[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by blender

Well thought out post with some salient points, but I must say, I feel that it may be your view that is coloured by American propaganda rather than mine. I've always felt that the goal has been to not advertise their imperialism and focus on "spreading democracy" or some such nonsense.

Living in the states for over 20 years certainly exposes one to a lot of propaganda, but I do my very best to try and not be affected by it. That can be hard sometimes, but I try and keep history in mind as I approach my adopted land.

I agree with your framing of "spreading democracy." It's a bunch of BS meant to project American interests abroad and get countries to fall in line with what best benefits the United States. It isn't really about hegemony insomuch that it is protecting the interests of powerful American money making interests. Hegemony is just a coincidental outcome as a result of these activities. America really doesn't give a rip about spreading democracy or values, they are concerned about establishing footholds for the elite to make gobs of money on the backs of the poor. Projection of American power is about making money. Period. Full stop.

You mentioned Central and South America. If there was ever a case of a powerful nation having total hegemony over a region I don't know what would be a better example. Asia is tenuous, yes, but America locked up the Western hemisphere long ago with methods as brutal and total as can be.

I don't see the US having hegemony over any part of Latin America. If anything this region has rejected American hegemony and the region remains up for grabs. The US views Brazil as a massive threat. Same with Venezuela. Argentina is on the radar as a possible trouble spot as they develop their economy. With the exception of Belize and Panama, and possibly Costa Rica, the remaining countries in Latin America have no use for the US and her political leanings. The US is viewed as a means to an end, but one those countries would abandon in a heartbeat if pressed.

I agree with your points about the current state of America. The future does not look bright; and make no mistake, I do not equate the strength of the American Empire with progress or see it as beneficial to the world in any way. I believe that much of the dirty work of empire building has been done under cover or disguised as something else. "Failures" such as in the middle east have still yielded results. Iraq as a sovereign state in control of it's own oil resources has been neutralized, for example. Iran is most certainly on the agenda next. Time will tell if the US can pull that one off.

Iraq is a massive failure. That did not turn out the way Americans believed it would and it just destabilized the middle east in ways no one imagined. Trump has only made Bush's mess worse. Iraq is a political mess, where Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria (Russia), and Turkey control much of the region and the flow of resources. To suggest Iraq is a sovereign state is not acknowledging the dynamics of the region and how the ethnic groups do not operate under the confines of borders imposed by the west.

The US should not get involved with Iran. People who suggest that Iran would be a cake walk like Iraq don't understand the region. Iran would be more like Afghanistan. There terrain is much more like Afghanistan and warfare would be similar. They are also refusing to acknowledge that Russia would play a substantial role in supporting Iran and keeping them supplied. Iran would be a formidable foe and not an easy target to take on.

Again, appreciate the discussion, as this is THE story of the world post WWII, and most discussion of it is either limited in detail or completely obfuscated by a purposeful effort at disinformation or jingoistic rhetoric. It bears further discussion.

It does indeed. My suggestion is to read some William Blum, especially Killing Hope and Rogue State. I would also recommend some John Perkins, especially Confessions of an Economic Hitman and The Secret History of the American Empire. Should provide some more fodder for future discussion about the America's place in the world.