paul McCord	Mar 10, 2008 10:30
I'm not sure exactly what the poster said, but I am sure he said everything he knew about the subject. BTW... [MORE]	gxb	Mar 10, 2008 10:38
Mr. Hazard I know that you have the best intentions in your heart and it behoves me to respond. American... [MORE]	Gene Guffey	Mar 15, 2008 10:58
Besides the oft quoted rationale of 'opening new markets' abroad (with all the dubiety that it sometimes involved) was there... [MORE]	SD Goh	Feb 8, 2008 10:10
Perhaps, in the case of the Spanish, who in 1491 had just finished 700 years of expelling the Muslims who... [MORE]	D	Feb 8, 2008 15:03
I'd just like to point out that "arrogance" is hardly a Western monopoly. It is fundamental to the Chinese worldview;... [MORE]	D	Feb 8, 2008 09:24
I think D makes some very good points (see "This book is an attempt to frame..." above). To get close... [MORE]	Billy Smith	Feb 12, 2008 11:29
The European superiority over China was substantially due to technology and industry. Europe also became superior in science. Here are some... [MORE]	John McCarthy	Feb 8, 2008 04:29
Darwin's seeing the predominant ruling form for mankind throughout history as 'empire' no doubt takes a page out of the... [MORE]	Shalom Freedman	Feb 8, 2008 02:11
"The West" has made great strides in science, technology and economic achievement. Western Europe's recovery from the devestation of two... [MORE]	Karen Ways	Feb 8, 2008 21:58
In the long history of human civilization, lies a impulse to have war. Jane Goodell in her research of chimpanzee...	C	Feb 9, 2008 21:19
I enjoyed all the comments regarding this subject. Varied and informative. Especially agreed with Karen Ways "Social and Spiritual Dismantling". I... [MORE]	Patrizia von Lutzow-Vorbeck	Mar 16, 2008 16:46