America HAS to be the World's Policeman

Submitted by Dr RJP (United States), Jul 1, 2006 at 12:46

There have been a number of Americans who have been against America's leadership and dominant presence in the wars with Iraq and Afghanistan. Reminiscent of the neutrality movements of past decades, these people are not so much anti-war as they are protectionist and of the mindset that America should not have to solve all of the world's problems.

Before Pearl Harbor, WWII was seen as a European conflict rather than a global one. Likewise, before 9/11, the ethnic and colonialistic wars that were being waged by militant Islamists were seen as irrelevant to us. However, too many Americas still believe that only direct attacks on the US should prompt a response from us, and that threats to America from militant Islam will go away on its own.

There is a perception that, by responding to problems in other parts of the world, America is at fault for creating antri-American sentiment. This is why I see the parallel between those who wish to main neutrality and those who blame the United States for "inciting hatred" against it. It reminds me of the school bully I knew who, despite repeated attempts by me to ignore him, continued his attacks against me. It was only when I struck back did he stop his attacks. I blamed the school system for allowing bullies to go unchecked and to pass it off as someone else's problem. They said, "his parents were to blame."

Well, there are plenty of bullies to be found in the world and most of them are Islamic. We've seen that most of the world, as represented in the United Nations, does not have the stomach to confront these bullies head-on. They turn their heads and blame someone else, like Isreal or the United States. However, the problem has gotten bad enough to prompt a response in some European countries, like Britian and France. Even so, the bullying continues and the threat of retaliation causes them to become more hesitant and protectionist.

Amazingly, the vast majority of Europe declared, in a poll taken just a few years ago, that "Israel was the greatest threat to world peace" as if tiny Israel was resonsible for the spread of militant Islam worldwide.

It should be clear to every American that any free, democratic country threatened by other countries or ideological groups, deserves our protection and assistance because it also poses a threat to us. Militant Islam has declared war against the non-Muslim world, and especially the Western democratic world. Like it or not, America is at the head of that table, and represents the largest and most powerful member. By that virtue alone are we charged with maintaining not only our freedom, but also the freedom of other nations who also sit at that table.

In the future, the European Union will have to play a larger role in this world conflict, but that will only happen when it recognizes who is the true enemy of peace. The same goes for Americans: those on the left who wish to blame America and Israel for the spread of militant Islam need to wake up and smell the coffee.

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