Troubled Times

I have been researching quite a bit as of late, a knee jerk reaction to a debate that almost always spawns investigation. In my travels I came across global legal discussions about the ramifications of Bush invading Iraq, and bringing the notion of "preemptive self defense" to the international table.

What I found most interesting, and troubling was the idea that international intervention would take a hit because of the US's decision to invade and attack another country preemptively, and without consent of the UN. The general idea is that the international community as a whole are feeling a great deal more cautious about countries sending military support over to other countries - even if it is needed or warranted. On an individual level I just happened to read an article about this very subject (after having stumbled upon the legal discussion). South Africa needs help, military intervention possibly, and yet they are wary of the US joining in to help because - of all things - they are afraid of neo-colonization by the US.

I read that and my jaw hit the floor. We, the bloggers and like minded folks who have been crowing and raving about repercussions echoing over the world because of America's bad behavior, are vindicated.

Thats nothing to be ecstatic about, its a bad thing and no matter how good it feels to be right, it aint good.

So, countries in need are now afraid of the big bad US - and not because our military might would be aimed at ne'er do wells, not because our economic globalization is so impressive, but because our military might and economic domination combined with the unscrupulous and unethical heads of state means bad news for any country who might fall prey to the giant lady with a torch in her hand.

Even on the morning news I heard Madeleine Albright state just how badly our reputation has become. If thats not ironic, I'm not sure what is.

I can't help but think though, that while this latest debacle has certainly caused global scrutiny and controversy - the military and international interventions on behalf of the US over the years has been less than altruistic. Its been well hidden, much better so than our current situation, however our actions over many years have been to serve the US and the US only. This now dawning on the (previously) unaffected parts of the world and mingling with parts of the world that have felt the stinging blow of American Imperialization have created the kind of foreign nightmare that won't be easily rectified.

The new president won't over come it, and perhaps it will take a large number of new presidents to undo it. Its my theory that it won't happen. The cat's out of the bag now - it's too late to "unlearn" our dirty little secrets. All politics will be out in the open, and quite frankly if the US can't imperialize, attack or otherwise arm foreign countries to goad them to war - we can't survive economically. We've sold off our production lines and manufacturing companies, we've all but done away with anything that could stabilize our economy, all we have left is the finance industry really - and according to economic grand poo-bahs such as Greenspan and Bogle, thats going up in smoke too.


In other news, I have taken what I am now learning, the combination of economic growth (or lack thereof), UN dealings, rulings etc...unrevised American history and etc...and I'm writing a book about it. I will be looking to get it published by a smaller publishing company (such as AK press - an Anarchist company, imagine that!). If all you writers out there have any advice, I'll take it!