Thread: Blowback - American Imperialism

After being around this forum for awhile, this topic has not been brought up very often. It seems that most people, especially Tick, blame every single conflict that the United States faces on outside groups without dwelling into the issue further. I am of course speaking of incidents such as the terrorist attacks not only against the United States herself, but around the world. The people to blame for such incidents are of course the people themselves, but if this country is ever to last as a country then we are going to have to look at what causes certain groups to last out against the United States. That is, what causes Blowback.

Blowback is a term that originated with the CIA to describe retaliatory actions against the United States and her interests for often covert or military strikes that the United States has either supported or directly been involved with. The most recent example that comes to everyone's mind is the September 11th attacks that started a series of aggressive overreactions by the American administration to track down and eradicate Islamic terrorism. George Bush stated that the attacks were a result of hatred:

“Americans are asking, 'Why do they hate us?' They hate what we see right here in this chamber: a democratically-elected government. Their leaders are self-appointed. They hate our freedoms – our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other.”

Anybody that has studied American foreign policy for the past 60 years or any terrorist group, including Al-Qaeda, know that this is not why we were attacked. Terrorist attacks against the United States and her interests are nothing new; be it the 1993 WTC bombing or the 2000 Cole attack off the coast of Yemen. These attacks are not because they hate our freedoms, they attack us because they of our aggressive and imperialistic foreign policy. Osama Bin Laden and like minded men use our foreign policy and twist it to their gain. The Middle East, as well as numerous countries throughout Central America and Eastern Asia, don't see our involvement as "helpful". Especially the Middle East, which as been the forefront of an Islamic nationalist revolution, sees our actions as an afront to their religion and their own national security.

As OBL has said himself:

"Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands. Each and every state that does not tamper with our security will have automatically assured its own security. "

"And as I was looking at those towers that were destroyed in Lebanon, it occurred to me that we have to punish the transgressor with the same, and that we had to destroy the towers in America, so that they taste what we tasted and they stop killing our women and children. "

This in essence, is blowback. We are reaping what we have sowed. However, retaliation is nothing new, as I have said. Our imperialistic ways have been apart of our foreign policy since the beginning of the Cold War. The United States has been involved in numerous operations to install pro-American governments around the world. Some of these countries include Iran, Guatemala, Cambodia, Vietnam, Turkey, Japan, Chile, Afghanistan, Iraq, South Korea, Laos, and Indonesia.

These imperialist policies have resulted in the death and repression of millions. The resentment against America that is seen in the present should come to no surprise once you look at what the United States has been involved in. The rise of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban is a direct result of our support of the mujahideen in the 80's. Excuses can be made that at the time, these actions were necessary on the short-term. However, what about the long-term? The United States continues to use tactics that are putting the wrong people in power and this will later come to haunt us in the future.

Our actions are going to result in reactions and we have to start taking that into account.

Originally Posted by GraspingForPeace

After being around this forum for awhile, this topic has not been brought up very often. It seems that most people, especially Tick, blame every single conflict that the United States faces on outside groups without dwelling into the issue further. I am of course speaking of incidents such as the terrorist attacks not only against the United States herself, but around the world. The people to blame for such incidents are of course the people themselves, but if this country is ever to last as a country then we are going to have to look at what causes certain groups to last out against the United States. That is, what causes Blowback.

Blowback is a term that originated with the CIA to describe retaliatory actions against the United States and her interests for often covert or military strikes that the United States has either supported or directly been involved with. The most recent example that comes to everyone's mind is the September 11th attacks that started a series of aggressive overreactions by the American administration to track down and eradicate Islamic terrorism. George Bush stated that the attacks were a result of hatred:

“Americans are asking, 'Why do they hate us?' They hate what we see right here in this chamber: a democratically-elected government. Their leaders are self-appointed. They hate our freedoms – our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other.”

Anybody that has studied American foreign policy for the past 60 years or any terrorist group, including Al-Qaeda, know that this is not why we were attacked. Terrorist attacks against the United States and her interests are nothing new; be it the 1993 WTC bombing or the 2000 Cole attack off the coast of Yemen. These attacks are not because they hate our freedoms, they attack us because they of our aggressive and imperialistic foreign policy. Osama Bin Laden and like minded men use our foreign policy and twist it to their gain. The Middle East, as well as numerous countries throughout Central America and Eastern Asia, don't see our involvement as "helpful". Especially the Middle East, which as been the forefront of an Islamic nationalist revolution, sees our actions as an afront to their religion and their own national security.

As OBL has said himself:

"Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands. Each and every state that does not tamper with our security will have automatically assured its own security. "

"And as I was looking at those towers that were destroyed in Lebanon, it occurred to me that we have to punish the transgressor with the same, and that we had to destroy the towers in America, so that they taste what we tasted and they stop killing our women and children. "

This in essence, is blowback. We are reaping what we have sowed. However, retaliation is nothing new, as I have said. Our imperialistic ways have been apart of our foreign policy since the beginning of the Cold War. The United States has been involved in numerous operations to install pro-American governments around the world. Some of these countries include Iran, Guatemala, Cambodia, Vietnam, Turkey, Japan, Chile, Afghanistan, Iraq, South Korea, Laos, and Indonesia.

These imperialist policies have resulted in the death and repression of millions. The resentment against America that is seen in the present should come to no surprise once you look at what the United States has been involved in. The rise of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban is a direct result of our support of the mujahideen in the 80's. Excuses can be made that at the time, these actions were necessary on the short-term. However, what about the long-term? The United States continues to use tactics that are putting the wrong people in power and this will later come to haunt us in the future.

Our actions are going to result in reactions and we have to start taking that into account.

So youe would agree that we need to have "diplomatic" discussions with terrorist ? That if we just to leave them alone we would have no more attacks ? A bit naive don't you think.

As far as our imperialism Im all for introducing freedoms and liberties that Muslim societies have never enjoyed. Well to be more specific, Muslim Women. Or do you think that their treatment is justified by their man made religous laws ? It's time for that 7the Century society be brought into the new millinnium.

Originally Posted by Six

So youe would agree that we need to have "diplomatic" discussions with terrorist ? That if we just to leave them alone we would have no more attacks ? A bit naive don't you think.

We have to have diplomacy with everybody, otherwise we are doomed to fight a war that is misunderstood. Military action alone has never fully erased terrorism; it actually makes it more prevalent as military actions have unforeseen consequences.

As far as our imperialism Im all for introducing freedoms and liberties that Muslim societies have never enjoyed. Well to be more specific, Muslim Women. Or do you think that their treatment is justified by their man made religous laws ? It's time for that 7the Century society be brought into the new millinnium.

That is not our military's job. If we really want people to want more freedoms, we have to set a good example. We have supported dictators and tyrants, how hypocritical is it of us to denounce others for their lack of support of freedom.

Originally Posted by Six

So youe would agree that we need to have "diplomatic" discussions with terrorist ? That if we just to leave them alone we would have no more attacks ? A bit naive don't you think.

What is naive is to think that they simply attacked the U.S. on 9-11 because "they hate us for our freedom." That's the most ridiculous, naive thing to believe. It also happens to be the very story the federal government feeds us time and time again.

We have been arming both sides of many conflicts, installing world leaders to benefit us, and inciting coup de tats all over the place via the CIA and other means. For decades. We used Aghanistan as a pawn in the Cold War, and used Iraq against Iran. South America also knows all about this kind of behavior by the U.S.

As far as our imperialism Im all for introducing freedoms and liberties that Muslim societies have never enjoyed. Well to be more specific, Muslim Women. Or do you think that their treatment is justified by their man made religous laws ? It's time for that 7the Century society be brought into the new millinnium.

You can't force democracy on a society that doesn't want democracy. It doesn't work that way, just like you can't float around because there is gravity.

But grasping, what about victors justice? America wins wars therefor they can be as hypocritical as they want. It's Americas Victors Justice. It's such a wonderful thing.

Six your post is idiotic and bigoted. I hate people like you. I'm Muslim and I don't treat women like dirt. In fact I've met lots of women who have had sex before they were married and were Muslim (the reason I'm mentioning this is because a lot of people on the forum think that Muslims kill women and men for having sex before marriage). I think nothing of it. It's simply something that happens in all societies. According you, I'd treat them like shit because as a MUSLIM MAN that's what I'm supposed to be like. Have you read religious laws? Do you know anything? Have you read the Quran?

Originally Posted by Democritus

But grasping, what about victors justice? America wins wars therefor they can be as hypocritical as they want. It's Americas Victors Justice. It's such a wonderful thing.

Six your post is idiotic and bigoted. I hate people like you. I'm Muslim and I don't treat women like dirt. In fact I've met lots of women who have had sex before they were married and were Muslim (the reason I'm mentioning this is because a lot of people on the forum think that Muslims kill women and men for having sex before marriage). I think nothing of it. It's simply something that happens in all societies. According you, I'd treat them like shit because as a MUSLIM MAN that's what I'm supposed to be like. Have you read religious laws? Do you know anything? Have you read the Quran?

I am speaking of specific areas of the world where this kind of behaviour is well documented. If your so against the methods of Islam and the way they treat their women ( in these specified Countries ) then do something about it.

Also there is a time for diplomacy and a time to fight. Peace through force is attainable. Ask your nearest Nazi if that's possible.

Originally Posted by Six

I am speaking of specific areas of the world where this kind of behaviour is well documented. If your so against the methods of Islam and the way they treat their women ( in these specified Countries ) then do something about it.

Also there is a time for diplomacy and a time to fight. Peace through force is attainable. Ask your nearest Nazi if that's possible.

Lulz at your sig.

What countries? If you're talking about Saudi Arabia. I hate their government too and it's their governments fault that it's like that. The majority if not all of their citizens are peaceful people and decent. But who protects that stupid government? America. They are the ones that protect the Saudi Princes. Their country is nothing like North Africa.

If you're talking about Iran, than your completely misguided on how Iran actually is. Half of their country first off is filled with people who do drugs. If they are so Islamic, than they would stop the trafficking of drugs from their country. All this stuff you hear on the media about Iran is mostly lies and slander of the country. They are trying to demonize the people and country.

Also there is a time for diplomacy and a time to fight. Peace through force is attainable. Ask your nearest Nazi if that's possible.

Germany fell, Nazism did not. Anyways, the point that I'm trying to get to is that the rise of these groups is often times due to blowback from former US actions.

Originally Posted by Bluegrass

What is naive is to think that they simply attacked the U.S. on 9-11 because "they hate us for our freedom." That's the most ridiculous, naive thing to believe. It also happens to be the very story the federal government feeds us time and time again.

We have been arming both sides of many conflicts, installing world leaders to benefit us, and inciting coup de tats all over the place via the CIA and other means. For decades. We used Aghanistan as a pawn in the Cold War, and used Iraq against Iran. South America also knows all about this kind of behavior by the U.S.



You can't force democracy on a society that doesn't want democracy. It doesn't work that way, just like you can't float around because there is gravity.

It's all to easy to sit back and be an armchair diplomat with only a shred of real information. Ever wonder why Obama changed his stance on the troop pullout right after he won the election ? He was debriefed and he happens to be intelligent.

Just curious, have you ever made notice of anything positive that America is responsible for ? Have we ever accomplished anything as a Country that you would be proud of ? Or does this Country exist solely to be your personal scapegoat ?

..this goes out to the rest of you on this thread too. Realize that no government is perfect and try to point out something positive about our Country.

Originally Posted by GraspingForPeace

Germany fell, Nazism did not. Anyways, the point that I'm trying to get to is that the rise of these groups is often times due to blowback from former US actions.

Why did Germany " fall " ? Because of Chamberlains diplomacy ?