What is the alternative to war?

Most wars after WW2 has been economically motivated. Is it right to kill people? And even get filthy rich for doing so? No. And please don't forget that. If you don't think that the U.S. is being controlled by the corporations, you're truly blind. And for that I'm sorry since you obviously aren't. The military industrial complex has a load of money, and I think we can both agree on that. Now imagine... What if they hire BOTH of the political party puppets? I'm not a conspiracy nut, it's provable.
"There is no way to achieve peace. Peace is the way."
- Ghandi

1. Should America simply stay out of all other countries affairs?
Yes. America is the world's most powerful country, but antagonizes other countries by imposing her ethics & ideals on other societies.

2. Does America need to be the so called "World's Police"?
No. As said before, America's politics often conflict with that of other cultures. It just needs to mind it's business, & intervene only when absolutely nessecary.

3. If oil is a big part of the war, why is that bad for America?
War is never good. If america is fighting the war for oil, then they should be aware of the fact that millions of lives are at stake, money is being wasted, & it is, in short, a moronic venture. It should find a smarter way of attaining its desires.

4. Was the U.S. justified in entering WWII and why or why not?
Yes. The U.S. was attacked first. It needed to defend itself.

5. Was the U.S. justified in entering Vietnam and why or why not?
No. Look at #2.

6. Was the U.S. justified in entering the 1st and 2nd Gulf Wars and why or why not?
1st: I can't say. Don't know too much about it. 2nd: No.

Love is the most overused word in the dictionary.

1. Should America simply stay out of all other countries affairs?
This is not a yes/no question. All countries have a right to do what they think is best for their country. I don't believe America should go where they are not wanted or needed. No country should impose it's will, nor should they disrupt the sovergnty of other nations. I think, at times, some of these world leaders believe war is a game.
2. Does America need to be the so called "World's Police"?
It depends who you ask. The U.S., at least at one time, was the richest nation in the world. Many times, the U.S. is asked to do many things, like supply military aid. Sometimes, troops are asked for. Noone wants to see their children/spouses/children die, even if it's a worthy cause. But when the objectives of the conflict are in question, you get into more problems.
3. If oil is a big part of the war, why is that bad for America?
It's becoming another VietNam. Our reputation is badly bruised. I'm not sure why we are fighting. Cheney had a plan to invade Iraq in 1990. Then, the first president Bush rejected this plan. Junior Bush thought it was a good idea.
4. Was the U.S. justified in entering WWII and why or why not?
Yes, they were. Both Germany and Japan were imperialist nations. From '34-'41, Hitler, time and time again, broke treaties, non-aggression pacts and started wars. Appeasement was not working. If the U.S. waited, Germany would have had G.B. Plus, didn't Japan attack the U.S.? That's all the justification the Americans needed.
5. Was the U.S. justified in entering Vietnam and why or why not?
There may have been justification. According to the Truman doctrine, the U.S. was going to thawrt any advancement of Communism. This didn't happen. After Korea, many Eastern european and SW Asian countries fell prey to Communism, usually through civil wars. Vietnam was in a civil was since before 1954, when France first got involved. By 1962, France had tapped its resources and wanted to pull out. Kennedy considered sending troups, but first sent "advisors." There is even reports that the U.S. through the CIA, assassinated several political leaders in SW Asia, including in Vietnam. The spread of Communism was a real fear, and Vietnam was the line in the sand. As it turns out, the war was a mistake. To send troups into a country fighting a civil war has always been a risky endeavor. Look at our own civil war. Brother vs. brother, father vs. son. It was the same in Vietnam. It always different if you kill your brother vs. someone else doing it.
6. Was the U.S. justified in entering the 1st and 2nd Gulf Wars and why or why not? 1st Gulf War yes...Saddam was the aggressor. He invaded a sovergn nation. Most of the world backed the idea of repelling this aggression. Most of Saddam's neighbors feared him and they backed the idea of driving Saddam back into Baghdad. President Bush weighed the options. Most of the Arab nations, while not liking Saddam, didn't want the West using their land for a strike. The United Nations didn't want invasion forces. They just wanted to drive Saddam back. At home, many of Bush's advisors, including Dick Cheney, wanted an invasion force and overthrow Hussein. The other advisors remembered Vietnam too well. You are supposed to learn from your mistakes. So Bush decided to be part of the United Nations and drive back Hussein from Kuwait. It wasn't a U.S. mission, it was a united nations mission.
The second war was unwarranted for a number of reason...the main one being that WMD had not been found before the invasion. Bush II accepted nothing that anyone said that went against what he wanted...the overthrow of the Iraqi government. He succeeded. But at least at this point, this policy has been a failure. After the first Gulf War, the United Nations had taken Saddam's ability to wage war away from him. The Iraqis posed no real threat to the U.S. While Saddam lied and violated a number of U.N. resolutions, he wasn't in the same position to wage was as he was in 1991.


"You mean he didn't fall? Inconceivable!"

Though I have opinions reguarding all of these questions, I will speak only to numbers 1-3 as I feel my age (22) does not permit me the proper political knowledge reguarding those specific events.

1. Should America simply stay out of all other countries affairs?

This is a loaded question. I was asked to write a report once taking sides on the topic, "Should America enter war". I will tell you the same thing I told my teacher... You cannot ask a yes/no question on such a topic. War is wrong, it is hurtful, destructive, murderous and reperesents humanity at it's worst. That said, there are at times, whether we like it or not, no other option but to fight. Simply put, peace can only be had if all sides want it. There will be agressors, there will be those who would take advantage of peace. In such circumstances there are only two choices, fight for life or forfeit your life to those who would take it.
So yes, if somewhere there are civilians dying and no one but us can help... if we are wanted and we are careful not to confuse the need for aid for a good time to rebuild a country in our image then by all means help. But if our own people do not understand the situation, if the victims in question have not asked us for aid then we have no right to occupy or otherwise involve ourselves in someone else's fight.

2. Does America need to be the so called "World's Police"?

No. Such things must be left to the U.N. to NATO and to other groups of countries willing to discuss and repair world problems as a united front. No one counrty has any right to impose it's laws on the world. Our nation is currupt and as such we cannot be a fair and partial judge and jury if we stand alone.

3. If oil is a big part of the war, why is that bad for America?

I must say I'm not entirely sure what you're getting at with this question. If oil is our motivation then it becomes a simple matter of, is 50,000 dead Iraqi's and 0ver 2,700 dead american soldiers worth less to you than a tank of gas? Of course it is bad for America. To wage a war over a resource which we are largly responsible for waisting in the first place, is only to further the coruption of this nation. Our moral fiber is in sever danger if such a debate can even be raised. There should be NOTHING of greater value than human life. And to even consider trading thousands of them for a few more years of false security in a resource that will be gone soon anyway only proves that this country has no perspective on how sick it really is becoming.

[deleted]

1. Should America simply stay out of all other countries affairs?
I do believe our forfathers did make the statement to stay out of "foreign affairs"

2. Does America need to be the so called "World's Police"?
They can't police themselves, how can they police the world?

3. If oil is a big part of the war, why is that bad for America?
now correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't America get most of it's oil from upper Canada?

4. Was the U.S. justified in entering WWII and why or why not?
I guess they were. the U.S. got attacked at Pearl Harbor so one would have to retaliate. If someone attacked me, I would attack back naturally. I mean WWII was crazy, Hitler and Germany killing over 6 million people. it must have been pretty crazy back then, all the threats of death going around.


5. Was the U.S. justified in entering Vietnam and why or why not?
I am not an expert on the Vietnam war really, I have no opinion here.

6. Was the U.S. justified in entering the 1st and 2nd Gulf Wars and why or why not?
I don't really think they were simply because I don't see what it achieved.


Overall I think you should go to war based on these things: What will you achieve by going to war? How will it better lives of people?

just my 1 cent worth

Well, these are just my opinions, I don't claim that I'm right or know everything...

1. Should America simply stay out of all other countries affairs?
-In a perfect world yes, but since we now have a global economy, it is pretty hard not to. If a country that America trades with has some kind of crisis that effects their trade, they need to look out for their best interests.

2. Does America need to be the so called "World's Police"?
-No, I don't think any country should be. That's what the UN should be for. Unfortunately, the UN doesn't seem to do a good job at that. Going back to question 1, I think the US acts like the World's Police because they have alot interests around the world, and they are just protecting their interests, not necessarily "policing" the world. There are quite a few places in the world that could probably use more help from the US (Africa in general), but its not in America's best interest to do so. In all fairness, all the major nations of the world are guilty of this, its just that the US is the most powerful so they stand out the most and probably take the most criticism.

3. If oil is a big part of the war, why is that bad for America?
-I don't know if oil is a big part of the war or not, but if it is its bad for America because it makes them look bad to the rest of the world. The US is the most oil dependant nation in the world, even though there are plenty of nations with bigger populations and area. People are saying that if they conserved better or used alternative fuels, they wouldn't need to go after so much oil.

4. Was the U.S. justified in entering WWII and why or why not?
-Yes they were justified to enter WWII because they were attacked by Japan. The reason the US entered the war in Europe as well was so they could enter alliances (mainly the UK) that would help them in the Pacific. It was basically a "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" kind of deal. Having said that, German U-Boats were attacking US shipping all the way up to the American coast prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, so some people would argue that alone would justify war with Germany.

5. Was the U.S. justified in entering Vietnam and why or why not?
-Looking back, not at all. It was basically a war fought over ideology (Democracy/Capitalism vs. Socialism/Communism) and the US had no real or justifiable reason to be there. Now Vietnam is one Socialist nation and many would argue that life is much better there now.

6. Was the U.S. justified in entering the 1st and 2nd Gulf Wars and why or why not?
-In the first Gulf War, Iraq invaded Kuwait without provocation, and Kuwait didn't have means to defend themselves. So I think the US was more than justified (oil or no oil). Also, 33 other countries were part of the coalition that fought Iraq, so if you ask that question about the US you need to ask it about those other countries as well.

As far as the second Gulf War, I'd say you could argue that it was justified, but I'd say it wasn't the right thing to do or even necessary. I think it was justified because Iraq had constantly broken the terms of the cease fire agreement of the 1st Gulf War for the next 11-12 years after that. But whether or not Iraq was a threat to their neighbors or the bigger question, sitting on a stockpile of WMD's, is a whole different question that may never be known. I think we'll only know if the war was "justified" or not in the years to come...its too hard to judge history when we're living in it. But right now I'd say it was a bad idea.

Oh, by the way...what does this have to do with John Lennon?

What the hell has this got to do with the movie? YOu should go to yahoo questions or askmetafilter or something.