[Ben S.]

I don’t think it is imperative that the United States takes an important role.For some time in the early 20th century, it was rather isolationist. However, U.S. commercial interests now dictate that there is some intervention – in the Middle East the main factor has always been oil. The strength of the oil and car lobby in the United States and the active destruction of alternate choices of transport now mean you have few other options. (In the 20s the United States had a fantastic interurban electric rail system, the envy of the world. It was slowly bought up by oil companies, etc. and ripped up.)

Protection of ‘freedom’ is sometimes a reason, but mostly only when it tallies with commercial interests – note the example of Kuwait, in which calls for Western support for Kuwait’s democracy movement after the 1991 conflict were ignored as soon as the oil was flowing again. It’s not a uniquely American thing. In my country, Australia, the government spent years supporting the odious Soeharto regime in Indonesia for precisely the same reason: access to Timor Gap oil and gas.

User Detail :  

Name : Ben S., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : New Age/Metaphysical, Age : 35, City : Melbourne, State : NA, Country : Australia, Occupation : corrections officer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,