Events in Iran Bode Ill for Democracy

Blackbird-You can’t be serious asking a question like “what has the US done that is positive for the world?“
Every nation on the face of the planet that gets into trouble calls on the US for help.
It sure as h**l would be a VERY long list.
Your point was that “we are afraid of our own history.“ Too many citizens don’t know our history good or bad. And if everytime a situation arises in the world a la Iran, the blame America first contingent rises to take the blame for creating ANY and ALL scenarios because of some past sin real or imagined the result is to diminish all the good that this countryhas done.
When was the last time you thought to write something about Bosnia or Somalia or any of the other thousands of places where we have fed millions and saved lives with the blood of our own.
No nation is going to go looking for help to any of the Europeans or the Russians or the Chinese.
When Africans are dying from AIDS and malaria they look to the US for help.
And to the original subject.
Iran essentially declared war on the US when they took the hostages 25 years ago. They have been at war with their neighbors for decades.
They are developing a nuclear bomb.
There never seem to be any answers-just more questions.
I know that as an immigrant who has lived in other places under other regimes I tend to be impatient with what I percieve as Americans not fully appreciative of living in the greatest society on the planet.
It is not necessary to always approve of everything she does. But it is imperative that her citizens do not
denigrate her at every possible opportunity which seems to be considered intellectual and sophisticated by far too many these days.

No that wasn’t my intention. But you asked a question. I answered. It was an easy answer it is listed on several web pages. But to answer your other question is harder. What has the US done that is positive for the world?
A much harder question.  Probably not listed on any webpages. No one wants to hear that I guess…or maybe the list is too long. The very idea of a webpage is American isn’t it.
No, we are not perfect, no we are not the most horrible country either.  It would probably be harder to find a list of wars for the Soviet Union or China.  But that doesn’t change our own history.
Why is it when ever one points out our own history, it is taken as a threat and anti-American.
This is my whole point in a nutshell.
We are afraid of our own history.
I still believe this is the best country in the history of the world.
The world is an agressive, violent place sometimes….but at the same time…since we ARE the world leaders…can WE lead the world OUT of violence WITHOUT USING violence. Can we not use our technology and advances to reduce the need to kill each other?
Can’t we predict where a trouble spot is and try in advance to smooth out the problems.  I am telling you right now….ENERGY is a problem…Clean WATER is a problem…FOOD is a problem….more people die in a few seconds of lack of these things then have died in IRAN in the last few weeks. No one wants to hear that. It’s like we need an enemy.
..which brings us back to the original subject. How should we react to the violence of the Iranian protests? Some want to rally the jets for take off, they have been saying that for the last few years.  I say,
Iran has been our enemy for a very short time in reality, and they can again be our friend. We have not been at war with Iran forever. In fact it’s one place we have never been at war with. Why start now.

....and you guys want us to intervene in Darfur too, right?

PHILIPPINES 2002-? Troops, naval Training mission for Philippine military fighting Abu Sayyaf rebels evolves into combat missions in Sulu Archipelago, west of Mindanao.
COLOMBIA 2003-? Troops US special forces sent to rebel zone to back up Colombian military protecting oil pipeline.
IRAQ 2003-? Troops, naval, bombing, missiles Saddam regime toppled in Baghdad. More than 250,000 U.S. personnel participate in invasion. US and UK forces occupy country and battle Sunni and Shi’ite insurgencies. More than 160,000 troops and numerous private contractors carry out occupation and build large permanent bases.
LIBERIA 2003 Troops Brief involvement in peacekeeping force as rebels drove out leader.
HAITI 2004-05 Troops, naval   Marines land after right-wing rebels oust elected President Aristide, who was advised to leave by Washington.
PAKISTAN 2005-? Missiles, bombing, covert operation CIA missile and air strikes and Special Forces raids on alleged Al Qaeda and Taliban refuge villages kill multiple civilians.
SOMALIA 2006-? Missiles, naval, covert operation Special Forces advise Ethiopian invasion that topples Islamist government; AC-130 strikes and Cruise missile attacks against Islamist rebels; naval blockade against “pirates” and insurgents.
SYRIA 2008 Troops Special Forces in helicopter raid 5 miles from Iraq kill 8 Syrian civilians

CUBA 1912 Troops U.S. interests protected in civil war.
PANAMA 1912 Troops Marines land during heated election.
HONDURAS 1912 Troops Marines protect U.S. economic interests.
NICARAGUA 1912-33 Troops, bombing 10-year occupation, fought guerillas
MEXICO 1913 Naval Americans evacuated during revolution.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1914 Naval Fight with rebels over Santo Domingo.
COLORADO 1914 Troops Breaking of miners’ strike by Army.
MEXICO 1914-18 Naval, troops Series of interventions against nationalists.
HAITI 1914-34 Troops, bombing 19-year occupation after revolts.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1916-24 Troops 8-year Marine occupation.
CUBA 1917-33 Troops Military occupation, economic protectorate.
WORLD WAR I 1917-18 Naval, troops Ships sunk, fought Germany for 1 1/2 years.
RUSSIA 1918-22 Naval, troops Five landings to fight Bolsheviks
PANAMA 1918-20 Troops “Police duty” during unrest after elections.
HONDURAS 1919 Troops Marines land during election campaign.
YUGOSLAVIA 1919 Troops/Marines intervene for Italy against Serbs in Dalmatia.
GUATEMALA 1920 Troops 2-week intervention against unionists.
WEST VIRGINIA 1920-21 Troops, bombing Army intervenes against mineworkers.
TURKEY 1922 Troops Fought nationalists in Smyrna.
CHINA 1922-27 Naval, troops Deployment during nationalist revolt.
HONDURAS 1924-25 Troops Landed twice during election strife.
PANAMA 1925 Troops Marines suppress general strike.
CHINA 1927-34 Troops Marines stationed throughout the country.
EL SALVADOR 1932 Naval Warships send during Marti revolt.
WASHINGTON DC 1932 Troops Army stops WWI vet bonus protest.
WORLD WAR II 1941-45 Naval, troops, bombing, nuclear Hawaii bombed, fought Japan, Italy and Germay for 3 years; first nuclear war.
DETROIT 1943 Troops Army put down Black rebellion.
IRAN 1946 Nuclear threat Soviet troops told to leave north.
YUGOSLAVIA 1946 Nuclear threat, naval Response to shoot-down of US plane.
URUGUAY 1947 Nuclear threat Bombers deployed as show of strength.
GREECE 1947-49 Command operation U.S. directs extreme-right in civil war.
GERMANY 1948 Nuclear Threat Atomic-capable bombers guard Berlin Airlift.
CHINA 1948-49 Troops/Marines evacuate Americans before Communist victory.
PHILIPPINES 1948-54 Command operation CIA directs war against Huk Rebellion.
PUERTO RICO 1950 Command operation Independence rebellion crushed in Ponce.
KOREA 1951-53 (-?) Troops, naval, bombing , nuclear threats U.S./So. Korea fights China/No. Korea to stalemate; A-bomb threat in 1950, and against China in 1953. Still have bases.
IRAN 1953 Command Operation CIA overthrows democracy, installs Shah.
VIETNAM 1954 Nuclear threat French offered bombs to use against seige.
GUATEMALA 1954 Command operation, bombing, nuclear threat CIA directs exile invasion after new gov’t nationalized U.S. company lands; bombers based in Nicaragua.
EGYPT 1956 Nuclear threat, troops Soviets told to keep out of Suez crisis; Marines evacuate foreigners.
LEBANON l958 Troops, naval Marine occupation against rebels.
IRAQ 1958 Nuclear threat Iraq warned against invading Kuwait.
CHINA l958 Nuclear threat China told not to move on Taiwan isles.
PANAMA 1958 Troops Flag protests erupt into confrontation.
VIETNAM l960-75 Troops, naval, bombing, nuclear threats Fought South Vietnam revolt & North Vietnam; one million killed in longest U.S. war; atomic bomb threats in l968 and l969.
CUBA l961 Command operation CIA-directed exile invasion fails.
GERMANY l961 Nuclear threat Alert during Berlin Wall crisis.
LAOS 1962 Command operation Military buildup during guerrilla war.
CUBA l962 Nuclear threat, naval Blockade during missile crisis; near-war with Soviet Union.
IRAQ 1963 Command operation CIA organizes coup that killed president, brings Ba’ath Party to power, and Saddam Hussein back from exile to be head of the secret service.
PANAMA l964 Troops Panamanians shot for urging canal’s return.
INDONESIA l965 Command operation Million killed in CIA-assisted army coup.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 1965-66 Troops, bombing Marines land during election campaign.
GUATEMALA l966-67 Command operation Green Berets intervene against rebels.
DETROIT l967 Troops Army battles African Americans, 43 killed.
UNITED STATES l968 Troops After King is shot; over 21,000 soldiers in cities.
CAMBODIA l969-75 Bombing, troops, naval Up to 2 million killed in decade of bombing, starvation, and political chaos.