Jimmy Carter says the US is the most warlike nation and that is costing it the progress it could be making but isn’t. He compared it to China which is benefitting from a peace dividend. Is Carter right? [original.antiwar.com]
We're certainly involved in a lot of conflicts, some unavoidable, and some because we don't want to negotiate and compromise because we have the military advantage.
"War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children." Jimmy Carter
"We know a peaceful world cannot long exist one-third rich and two-thirds hungry." Jimmy Carter
Please explain what you think conflicts that were unavoidable are. I have not yet seen any evidence of any actions that the USA should never have taken action at all.
@Dicaron I was thinking current conflict such as terrorist groups against the US and its allies.
since powerful rich ppl continue to profit from the military/industrial/security complex it will be business as usual.
Meanwhile the earth is heating up. That's what we should be attending to.
Climate change will probably lead to more war as resources dwindle.
@dkp93 Exactly. Water wars are the scariest.
He is right. We have become both paranoid and using that paranoia to allow military officers to further their careers as lobbyists or working for industries that sell to the military. The military even is allowed, under the "takings" rule to ignore the endangered species act and harass or even destroy species. This is happening here, where I live. It was Eisenhower who said "beware of the military-industrial complex."
as soon as those retired military parasites start a lobbying career their cushy pensions should be suspended.
@callmedubious There was a time period after retirement that they could not be a lobbyist. Unfortunately, tRump rescinded it. This is a common practice among many workers. It's called double dipping. A superintendent of our local school retired some years ago but, after a year came back and got another job with the school and got 2 paychecks. I, myself, was disabled from the military and have a pension. I was also working so got another paycheck. The problem is, is when it is done and both checks come from the government.
We're certainly the nation on the most war-like footing. We spend more on "defense" than the next several nations combined. While this has served to keep Americans safe at home, it also insulates us from what's going on in the world.
If we spent half that money on anything else, yeah, we'd be in a better place.
Safe at home is an outrageous statement since the USA has never been invaded at all. The USA on the other hand has been invading other countries ever since the country was founded and only to rape and pillage to get what ever it needs, without the concern for anybody but themselves
@Dicaron "Safe at home is an outrageous statement since the USA has never been invaded at all."
This is my point. We have been attacked, but almost since our inception we've been isolated from the worst of the world's problems.
@Dicaron can’t imagine who would want to invade USA. I can’t think of any outstanding resources other than a bit of oil here and there. I am however open to be educated as I have never looked at the subject of N Am resources.
I thought we were fairly peaceful country. Until last 3 years, do who is running the country and now it seems war like.
Mmmm In my lifetime;
Laotian Civil War, Bay of Pigs Invasion, Vietnam, Simba rebellion, Dominican Civil War, Ñancahuazú Guerrilla War (Bolivia), Korean DMZ Conflict, Cambodian Civil War, Civil conflict in the Philippines / Insurgency of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Dirty War (Mexico), Lebanese Civil War, Cambodian–Vietnamese War, Insurgency in Laos, Shaba II, 1986 United States bombing of Libya, First Liberian Civil War, Gulf War 1, Somali Civil War, Iraqi Kurdish Civil War, Civil war in Afghanistan (1996–2001), Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen, Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines, War in Darfur, Iraq War 2 + insurgency, War in North-West Pakistan, Sistan and Baluchestan insurgency, Paraguayan People's Army insurgency, 2006 Lebanon War, Mexican Drug War, War in Somalia (2006–09), Operation Enduring Freedom – Trans Sahara, Boko Haram insurgency, Somali Civil War (2009–present), Libyan Civil War (2011), and lets not forget the cold war, in which the USA threatened to annihilate everyone on the planet for decades.
Oh and I forgot Grenada and Panama
You should probably rethink that statement.
@Sticks48 Since WHEN is ANY WAR necessary?
Shit, you yanks fought and killed each other over owning Slaves, you made fortunes with your Lend-Lease Program during WWII, you ONLY entered into both WWI and WWII when you wanted to or were attacked by the Japanese, you created Nuclear Weapons that killed thousands of relatively innocent Japanese women and children, would you like me to go on further, it might hurt your seemingly 'snowflake' feelings if I did though?