Reaction

Submitted by Delbert S. Buttman (United States), Nov 5, 2003 at 14:05

These countries are so anti-America indoctrinated I am surprised that they have not actually physically attacked American forces. Whatever America does is considered wrong I myself was in the military for 22 years. I was an investigator for the military so I became familiar with these attitudes. I worked in France for a short period of time and when I was identified as an American soldier I was treated like a piece of garbage. We pulled Europe out of a lot of problems during WWII and I don't expect them to love us but I did expect common courtesy.

One theme that I heard in Europe and Central America was the theme that America and Americans are rich. I believe that we should cleave to the countries that support us and do nothing for the countries that do not.

Regarding the anti-American countries I do not trust them. I believe that if given the chance they will betray us and hurt us badly. If they see an opportunity to do something against us, something they can get away with, they will do it. We are seen as an evil in many of these countries by their citizens.

I was stationed in one area in Germany that had restaurants and clubs that would have their people routinely throw Americans out of their establishments. I would have to investigate some of these incidents and I found that many of them were instigated by simple ethnic prejudice. They did not like Americans so they mistreated them. There were also German police who would support Germans no matter how stupid their premise. I recall minor traffic accidents between American soldiers and Gemans in which the main factor seemed to be the ethnic background of the individuals involved in the accident. If an American was involved the Germans spoke to the Germans and charged the American without speaking to the American. Once they filed charges that was it.

I am not anti-German and I am not anti-European. I came face to face with reality and I have the attitude that if a country and its people do not like us, do not support us, and support our enemies then we need to drop them like a hot potato. When we do, we need to tell them what the deal is. Tell them that they screwed us, supported our enemies, and that they have expressed that they want us gone so we are. Econcomically most countries need our markets to survive so that will not be affected from their point of view. Militarily we may save a lot of money. Besides we should move our forces to friendly countries.

Another thing. The United Nations has turned into an organization that wants our money and support but it works against our interests. It wouldn't sadden me in the least if we just left. Take our money and tell them to find some place else to hold anti-American conventions.

I may sound bitter but I am not. We have done a lot for many people in the world. When there is a big problem we are called for assistance. I have no problem coming when we are called but we should not stay where we are hated and not wanted.

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