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Originally Posted by 95th Rifleman
I'm always amused when people make broad generalisations and say "i've been there" I'm assuming you've visited every African country and spoken to a broad demographic? Or maybe I should visit Somalia and then base all of Africa's view of the US based on how folks view them there?
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Somalia is one of the countries I haven't been to. I have, however, been to most of Britain's former African colonies. In the 80s. The seething resentment amongst the locals was quite noticeable whenever there were any Brit ex-pats in the vicinity. And only the Brits. My Canadian, Turkish, and (oddly enough) German compatriots weren't given the same evil eye.
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Originally Posted by 95th Rifleman
America doesn't get into appeasement? So we won't mention how America has appeased Israel for the last few decades and allowed them to do what they want to Palestinian civilians going as far as to use their security council veto to back their constant violation of Un reslutions?
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America doesn't
appease Israel. It uses Israel as a
proxy. There's a huge difference. Doesn't make the behavior any more acceptable. But it's a different sort of relationship than that of appeasement, and the motives are very much different. China uses the DPRK as a proxy, which in turn exports arms to many nations in economic or military conflict with the US. Saudi Arabia uses other Gulf states as proxies. Iran uses Syria as a proxy, which in turn uses Lebanon and various terrorist groups. Cuba uses Venezuela. And those are just the ones off the top of my head. Israel appeases the US. Sometimes. (Other times they're perfectly willing to do whatever the hell they want, and damn the consequences.) Canada, on occasion, appeases the US. As does, to a lesser extent, the UK and Australia. Vietnam appeases China (having no desire to fight another war with China like the one they fought in 1975). A whole slew of nations appease Russia, for fear of Russia waging economic or military war against them.
Most of the world appeases the US to some extent. The big difference between how and why nations appease the US versus how/why they do so to other nations is that the US is, as has been mentioned by others here more than once, the world's economic and military leader. As such, nations often want something from the US, such as favorable economic deals, or military support or whatever. The US has not invaded anyone because they didn't kiss our ass (except Panama). Those that appease Russia and China do so out of fear, not out of a desire for a reward. It's a subtle, but important difference.
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Originally Posted by 95th Rifleman
We won't mention how America ignored Saddam when he was happily killing Kurds, as long as he was America's puppy and providing a pawn to match soviet-backed Iran.
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Yes, let's not get into that. Not one of our finer moments. Bastard Bush family and their politics.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 95th Rifleman
America is as guilty of appasement as any other European nation mate, it's hypocritical to claim that they havn't engaged in that little hobby.
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I'm not sure that you understand the definition of appeasement. It's not as broad a concept as you seem to think it is.