America the World Police
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Abstract
The United States of America is powerful compared to other nations based on its rich economy and potential. The USA regards itself as a superior country; therefore puts itself on the frontline in overseeing other country activities. The US government has been known to advocate human rights throughout the world and providing support for developing nations. This essay explores the US constant involvement in foreign countries' affairs. In essence, the paper argues the statement that regards America as the world police. This paper provides supportive and convincing arguments against the need of America’s involvement in other countries' affairs.
Introduction
America being the world greatest country with a forefront in the globes economy, regards itself as superior to other nations. With this view, America believes that it has a major responsibility of maintaining order in the global fraternity. The US has been in the fight against terrorism, civil wars and conviction of crimes against humanity while advocating democracy. Furthermore, the US government provides supportive funds through the World Bank to developing countries. However, the US government has faced constant criticism regarding its intervention on other countries affairs. Although the America’s policy of overseeing other countries affairs is relevant, the strategy in unwarranted since it translates to the act of infringing into other countries’ independence.
The Americans involvement in other countries despite constant opposition is relevant in certain situations. The USA has the capacity in resolving international crisis in case they arise. The Rwanda Genocide in 1994 took place as other countries watched in despair despite the human rights violations that occurred in the country. This was a result of America not being involved in bringing sanity into the country during that period (Weaver & Mendelson, 2008). The involvement of the Americans would have saved lives and prevent Human Rights violations. However, the Americans got involved later and helped victims and stopped the war. Their involvement made a great difference in promoting peace in the country.
Humanitarian efforts by the USA in third world countries such as India has helped in trying to resolve certain issues that come with the large population rate. The American government has been able to provide funds for proper sanitation in India through various organizations (McCormick, 2013). India being among the poorest countries in the world has open sewage drainage running through the country slum, which are densely populated. The USA has been able to fight for women rights in the country as women are constantly mistreated and defiled at an alarming rate. Rape cases are reported daily in the country. Without the involvement of the USA, countries such as India would be left neglected.
The US has helped maintaining peace in war torn Middle East through the United Nations troops has greatly assisted in resolving the humanitarian crisis. The USA government has deployed its troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to try put an end to the raging war in the country. The USA views the middle east as a potential country because of its oil rich lands and should put efforts in solving their issues and focus on development. Though the war in Iraq is not yet over, the USA still maintains its troops there and providing aid to the locals in hope of the end of the war. Despite opposition of their involvement, there has been a positive impact of their presence in the Middle East countries (McCormick, 2013).
The Americans over the years have been at the front line against drug trafficking specifically among the Latin countries. The American government has set up special units to control drug trafficking around the world. Latin America has a high drug trafficking rate. The drugs are smuggled into the USA where they are illegally distributed for sale within the country (McCormick, 2013). In efforts to control this, the government has set up agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The US governments’ goal is to get rid of illegal drugs in all countries.
Terrorism being a serious threat has caught the American’s attention since the act of terrorism is an international threat. Constant attacks by terrorist in foreign countries negatively affect the world’s economy. Attacks by the Al shabaab at the horn of Africa has led to a decrease in tourist destinations for America and other countries. This has caused American government to be involved in foreign countries to stop the terrorism threat. Serious intervention by the USA was felt in Kenya following the 1998 booming of the US embassy in Nairobi. The Al qaeda terrorists have been under attack by the US government to stop terrorism. The American government has greatly helped in the international fight against terrorism (McCormick, 2013).
The US government has tried to bring sanity so some countries that have had human rights violation. This has been through withdrawing aid to developing nation that do not submit to their requests. The US government threatens to cut aid to countries that fail to oblige to human rights. The USA further denied funds to Zimbabwe after failing to cooperate. Through this, the US has been able to promote human rights in all nations while still maintaining good relation. The US government has recently been advocating human rights on the gay community especially in African countries. This move is an act to fight for the rights of the minority groups around the world. This move by the US has caused a lot controversy.
The US involvement in foreign countries and some of the standards set for countries to follow are not ethically correct. Their involvement may go against people’s democratic say and will. The American government has spent many resources in fighting other countries battles thus misusing the taxpayer’s money (Monahan, 2007). Resources that could have been used in different national development projects within the USA have been spent on other countries. Resources that should be used in case of disasters have been invested elsewhere.
The Americas involvement in wars in the Middle East has increased the rate of insecurity in USA. This has been the result of terrorist such as Al qaeda, who are angered by the USA involvement in their country. The US involvement in foreign countries may cause a security threat in their own country thus endangering its own citizens. This shows neglect on its citizens whom the government is supposed to protect, but instead endangering their lives. Little or no involvement in other countries affairs would help in guaranteeing the safety of the American citizens.
In recent years, the involvement of the USA in other countries has been greatly felt especially by third world countries. African countries have been left at the mercy of the Americans after they set certain rules that indirectly affect the governance of their countries. The American involvement in a country like Kenya where the US government threatened to cut short all its involvements with the country if they do not comply with their rules (Savelsberg, 2013). This is after Kenya wanted to settle their matters at their local courts instead of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This kind of involvement presents as dictatorship and goes against democracy.
The USA, having powerful economy offers help in the form of funds to developing nations, through the World Bank (Monahan, 2007). Withdrawal of funds to countries that go against their set standards is unethical. The standards set by the US may fail to be suitable to citizens in a particular country. Therefore, the country may fail to receive funds. This kind of intervention is unethical since the citizens opinion is not put into consideration and causes an economic crisis in the country. The withdrawal of aid in a country like Zimbabwe has come with difficulties. The economy of the country is almost collapsing, because there is no aid directed to the country (Weaver & Mendelson, 2008). The citizens of the country are languishing in poverty since there is very little humanitarian aid in the country.
Democracy has been manipulated in some countries where the US government may not be in support of a particular leader. This is experienced in countries where the leader may be facing trial. Despite the court not having reached a ruling, the US government may go ahead and put consequences that come with the election of such a leader. Such actions are unjust because every suspect in a court of law should be assumed innocent until proven guilty. This is against the democratic rules since citizens are not in the proper position to elect the leader of their choice. This is a backward step on democracy and on the US government as they constantly advocate democracy (Savelsberg, 2013).
Americans continuous intervention in other countries' affairs may cause hate among persons and nations who are angered by their move. Many countries are independent with set rules that govern their country and may find it disrespectful in the US to meddle in its country's activities. Independent countries are in the proper position of coming up with strategies to resolve their own disputes (Savelsberg, 2013). Such moves might damage the US's international relationships with other countries. Bad relations may cause a shift in resources that were being imported to the US and into other countries that maintain good international relations. The tourism sector may be greatly affected especially in tourist-designated countries that may turn away US citizens following bad relations. This affects the economy indirectly.
The 1998 booming of the US embassy was a consequence of America's involvement in other countries' affairs. This act was a form of rebellion by malicious groups who do not agree to the US intervention in their country. The booming was an international disaster as citizens from different countries were in the building. Therefore, intervention by the US government has come at a cost that might be expensive and against human rights (Boot, 2008)
Continuous intervention has caused critics from around the world to term the US move as being selfish. Despite the positive impact the US government has shown in promoting human rights and providing humanitarian aid in developing countries, it has failed in certain issues. The US has failed in complying with the concept of democracy that it promotes by meddling in other countries' affairs. Trying to manipulate people’s decisions goes against social ethics. Every person is entitled to a personal, decision this applies to countries. In 21st century, almost all countries are independent and are under a government that serves in the best interest of its people. Therefore, it would be appropriate if the US were to stop interfering with other countries' affairs despite it being superior. This would provide a platform for good international relations with other countries. In conclusion, it would be in the global interest if the US government would desist from interfering with other countries' affairs.
References
Boot, M. (2008, Feb 18). America's destiny is to police the world: MAX BOOT: Financial Times Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/249361774?accountid=4549
McCormick, C. (2013). Cengage Advantage: American Foreign Policy and Process. New York: Cengage Learning .
Monahan, J. (2007). Cover story: World Bank in A spin - against A backdrop of change at the top of both the world bank and the IMF, Jane Monahan reports on how the two institutions are responding to changing demands in A global economy and their efforts to remain relevant. The Banker, 1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/225662908?accountid=45049
Savelsberg, J. J. (2013). Highlights in the sociology of law: Globalizing law and penalizing human rights violations. Contemporary Sociology, 42(2), 167-176. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1465311604?accountid=45049
Weaver, G. R., & Mendelson, A. (2008). America's midlife crisis: The future of a troubled superpower. Boston: Intercultural Press.
