That's the new strategy of the Iraqi resistance

[wallie_x]

Selective attention syndrome of leftism?

Please read "We are a good hearted people." That is: the American people in general, not their government. The US government is dominated by special interests on both sides, and in my opinion corrupt.

And once again shahani you seem incapable of comprehening the points I raised.

[ClubMed]

Originally posted by wallie_x
I am an American. I was born and raised here. To equate us almost unequivocally with imperialist nations of the past is a logical error. The reason? We are a good hearted people.

First of all a lot of people don't seem to realise that imperialism never stops, it just looks different over time, but it's still the same ideologies and behaviours, so don't be insulted when someone mentions 'imperialism', it is the result of power-politics and it will not go away until a fundamental change happens in the way politics is carried out, and that's not going to happen any time soon.

In the past the 'imperialist' nations took a more public role in governing their colonies, today due to the media and public attention the act of governing is left behind the scenes, and the 'colonies' have a greater degree of independence, yet the over all structure is still the same.

So when I say 'imperialism' I don't mean it in a negative sense, nor do I mean it in a positive sense, it's simply how things are and always have been.

Originally posted by wallie_x
...The US government is dominated by special interests on both sides, and in my opinion corrupt...

Another point I would like to make is that I sense some confusion in your posts wallie_x, you mention that the 'American people are good hearted' (something I have always agreed with), but you also acknowledge that the government has been corrupted by influential interest parties, then you get annoyed that some of us rightfully refer to the foreign policy of your government (that you admitted was corrupt) as imperialist.

As if you are trying to say that the government, which you refered to as being corrupt, through some magical reason cannot carry out 'imperialist' policies.

You will have to make up your mind

[wallie_x]

ClubMed,
Thank you for the well thought out response. Not to get to lost in semantics here, but I would like to add I believe that capitalism gets most of its ideologies from imperialism. The two in my mind are almost one in the same. To me, capitalism is little less than a system of outright exploitation; its motivation is greed and expansion, and crushing competition. This gives the appearance of any westernized monetary systems as being imperialistic, and thus: yes what you say is true to a great degree. However, it is not ultimately government controlled, but does exert a great influence on governmental policies.

And it is also of little wonder to me why certain factions within the world see the US capitalist economic system as so distasteful. It is ultimately our own ethnocentricity, which blinds us to our weaknesses both politically and morally. I am more socialist than capitalist; I see the latter as an exploitative stain that rapes lower class people of their hard earned money. (I could write a book on this one so I won't start.)

I also don't think that the US government’s idea is to exploit Iraqi resources beyond a few years to get repayment. If all goes well (and this is my prayer) that the Iraqis can live freely and democratically, that outside interests will back off, and let the Iraqis enjoy the fruits of their wealth of natural recourses. However, if US companies do set up shop we will see some imperialism (under the guise of capitalism) as you state.

[ClubMed]

Excellent response and good points. In my opinion, what you describe in your last paragraph is what's going to happen. If things become stable in Iraq and if the US army is able to squash the resistance then I believe we can be sure to see American investments in the region that will transport wealth outside of the country and towards America.