ANSWER calls World War II, the Berlin Airlift "U.S. military intervention"

[maha]

Found this on the ANSWER web site:

http://www.internationalanswer.org/pdf/usmilitaryinterventions.pdf

Most of the items on this list ARE examples of wrong and even tragic military intervention on the part of the U.S. But World War II? Were we supposed to pretend Pearl Harbor hadn't happened, or that Germany hadn't declared war? And what's with the Berlin airlift?

[bowens43]

1. Is this becoming an obsession?

You don't like ANSWER. You disagree with some of their opinions. We get that. Maybe you should redirect your energy into something a little more positive then bashing those with whom you disagree.

[meegbear]

5. maha has every right to bring this stuff up ...

I question ANSWER as well. And if facts, good or bad, can be brought to light here, then post 'em.

You don't like people who post about the same topic. We get that. Maybe you should redirect your energy into the people who post all pro-dean stuff all day then bashing those with whom you disagree.

[Rich Hunt]

6. "bashing those with whom you disagree"

Isn't this an oxymoron? One person's disagreement is another person's "bashing".

I think the debate about ANSWER is interesting, and I'm glad some people are learning about ANSWER.

[Scott Lee]

2. Where did it say that WWII was wrong?

All the document in question posted were US interventions over the past couple of centuries. I didn't see any judgement of each one.

I personally think WWII was the only "correct" war we've fought. But you certainly get the drift, by perusing that long ist, that we as a nation are way way too anxious to interfere in the governments of other nations.

ANSWER is correct to call attention to this, even though I may not agree with all of their judgements on any particular intervention.

[Muddleoftheroad]

7. Only correct war?

Where do the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War fall into your calculus?

[DoraFan]

8. Your kidding, right?

I personally think WWII was the only "correct" war we've fought.

You seriously do not agree with any other war fought by the US?

[DealsGapRider]

11. I doubt the South Koreans would agree with you.

I'm pretty sure they're grateful that they haven't had the experience of spending the last 50 years suffering the living death of life under the North Korean regime. Yeah, I think I'd have to say that coming to the defense of the South Koreans after they were invaded by the North was pretty just.

[izzie]

3. Looks like they mean anytime we sent troops.

That would cover Berlin air lift as it would WW2The beef is what one means by intervention. Same way we have trouble with this 'war" stuff. Like war on crime, drugs, poverty.And just what does terror mean? Not people hugging trees and walking around with signs but they seem to be adding them in to 'terror'

[sangh0]

4. Enough already!!

Yeesh

[enki23]

9. you'd be pretty fucking stupid, and dishonest...

if you compiled a list of "us military interventions" and left off WWII.

[MadHound]

10. Whatever.

Look, we all probably disagree with issues that ANSWER brings up. But I don't see anybody else getting off their happy ass to organize nationwide protests, do you? Which means that we have to work in coalition with *gasp* extreme leftists. Being somewhat on the extreme side of left myself, I'm probably more comfortable with this notion than you are. But as when you extreme centerists tell us lefties in your ABB rants, "Deal with it".

Until there are other groups doing this kind of effective organizing, I guess you just gonna hafta dance with them that brought ya.

[Rich Hunt]

12. wrong again

I've been working with coalitions since I was in college, so don't assume that someone who criticizes ANSWER is a "centrist" who has done no coalition work.

[MadHound]

16. I'm happy for for you

And I'm not saying that ANSWER is above criticism. What I am saying is that it is tiring to read time after time how big, bad and mean ANSWER is after a big successful protest put on by ANSWER. People moan and groan how "we" shouldn't be associated with ANSWER, that it is bad for our "image". Yet nobody else is stepping forward and putting together these big events. Yes there are small local ones, done by local organizations, but nobody else is putting together the big ones.

I really think we need to back off on the ANSWER bashing a bit until somebody else starts putting together these events. To bash and bash the group that has done the most to put anti-war protests in front of the public is not only rude and inconsiderate, but it also shows a streak of petty vindictiveness that doesn't become us well.

[On the Road]

13. I Agree: "Intervention" is Meant to Include Justified Wars

I've seen other versions of these lists and I really like them. Some go all the way back and include the Indian Wars as well.

There are as many individual judgements on the wisdom or ethics of each intervention as are there are people. It's a comprehensive list. You're meant to look at each item in context as well as the whole pattern. There are some surprises, too (Turkey in 1922?)

And as much as WWII was justified, it's important to ask questions about US actions, too. Pearl Harbor was a direct response to the US naval blockade of Japan, which was itself an act of war. The blockade was imposed because of Japan's invasion of Manchuria, which was an act of unprovoked agression.

In Europe, we liberated countries from the Axis governments but did not always allow them self-determination. Italy as a country had a strong socialist movement. During the 1948, the US had naval vessels in the Mediterranean ready to intervene if the "wrong side" won the elections.

These things are all more complicated than they appear.

[Malva Zebrina]

14. thanks Maha

I agree that the more information that is available about A.N.S.W.E.R. the better. It certainly does not hurt to know about it, what they stand for, and that is a positive for everybody.

[AnnabelLee]

15. There are already two threads about ANSWER in GD

5. You may not start a new discussion thread in order to continue a current or recent flame war from another thread. The moderators have the authority to lock threads in order to contain flaming on a particular topic to only one thread at a time.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=463744

Please post your comments about these issues in the two existing threads:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=598728

or

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=598599

Thank you
AnnabelLee
DU Moderator