A History of U.S. Military Interventions,A History of U.S. Military Interventions, 1945-20101945-2010

““There will assuredly become a day, when this countryThere will assuredly become a day, when this countrywill have some weight in the scale of Empires…”will have some weight in the scale of Empires…”

– – George WashingtonGeorge Washington

Iraq 2004Iraq 2004Vietnam 1966Vietnam 1966

Truman’s Early Cold WarTruman’s Early Cold War1946-19531946-1953

KoreanKoreanWarWar

GreekGreekCivilCivilWarWar

Eisenhower Cold WarEisenhower Cold War1953-19601953-1960

Democratic gov’t Democratic gov’t ousted for Shah of Iranousted for Shah of Iran

Democratic gov’t Democratic gov’t ousted in Guatemalaousted in Guatemala

Marines in Beirut, LebanonMarines in Beirut, Lebanon

Kennedy/LBJ Vietnam EraKennedy/LBJ Vietnam Era1961-19681961-1968CubanCubanMissile Missile CrisisCrisis

BerlinBerlinCrisisCrisis

Dominican invasionDominican invasionAfrican AmericanAfrican American uprisings in U.S.uprisings in U.S.

Vietnam WarVietnam War

Nixon/Ford/Carter interventionsNixon/Ford/Carter interventions1969-19801969-1980 Invasions Invasions

of neutral of neutral CambodiaCambodiaand Laosand Laos

Wounded Knee siegeWounded Knee siege

Chile’s electedChile’s electedpresident killed in couppresident killed in coup

Iran raid failsIran raid fails

Reagan’s Cold War RevivalReagan’s Cold War Revival1981-19881981-1988

Contras in NicaraguaContras in Nicaragua

Civil war Civil war in El in El SalvadorSalvador

Marines, NavyMarines, Navyback in Beirutback in Beirut

Grenada unilateralGrenada unilateralinvasioninvasionLibya bombingLibya bombing

Naval skirmishesNaval skirmisheswith Iranwith Iran

Bush I interventionsBush I interventions1989-19921989-1992

Panama invasionPanama invasionousts former allyousts former ally

Gulf WarGulf Warover Kuwaitover Kuwait

Somalia landingSomalia landing

Los AngelesLos Angelesrebellionrebellion

Clinton interventionsClinton interventions1993-20001993-2000

BosniaBosniainterventionintervention

backs Croatiabacks Croatia

SudanSudanbombingbombing

Yugoslavia bombing,Yugoslavia bombing,Kosovo occupationKosovo occupation

Reversal of coup againstReversal of coup againstelected leader in Haitielected leader in Haiti

ContinuousContinuousIraq bombingsIraq bombings

Bush II unilateralismBush II unilateralism2001-20082001-2008

Afghan Afghan invasioninvasionafter 9/11after 9/11

Permits coup Permits coup against electedagainst electedleader of Haitileader of Haiti

““They’ll neverThey’ll nevershake the world ofshake the world ofthe United States.”the United States.”- GWB, 3-16-04- GWB, 3-16-04

Iraq Iraq invasion,invasion,

occupation occupation

Obama escalation,Obama escalation,2009-20102009-2010

AC-130 GunshipAC-130 Gunship

Predator drone with Predator drone with Hellfire missileHellfire missile

YemenYemen

PakistanPakistan

SomaliaSomalia

New U.S. military base clustersNew U.S. military base clusters1. Gulf War, 1991

2. Yugoslav wars, 1990s

3. Afghan War, 2001

4. Iraq War, 2003

Bases built to wage wars, orBases built to wage wars, orwars waged to build bases?wars waged to build bases?

Bases as political tripwiresBases as political tripwires

U.S. sphere of influenceU.S. sphere of influencegrowing between economicgrowing between economiccompetitors in EU & Asiacompetitors in EU & Asia

Z article available

1. Defending civilian lives?1. Defending civilian lives?

• Military tactics often left behind massive civilian "collateral damage.”Military tactics often left behind massive civilian "collateral damage.”

• Little distinction between rebels and the civilians who in rebel zones. Little distinction between rebels and the civilians who in rebel zones.

• Little distinction between military assets and civilian infrastructureLittle distinction between military assets and civilian infrastructure (train lines, water plants, agricultural factories, medicine supplies, etc.)(train lines, water plants, agricultural factories, medicine supplies, etc.)

• New technologies in each war said to prevent civilian casualties, New technologies in each war said to prevent civilian casualties,

• Inevitable civilian deaths explained away as "accidental," "unavoidable."Inevitable civilian deaths explained away as "accidental," "unavoidable."

IraqIraq

1991, 20031991, 2003

2. Defending “Freedom”/“Democracy”?2. Defending “Freedom”/“Democracy”?• Nearly all interventions defended or installed pro-U.S. dictators.Nearly all interventions defended or installed pro-U.S. dictators.

• Ideological agenda (defending capitalism) Ideological agenda (defending capitalism) (Vietnam, Central America)(Vietnam, Central America)

• Economic agenda (defending oil or investments) Economic agenda (defending oil or investments) (Persian Gulf, Chile) (Persian Gulf, Chile)

• A few interventions toppled dictatorships that had been backed by U.S.A few interventions toppled dictatorships that had been backed by U.S. Intervened to prevent the people from overthrowing their own dictator first, and installing their Intervened to prevent the people from overthrowing their own dictator first, and installing their

own democratic government own democratic government (Panama, Iraq).(Panama, Iraq).

• Reinstalled democratically elected leader to office, but undercut his power and later Reinstalled democratically elected leader to office, but undercut his power and later encouraged his ouster encouraged his ouster (Haiti)(Haiti)

VietnamVietnam19681968

ChileChile19731973

KuwaitKuwait19911991

3. Stopping atrocities/terrorism3. Stopping atrocities/terrorismand ethnic cleansing?and ethnic cleansing?

• Minimized or defended the same actions by the U.S. or its allies Minimized or defended the same actions by the U.S. or its allies

• Double standards: U.S. ally's action by definition "defensive," Double standards: U.S. ally's action by definition "defensive," but an enemy's retaliation is by definition "offensive."but an enemy's retaliation is by definition "offensive."

• Opposed ethnic cleansing by Serbs, not by Croatians or Albanians.Opposed ethnic cleansing by Serbs, not by Croatians or Albanians.

• Opposed Iraqi atrocities against Kurds, not Turkish atrocities, etc etc.Opposed Iraqi atrocities against Kurds, not Turkish atrocities, etc etc. • U.S. trained exile “terrorists” against Cuba & Nicaragua;U.S. trained exile “terrorists” against Cuba & Nicaragua; could they bomb Florida in self-defense? could they bomb Florida in self-defense?

El Mozote El Mozote Massacre inMassacre inEl SalvadorEl Salvador19811981

Serbs expelledSerbs expelledfrom Croatiafrom Croatia

19951995

4. “Peacekeeping” to keep sides apart?4. “Peacekeeping” to keep sides apart?• U.S. portrayed as “neutral” peacekeeper with humanitarian motives.U.S. portrayed as “neutral” peacekeeper with humanitarian motives.

• Yet often divides the country or region into "friends" and "foes," Yet often divides the country or region into "friends" and "foes," sides with one faction and arms it against anothersides with one faction and arms it against another

• Outside interference enflames rather than dampens a war or civil conflict Outside interference enflames rather than dampens a war or civil conflict (Somalia, Bosnia)(Somalia, Bosnia)

• ““Preventing civil war” argument can deepen resentment of U.S. role,Preventing civil war” argument can deepen resentment of U.S. role, serve as self-fulfilling prophecy serve as self-fulfilling prophecy (Afghanistan, Iraq)(Afghanistan, Iraq)

SomaliaSomalia1992, 19931992, 1993

5. Creating “stability”?5. Creating “stability”?• Intervention often counterproductive even if one accepts U.S. goals/rationalesIntervention often counterproductive even if one accepts U.S. goals/rationales

• Rather than solving the root political or economic roots of the conflict,Rather than solving the root political or economic roots of the conflict, intervention polarizes factions and further destabilize the countryintervention polarizes factions and further destabilize the country

• Culture of mistrust of U.S. intentions solidifies over time.Culture of mistrust of U.S. intentions solidifies over time.

• The same countries tend to reappear often on the interventions list.The same countries tend to reappear often on the interventions list. (Nicaragua, Haiti, Honduras, Philippines, Liberia, Panama, Iran, etc.)(Nicaragua, Haiti, Honduras, Philippines, Liberia, Panama, Iran, etc.)

• A U.S. intervention is the best way of guaranteeing a future intervention.A U.S. intervention is the best way of guaranteeing a future intervention.

Haiti 1919, 1994, 2004Haiti 1919, 1994, 2004

6. Weakening brutal dictators?6. Weakening brutal dictators?• Demonization of an enemy leader, or military action against him, tends to strengthen rather than Demonization of an enemy leader, or military action against him, tends to strengthen rather than

weaken his hold on power.weaken his hold on power.

• Dictator portrays himself as David standing up to the American Goliath.Dictator portrays himself as David standing up to the American Goliath.

• Diverts internal dissent by (accurately) blaming many of economic problems on U.S. sanctions, & Diverts internal dissent by (accurately) blaming many of economic problems on U.S. sanctions, & portraying dissidents as U.S. puppets.portraying dissidents as U.S. puppets.

• Regimes most demonized: Regimes most demonized: Qaddafi, Castro, Saddam, Kim, Iranian Qaddafi, Castro, Saddam, Kim, Iranian ayatollahsayatollahs

• Regimes in power the longest: Regimes in power the longest: Qaddafi, Castro, Saddam, Kim, Iranian Qaddafi, Castro, Saddam, Kim, Iranian ayatollahsayatollahs

7. “We don’t commit atrocities”7. “We don’t commit atrocities”• One of the most dangerous ideas of the 20th century :One of the most dangerous ideas of the 20th century : "people like us" could not commit atrocities against civilians."people like us" could not commit atrocities against civilians.

• Believed by British & French, Germans & Japanese,Believed by British & French, Germans & Japanese, Israelis & Arabs, Russians & Americans Israelis & Arabs, Russians & Americans

• Every country, every ethnicity, every religion, Every country, every ethnicity, every religion, contains the capability for extreme violencecontains the capability for extreme violence

• All groups have a faction that is intolerant ofAll groups have a faction that is intolerant of other groups, and actively seeks to exclude other groups, and actively seeks to exclude or even kill them (encouraged by war fever)or even kill them (encouraged by war fever)

• The intolerant faction only succeeds in its The intolerant faction only succeeds in its goals if the rest of the group acquiesces goals if the rest of the group acquiesces or remains silent.or remains silent.

Casualty estimates at Historical Atlas of the 20th Century: http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstats.htm