“I should welcome almost any war, for I think this country needs one.” -President Theodore Roosevelt, at the turn of the century [1]
Islam is inherently more violent than other religions. This is the Supreme Islamophobic Myth. Yes, there are other core beliefs of Islamophobia (Islam is sexist, oppressive, discriminatory, the list goes on…), but nothing is more critical to anti-Muslim bigots than associating Islam with violence, war, and terrorism. This, in turn, is used to justify bombing, invading, and occupying Muslim countries–what I call the Supreme Islamophobic Crime.
We see this quite clearly in the jingoistic rhetoric against Iran, a Muslim country that is portrayed as being inherently violent and warlike. This is then flipped around, using the argument that we must attack them before they attack us.
Yet, this is a Myth–the Mother of all Myths. It is the United States that has been waging wars of aggression, not Iran. Ahmed Rehab challenged Bill O’Reilly on this point by asking him: “How many countries has Iran attacked in the past 50 years?” The answer is, of course, zero. Meanwhile, the United States and her “stalwart ally” Israel have attacked numerous Muslim countries, as I recently portrayed in this graphic:
The U.S., in the name of fighting terror, is waging seemingly Endless War in the Muslim world. The “We are at War” mentality defines a generation of Americans, with many young adults having lived their entire lives while the country has been “at war.” For them, war is the norm.
But if the future of America promises Endless War, be rest assured that this is no different than her past. Below, I have reproduced a year-by-year timeline of America’s wars, which reveals something quite interesting: since the United States was founded in 1776, she has been at war during 214 out of her 235 calendar years of existence. In other words, there were only 21 calendar years in which the U.S. did not wage any wars.
To put this in perspective:
* Pick any year since 1776 and there is about a 91% chance that America was involved in some war during that calendar year.
* No U.S. president truly qualifies as a peacetime president. Instead, all U.S. presidents can technically be considered “war presidents.”
* The U.S. has never gone a decade without war.
* The only time the U.S. went five years without war (1935-40) was during the isolationist period of the Great Depression.
When we look at the present situation (see map above) and our violent past (see timeline below), is it not a bit hypocritical of us to point the finger at Muslims? Whenever I hear “good Judeo-Christian American patriots” telling me how violent Muslims are and how Islam supposedly endorses Perpetual War–I cannot help but think of how their own “Judeo-Christian nation” has been locked in perpetual warfare since its inception.
The U.S. was born out of ethnic cleansing, a violent process that had started long before 1776 and would not be complete until 1900. In other words, more than half of America’s existence (about 53%) has been marked by the active process of ethnic cleansing of the indigenous population, which was ultimately all but destroyed.
If the Islamophobes insist that the Armenian Genocide, which took place in the span of eight years, defines the Ottoman Empire (which existed for over 600 years, meaning the Armenian Genocide lasted only 1% of its existence), then would they be consistent and use this logic to argue that the ethnic cleansing of the American Indians (which spanned more than a century and a quarter, or 53% of America’s existence) defines the United States? Or would they use it to demean Christianity overall as they do Islam? (Note: Benjamin Taghov has made this comparison on our website before; see here.)
By looking at America’s many wars throughout history, it becomes apparent that it is not radical Islam that propels the country to war. Rather, it is America’s trajectory of war and conquest, which has always been in the direction of expanding hegemony. In the start, the country expanded by occupying American Indian lands, portraying its indigenous population as inherently violent and warlike. In 1823, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall wrote: “The tribes of Indians inhabiting this country were fierce savages, whose occupation was war…” [2]
The American Indians were thought to be an existential threat to the United States (a classic case of projection or role inversion): John Quincy Adams, for example, wrote that “the savage Indians” were out to “wage an exterminating war” against the “peaceful inhabitants” of the United States [3]. It was the same message then as it is now: we must attack them before they attack us.
As Indian land was gobbled up by the use of force and fraud, the U.S. border expanded to the periphery of Mexico (which at that time consisted of most of the West Coast and Southwest of the modern United States). Hungry for this land too, the U.S. invaded Mexico, and “Mexicans were portrayed as violent and treacherous bandits who terrorized” the people [4]. American belligerence towards Mexico heated up in the 1800′s, culminated in the U.S. annexation of half of Mexico’s land (leaving right-wingers today to wonder “why so many Mexicans are in our country?”), and seamlessly transitioned into the Banana Wars of the early 1900′s.
Once the Americans had successfully implemented Manifest Destiny by conquering the land from sea to shining sea, the Monroe Doctrine was used to expand American influence in the Caribbean and Central America. Thus began the Banana Wars, a series of military interventions from 1898 all the way to 1934, which attempted to expand American hegemony to the south of its borders. America’s brutality in this part of the world is not well-known to most Americans, but it is well-documented.
During this time period, Hispanics were portrayed as “cunningly dangerous bandits” [5]. The Banana Wars came to an end in 1934 with the adoption of the “Good Neighbor Policy,” a policy that was adopted because “World War II was looming in Europe and Asia” and the U.S. wanted “to secure Latin American allegiances and hemispheric unity as a protection against foreign invasion” [6].
For a brief period, from 1935-1940, America rested from war, thanks to the emergence of isolationism during the Great Depression. But, with the start of World War II, the U.S. emerged as a super-power, ever hungry for more conflict. Thus began the Cold War period from 1945 all the way to 1991, with the U.S. fighting “the (exaggerated) menace of Communism” all over the world, even when it meant bombing, invading, and occupying countries that had done no harm to the U.S.
The Cold War had not even ended before the U.S. found its new target: the Middle East and the Muslim world. By 1990, the U.S. was already bombing Iraq in the First Gulf War–a country that the U.S. would go on to bomb for over two decades. Needing another boogieman now that the Soviet Union was dead, the U.S. turned to “radical Islam” as the enemy. And that’s why you have the map as it is above.
It should be noted that American plans to dominate the Middle East date back to at least the end of World War II, when it was decided that the region was of critical strategic value. Now that the U.S. has followed through on this plan, do you think “radical Islam” is really “an existential threat” just as American Indians were “fierce savages” waging “an exterminating war” against the “peaceful inhabitants” of the United States; or how Mexicans were “violent” and “terrorized” people; or how Central Americans were “dangerous bandits”? The rampant Islamophobia that abounds today is part of a long tradition of vilifying, Other-izing, and dehumanizing the indigenous populations of lands that need to controlled.
The objects of American aggression have certainly changed with time, but the primary motivating factor behind U.S. wars of aggression have always been the same: expansion of U.S. hegemony. The Muslim world is being bombed, invaded, and occupied by the United States not because of radical Islam or any inherent flaw in themselves. Rather, it is being so attacked because it is in the path of the American juggernaut, which is always in need of war.
* * * * *
Here is a graphic depiction of U.S. wars:
And here is the year-by-year timeline of America’s major wars:
[Note: This is a non-exhaustive list, and I purposefully excluded all sorts of military interventions so as to be very conservative; the list excludes, for example, "peaceful means" used to ethnically cleanse the land of American Indians, i.e. fraudulent treaties and other coercive means; it excludes many outright massacres of American Indians; it further excludes several instances of the U.S. landing troops in various countries to "protect American interests"; it also excludes virtually all CIA interventions and other covert wars; lastly, I may have omitted wars due to my own ignorance of them, although I am sure that readers will give their input so we can add to the list as needed.]
Year-by-year Timeline of America’s Major Wars (1776-2011)
1776 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamagua Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War
1777 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Second Cherokee War, Pennamite-Yankee War
1778 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1779 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1780 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1781 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1782 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1783 – American Revolutionary War, Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War
1784 – Chickamauga Wars, Pennamite-Yankee War, Oconee War
1785 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1786 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1787 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1788 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1789 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1790 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1791 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1792 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1793 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1794 – Chickamauga Wars, Northwest Indian War
1795 – Northwest Indian War
1796 – No major war
1797 – No major war
1798 – Quasi-War
1799 – Quasi-War
1800 – Quasi-War
1801 – First Barbary War
1802 – First Barbary War
1803 – First Barbary War
1804 – First Barbary War
1805 – First Barbary War
1806 – Sabine Expedition
1807 – No major war
1808 – No major war
1809 – No major war
1810 – U.S. occupies Spanish-held West Florida
1811 – Tecumseh’s War
1812 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Seminole Wars, U.S. occupies Spanish-held Amelia Island and other parts of East Florida
1813 – War of 1812, Tecumseh’s War, Peoria War, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in West Florida
1814 – War of 1812, Creek War, U.S. expands its territory in Florida, Anti-piracy war
1815 – War of 1812, Second Barbary War, Anti-piracy war
1816 - First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
1817 - First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
1818 – First Seminole War, Anti-piracy war
1819 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
1820 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
1821 – Anti-piracy war (see note above)
1822 – Anti-piracy war (see note above)
1823 – Anti-piracy war, Arikara War
1824 – Anti-piracy war
1825 – Yellowstone Expedition, Anti-piracy war
1826 – No major war
1827 – Winnebago War
1828 – No major war
1829 – No major war
1830 – No major war
1831 - Sac and Fox Indian War
1832 – Black Hawk War
1833 – Cherokee Indian War
1834 – Cherokee Indian War, Pawnee Indian Territory Campaign
1835 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War
1836 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Missouri-Iowa Border War
1837 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Second Creek War, Osage Indian War, Buckshot War
1838 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars, Buckshot War, Heatherly Indian War
1839 – Cherokee Indian War, Seminole Wars
1840 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade Fiji Islands
1841 – Seminole Wars, U.S. naval forces invade McKean Island, Gilbert Islands, and Samoa
1842 – Seminole Wars
1843 – U.S. forces clash with Chinese, U.S. troops invade African coast
1844 – Texas-Indian Wars
1845 – Texas-Indian Wars
1846 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars
1847 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars
1848 – Mexican-American War, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War
1849 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians
1850 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, California Indian Wars, Pitt River Expedition
1851 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars
1852 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, California Indian Wars
1853 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Yuma War, Utah Indian Wars, Walker War, California Indian Wars
1854 – Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians
1855 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Cayuse War, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Yakima War, Winnas Expedition, Klickitat War, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay
1856 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Puget Sound War, Rogue River Wars, Tintic War
1857 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Utah War, Conflict in Nicaragua
1858 – Seminole Wars, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Mohave War, California Indian Wars, Spokane-Coeur d’Alene-Paloos War, Utah War, U.S. forces invade Fiji Islands and Uruguay
1859 Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, California Indian Wars, Pecos Expedition, Antelope Hills Expedition, Bear River Expedition, John Brown’s raid, U.S. forces launch attack against Paraguay, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1860 – Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Paiute War, Kiowa-Comanche War
1861 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign
1862 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Dakota War of 1862,
1863 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Southwest Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Goshute War
1864 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Cheyenne Campaign, Colorado War, Snake War
1865 – American Civil War, Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Colorado War, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War
1866 – Texas-Indian Wars, Navajo Wars, Apache Wars, California Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Franklin County War, U.S. invades Mexico, Conflict with China
1867 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, U.S. troops occupy Nicaragua and attack Taiwan
1868 – Texas-Indian Wars, Long Walk of the Navajo, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Snake War, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Red Cloud’s War, Comanche Wars, Battle of Washita River, Franklin County War
1869 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War
1870 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War
1871 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Franklin County War, Kingsley Cave Massacre, U.S. forces invade Korea
1872 – Texas-Indian Wars, Apache Wars, Utah’s Black Hawk War, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Franklin County War
1873 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Modoc War, Apache Wars, Cypress Hills Massacre, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1874 – Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Red River War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1875 – Conflict in Mexico, Texas-Indian Wars, Comanche Wars, Eastern Nevada, Mason County War, Colfax County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1876 – Texas-Indian Wars, Black Hills War, Mason County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1877 – Texas-Indian Wars, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Black Hills War, Nez Perce War, Mason County War, Lincoln County War, San Elizario Salt War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1878 – Paiute Indian conflict, Bannock War, Cheyenne War, Lincoln County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1879 – Cheyenne War, Sheepeater Indian War, White River War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1880 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1881 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1882 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1883 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1884 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1885 – Apache Wars, Eastern Nevada Expedition, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1886 – Apache Wars, Pleasant Valley War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1887 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1888 – U.S. show of force against Haiti, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1889 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1890 – Sioux Indian War, Skirmish between 1st Cavalry and Indians, Ghost Dance War, Wounded Knee, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1891 – Sioux Indian War, Ghost Dance War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1892 – Johnson County War, U.S. forces invade Mexico
1893 – U.S. forces invade Mexico and Hawaii
1894 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1895 - U.S. forces invade Mexico, Bannock Indian Disturbances
1896 – U.S. forces invade Mexico
1897 – No major war
1898 – Spanish-American War, Battle of Leech Lake, Chippewa Indian Disturbances
1899 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1900 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1901 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1902 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1903 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1904 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1905 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1906 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1907 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1908 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1909 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1910 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1911 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1912 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars
1913 – Philippine-American War, Banana Wars, New Mexico Navajo War
1914 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico
1915 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico, Colorado Paiute War
1916 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico
1917 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S. invades Mexico
1918 – Banana Wars, World War I, U.S invades Mexico
1919 – Banana Wars, U.S. invades Mexico
1920 – Banana Wars
1921 – Banana Wars
1922 – Banana Wars
1923 – Banana Wars, Posey War
1924 – Banana Wars
1925 – Banana Wars
1926 – Banana Wars
1927 – Banana Wars
1928 – Banana Wars
1930 – Banana Wars
1931 – Banana Wars
1932 – Banana Wars
1933 – Banana Wars
1934 – Banana Wars
1935 – No major war
1936 – No major war
1937 – No major war
1938 – No major war
1939 – No major war
1940 – No major war
1941 – World War II
1942 – World War II
1943 – Wold War II
1944 – World War II
1945 – World War II
1946 – Cold War (U.S. occupies the Philippines and South Korea)
1947 – Cold War (U.S. occupies South Korea, U.S. forces land in Greece to fight Communists)
1948 – Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists)
1949 - Cold War (U.S. forces aid Chinese Nationalist Party against Communists)
1950 – Korean War, Jayuga Uprising
1951 – Korean War
1952 – Korean War
1953 – Korean War
1954 – Covert War in Guatemala
1955 – Vietnam War
1956 – Vietnam War
1957 – Vietnam War
1958 – Vietnam War
1959 – Vietnam War, Conflict in Haiti
1960 – Vietam War
1961 – Vietnam War
1962 – Vietnam War, Cold War (Cuban Missile Crisis; U.S. marines fight Communists in Thailand)
1963 – Vietnam War
1964 – Vietnam War
1965 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic
1966 – Vietnam War, U.S. occupation of Dominican Republic
1967 – Vietnam War
1968 – Vietnam War
1969 – Vietnam War
1970 – Vietnam War
1971 – Vietnam War
1972 – Vietnam War
1973 – Vietnam War, U.S. aids Israel in Yom Kippur War
1974 – Vietnam War
1975 – Vietnam War
1976 – No major war
1977 – No major war
1978 – No major war
1979 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan)
1980 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan)
1981 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), First Gulf of Sidra Incident
1982 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon
1983 – Cold War (Invasion of Grenada, CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Lebanon
1984 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua), Conflict in Persian Gulf
1985 - Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua)
1986 – Cold War (CIA proxy war in Afghanistan and Nicaragua)
1987 – Conflict in Persian Gulf
1988 – Conflict in Persian Gulf, U.S. occupation of Panama
1989 – Second Gulf of Sidra Incident, U.S. occupation of Panama, Conflict in Philippines
1990 – First Gulf War, U.S. occupation of Panama
1991 – First Gulf War
1992 – Conflict in Iraq
1993 – Conflict in Iraq
1994 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti
1995 – Conflict in Iraq, U.S. invades Haiti, NATO bombing of Bosnia and Herzegovina
1996 – Conflict in Iraq
1997 – No major war
1998 – Bombing of Iraq, Missile strikes against Afghanistan and Sudan
1999 – Kosovo War
2000 – No major war
2001 – War on Terror in Afghanistan
2002 – War on Terror in Afghanistan and Yemen
2003 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, and Iraq
2004 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2005 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2006 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2007 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen
2008 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2009 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2010 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen
2011 – War on Terror in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen; Conflict in Libya (Libyan Civil War)
President Barack Obama repeated the now infamous words of George W. Bush, declaring: “We are at war…” Yes, and we have been, ever since 1776.
Danios was the Brass Crescent Award Honorary Mention for Best Writer in 2010 and the Brass Crescent Award Winner for Best Writer in 2011.
Update I:
It goes without saying that I am not arguing that all of America’s wars listed above were wars of aggression and therefore unjustified–but arguably the vast majority of them were.
Update II:
To put this into greater perspective, Iran has not invaded a country since 1795, which was 216 years ago. (h/t LW’s Ilisha)
Footnotes:
[1] Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States, p.297
[2] Steuter, Erin. At War with Metaphor, p.43
[3] Chomsky, Noam. Deterring Democracy, p.34
[4] Mraz, John. Looking for Mexico, p.60
[5] Ching, Erik. Reframing Latin America, p.228
[6] Ibid.
December 20th, 2011 at 9:10 am
Let there be peace on earth…..
December 20th, 2011 at 10:23 am
This a wonderful video from 2 years back but can still be applied today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b42FJwydOCY
British Journalist Robert Fisk on the middle east
December 20th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Amazing article, Danios. The “To put this in perspective” section certainly succeeds in doing so.
I’ve recently been doing research to determine the last time Iran invaded another country. It seems like a relevant comparison.
I’ve traced historical records to the Battle of Karnal in 1739 so far, but the truth is lost in a swirl of (sometimes ridiculous) propaganda.
Do you know of any invasion after 1739?
December 20th, 2011 at 11:06 am
Why are you making all that up Danios? Violence is exclusive to Muslims
It would be as interesting to list the countries which Britain also occupied.
December 20th, 2011 at 11:11 am
BREAKING NEWS LOOONWATCHERS!
something positive and funny last night on “RockCenter”:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=45732205�
December 20th, 2011 at 11:20 am
“American belligerence towards Mexico heated up in the 1870′s, culminated in the U.S. annexation of half of Mexico’s land (leaving right-wingers today to wonder “why so many Mexicans are in our country?”), and seamlessly transitioned into the Banana Wars of the early 1900.”
I think the 1870′s needs to replaced with 1840′s, as the Mexican War with the subsequent annexation of half if Mexico took place at this time. The Spanish-American War of the 1890′s was a more accurate precursor to the “Banana Wars.”
December 20th, 2011 at 11:27 am
Ha! This will explode heads a plenty! I’m very happy with this, especially the timeline. One thing though- Many of these conflicts in the 20th century were proxy wars where the U.S. were either supplying armaments to foreign allies or advisers in training their armies, or in most instances both. Also, If we call into account the writings of Chalmers Johnson, many of these wars were with elements of our allies that went “rouge” after the colonial aims of the United States were realized. Also, in regard to many of these 20th cent. conflicts (especially Nicaragua), many if not most of them weren’t isolated in one country, but spilled over into neighboring nations as well. Good piece, thanks alot!
December 20th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Danios,
Interesting, I partly agree with you, but not entirely. Many US wars have truly been unjustified. In other cases its debatable. However, some US wars have had a legitimate justification.
Its unlikely for one thing that America would have gone to war in Afghanistan, had it not been for the nine eleven attacks. In that instance at least, we had one very good reason to go to war. All the evidence suggested that Osama Bin Laden, was the mastermind of the attack, and the Taliban refused to turn him over two us voluntarily. Not only is there no credible evidence for the “9/11 was an inside job conspiracy,” put forth by 9/11 Truthers, there’s plenty of credible evidence for Al Queda having a hand in 9/11, as well as some other terrorist attacks, and no credible evidence to the contrary. Plus we let both the Afghan and Iraqi people vote on their own constitutions, even through both of them had some things in there that most Americans would disapprove of. In some cases, rightfully so, so its not like we turned them into a colony of the US.
Also are you implying that America, in anyway, wasn’t justified in entering WW1 or WW2?
Now is there a big problem with anti Muslim bigotry, in the US and the West in general? Absolutely. However, even ignoring any good reasons for the US ever going to war with any Muslim nation, I can’t come up with a good argument for it simply being Islamophobia. Many anti Muslim bigots, simply want us to kick all the Muslims out of the West, and than want non Muslims to have nothing to do with the Middle east.
December 20th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Danios,
By the way, here’s another person debunking the claim that Islam is inherently more violent than other religions. Klingschor did so by refuting another atheist critic of Islam, Thunderf00t, who believed that Islam is inherently more violent than any other religion, in Coughlan666′s Pwnage Olympics. He did so by looking at the Koran and Hadithes, and how Muslims have interpreted them throughout history.
Thunderf00t PWNed – Islam & Terrorism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WccEzo8O8c&feature=channel_video_title
Thunderf00t, Islam & Terrorism: Addendum
December 20th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
@Danios
You wrote: “but the primary motivating factor behind U.S. wars of aggression have always been the same: expansion of U.S. hegemony. “
That’s not always true though the majority of the time it is. The Barbary Wars and the War of 1812 were a result of foreign aggression against the U.S. The U.S. was compelled to enter these wars because it was attacked first and not the other way around.
Again the majority of the times the U.S. has been at war, it was the aggressor.
I think (but I may be wrong) you also forgot to mention the U.S. invasion of Russia in 1918 in order to stop the Communist forces. That would be considered an attempt to preserve U.S. hegemony.
http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2002/winter/us-army-in-russia-1.html
December 20th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
I have to revise my question. A history buff by the water cooler has told me:
“In 1795, the Persian shah, Agha Mohammed Khan, invaded the nation of Georgia.”
This appears to be true. Anything after that?
December 20th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Ron Paul 2012!
December 20th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Recipe for Peace:
U.S. must abandon NATO that became obsolete with the implosion of Soviet Union. NATO ought to be replaced by EUAF (European Union Armed Forces).
U.S. will then have to close all its military basis in Europe and move them to Israel.
U.S. must begin patrolling the skys of ALL Muslim nations in order to prevent possible (and highly probable) terrorist attacks upon the Civilized World.
Islam needs to be isolated from the rest of the world and left to its own devices that were prescribed by Muhammad the Prophet in the 7th century.
All Muslim living in Europe and America should be moved to Islamic countries where they can live happily among their brethren.
End of the solution.
December 20th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
@ Daniel:
Thank you for that correction. It has been fixed.
@ Riley who is Cassidy:
Your comments have been removed as you were banned long time ago.
@ Believing Atheist:
Please see update.
December 20th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
@Danios:
Thanks for the update, and the clarification. By the way, I suggested you for a future guest on this show. Look under the suggestions for guests. I go by the user name “GargamelGold” on Youtube.
The Jinn And Tonic Show
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheJinnAndTonicShow
December 20th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
@Jayson Rex,
If you are not joking, you might want to do a bit more research, including reading a lot more of the articles on this site, as well as other websites, like Spencer Watch, and rethink what you just wrote.
December 20th, 2011 at 8:39 pm
Stanley Hauerwas has an excelletn new book “War and the American Difference” both in paperback and Kindle. Also in Kindle [and Nook] now, the 30th anniversary edition of Chrisian Pacifism: Fruit of the Narrow Way.
December 20th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
@Jayson Rex
You wrote: “All Muslim living in Europe and America should be moved to Islamic countries where they can live happily among their brethren.”
You sound like an extremist version of Douglas Murray (who himself is an extremist) as you both have the same thesis. But Kenan Malik set Murray straight and I want you to watch this video and enlighten yourself. Watch the video in its entirety.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaAZlv0fY_w
Many American-Muslims and European-Muslims are natural born citizens of their respective western countries and many more are naturalized citizens who are here legally. Hence, they are equal before the law as any other American or European. Your plan would not send back a Jewish-American or a Jewish-European back to Israel, nor a Hindu-American or a Hindu-European back to India so you cannot apply the law discriminately.
December 20th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
@Jayson Rex:
Fine, but only if White Christian Americans are moved to European countries where they can mingle with their own kind.
Also, we should have planes patrol over the U.S. to prevent possible nuclear attacks on the Muslim World.
December 20th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
@jason rex,
I’ve got a much better idea. Why do you and all westerners leave all non-western lands? Piss off from the Middle East in particular, and take your tin pot dictators with you.
As for me, I’ll be staying right, stealth jihad and all. I expect my jizya in 24k gold
December 21st, 2011 at 12:09 am
@jayson rex
December 21st, 2011 at 12:31 am
I am really stunned with the list.
December 21st, 2011 at 1:22 am
@Critical Dragon
Whats most interesting is that Klingshore isn’t even pro-islam(his whole channel is devoted to refuting islam) yet even he thought thunderf00t was too bigoted.
December 21st, 2011 at 3:36 am
Jayson Rex
“Recipe for Peace:
U.S. must abandon NATO that became obsolete with the implosion of Soviet Union. NATO ought to be replaced by EUAF (European Union Armed Forces).”
Fine by me
“U.S. will then have to close all its military basis in Europe and move them to Israel.”
Isnt that what happens now ?
“U.S. must begin patrolling the skys of ALL Muslim nations in order to prevent possible (and highly probable) terrorist attacks upon the Civilized World.”
Well many people believe this happens already (see Iran ) but it does not stop attacks ….by americans mostly
“Islam needs to be isolated from the rest of the world and left to its own devices that were prescribed by Muhammad the Prophet in the 7th century.”
Why ? and if you are from the USA I refer you too the first amendment,
have you actually read Mohammed writings for yourself . Its much better than second hand from loopy web sites such as Atlas druggs or Jihad botch
“All Muslim living in Europe and America should be moved to Islamic countries where they can live happily among their brethren”
Define Islamic countries ? At least 10 european countries are or have been rules by muslims .
“End of the solution” unfortunetly only the end of your very limited imagination. Open your eyes the world is out there.
December 21st, 2011 at 9:02 am
Let’s not listen to “klingschor”. He does try to refute other atheists but only because he’s an opportunist.
He happens to follow the same ideas as they in other things, like Islam not being “compatible” with democracy
December 21st, 2011 at 11:44 am
Hey LoonWatch do another article on Ron Paul attacking anit-Muslim bigotry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kNfruyVGOe0
December 21st, 2011 at 12:17 pm
@ Saladin:
As many of you know, I have been on the fence about Ron Paul. My final decision is in now…
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Ron Paul 2012.
(Note: Keep in mind that this is my personal opinion, not LoonWatch’s stance. There is a difference between a website and one particular writer on a website. I do not own the site, nor am I the admin. I am just one blogger among many.)
Even though I have huge problems with his domestic policies–such as wiping out the Department of Education (!!!)–I have realized that given the choice I’d rather have a president who would do something like that than the one we have now who is helping codify indefinite detention. Therefore, with great hesitation and mixed feelings, I will hop on the Ron Paul train.
December 21st, 2011 at 12:29 pm
DawahFilms,
You Wrote,
—————————————————————————
Let’s not listen to “klingschor”. He does try to refute other atheists but only because he’s an opportunist.
He happens to follow the same ideas as they in other things, like Islam not being “compatible” with democracy
—————————————————————————
In some cases, yes, but he’s no Robert Spencer. He is not some anti Muslim bigot. Its not even accurate to say that he thinks that Islam is inherently incompatible with democracy. Here’s his response to that assertion you made.
DawahFilms, Daniel Pipes and Democracy
http://klingschor.blogspot.com/2011/12/dawahfilms-daniel-pipes-and-democracy.html#comment-form
Now, I know you don’t like it, when people refer to you, using the name you had prior to converting to Islam, but try to get past that, for this.
December 21st, 2011 at 12:51 pm
DawahFilms,
Also, please try to get past his insulting tone towards you, and just try to look at what he has to say.
December 21st, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Adam,
You wrote,
————————————————————————-
Whats most interesting is that Klingshore isn’t even pro-islam(his whole channel is devoted to refuting islam) yet even he thought thunderf00t was too bigoted.
————————————————————————-
Actually one of the reasons why I promote Klingschor, is because he’s one of the reasons why I abandoned my own anti Muslim bigotry, and stopped fearing Muslims and believing in that stupid stealth Jihad conspiracy, and become an Anti Loon, to use the terminology of this website. I’m hoping he’ll get other people to do so. Sure he’s not perfect, or completely objective, but he’s actually a much more fair and balanced critic of Islam, than most of the ones that I have come across.
December 21st, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Critical,
He’s like that (insulting) because he has nothing substantial to say. If he was really against anti-Muslim bigotry he wouldn’t be supporting Pipes and he would back up his sources as to why Pipes is correct.
He doesn’t. And you will be rather alarmed at his inability to actually be accurate in his research when I’m done making a video about him.
December 21st, 2011 at 2:59 pm
DawahFilms,
Fine, I’ll see what you have to say about it in response.
December 21st, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Well, Im torn about Klingschore.
On one hand, he see’s thunderf00t for the hateful man he really is, along with Pat Condell.
On the other hand….WHY islam? Why is he focussed on this an nothing else?
That said, he isn’t the worst, nor is he that bad.
December 22nd, 2011 at 12:53 am
@Adam:
“WHY islam? Why is he focussed on this an nothing else?”
Because anyone talking about Islam would get a lot of attention these days. If he had discussed Christianity, it would be the usual Atheist v.s. Christian crap that everyone is used to (and sick of).
December 22nd, 2011 at 3:43 pm
2006: War on Lebanon (proxy via Israel)
2008: War on Gaza (proxy via Israel)
December 22nd, 2011 at 10:13 pm
@Danios,
The progressive movement will miss you Danios now that you’ve endorsed Ron Paul. Too bad. It could’ve used a person of intelligence and integrity such as yourself.
But don’t make up your mind too quickly Danios. I want to share something with you. Did you know that Ron Paul is a racist, a homophobe and a conspiracy theorist? You claim to hate bigotry and that’s why you write for Loonwatch so please…please reconsider your endorsement of a racist and homophobe called Ron Paul. If you don’t believe me check the evidence for yourself that he is a racist.
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/39657_Media_Suddenly_Notice_Ron_Pauls_Decades_of_Racist_Connections
and here is evidence of his homophobia and conspiracy theories,
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/39661_Ron_Paul_Raised_Money_by_Forecasting_Race_War
Ron Paul claimed 95% of black men in Washington “are semi-criminal or entirely criminal.”
If you want to vote for a third party candidate there are many to choose from. You could vote for the socialist party, the green party or other independent candidates. If Ron Paul is elected he will hurt the poor in this country.
December 23rd, 2011 at 2:37 am
“Ron Paul 2012″
Surely, there must be a better choice than a crazy, racist, Truther kook who unlikely to change America’s DNA.
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:12 am
Ron Paul?
http://news.yahoo.com/ron-paul-storms-off-cnn-set-questioning-over-061843698.html
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:32 am
” Ahmed Rehab challenged Bill O’Reilly on this point by asking him: ‘How many countries has Iran attacked in the past 50 years?’ The answer is, of course, zero.”
Yes, and that’s conservative. Other writers have said 100 years and even 200 years, and it hasn’t been easy to pin down an exact date. Is 1795 correct?
I posed the question to Professor Richard Falk, who is “an international law and international relations scholar who taught at Princeton University for forty years. Since 2002 he has lived in Santa Barbara, California, and taught at the local campus of the University of California in Global and International Studies and since 2005 chaired the Board of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.”
He kindly replied to my question on his blog:
“Dear Ilisha: I am in Montreal until the end of 2011, away from my books, but I think you have tracked the right date and occasion. Thanks for your supportive words..Richard”
I posed the question to several other experts and no one has challenged 1795, which was 216 years ago. Unless someone comes up with a credible, later date, that means Iran hasn’t attacked any other country during the entire 214 year period Danios analyzed.
December 23rd, 2011 at 11:12 am
Thank you, Ilisha. I will add that tidbit to the article!
Unless someone comes up with a credible, later date, that means Iran hasn’t attacked any other country during the entire 214 year period Danios analyzed.
Well, almost. I went back to the birth of the U.S., which was 1776.
December 23rd, 2011 at 11:47 am
Oops…you’re right. I guess I’m better at research than I am at math.
December 23rd, 2011 at 4:54 pm
@Danios Ron Paul is the only candidate wiling to stand to to the Military Industrial Complex and Wall-street
@Believing Atheist & Sir David ( Illuminati membership number 16.69)
Ron Paul has done more to support minorities than most Democrats and Republican he want to end the War on Drugs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiDd0iLSe_o
here is a video of him condemning the FBI’s surveillance of Martin Luther King watch the whole interview series
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JeNIX2x9j8
here he is on CNN explaining his stance
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:24 pm
Assume, arguendo, that Ron Paul will defeat Obama. Then do that analysis. Where does it lead?
All this talk about whether Ron Paul is a good candidate or a bad candidate is pure vanity. Those opinions are all meaningless except the one, one way or the other, that is shared by the people who vote ~ and so far, he’s winning more voters every day, and more “undecided” voters are deciding for him than are deciding against him. My opinion has no other effect than to inspire people to take a closer look at him, and the same is true of Danios’ opinion.
Personally, at this point, I expect him to win ~ not because of what I think about a Ron Paul Presidency, but because of what’s happening on the ground and what I think the real “king-makers” have planned. It’s not even about Ron Paul, it’s about herding the people this way or that, consolidating power, defeating dissent, and shaping the political future beyond Ron Paul. He’s as much of a useful tool as any other, and at the moment, more useful than most others ~ to advance a plan, or plans, formulated long ago, not to “gain the White House” ~ which is never really up for grabs and hasn’t been since the election of Alexander Hamilton.
So let’s see some speculation about the effect and fate of a Ron Paul Presidency. Will he be able to gain control of the Executive Branch of government? Will he be able to get his plans through Congress? Will the Senate confirm his federal court appointments? Will the Republican Party support him in the Oval Office?
Answer these questions and discuss the ramifications among the people and, more particularly, the overt and covert parties and interest groups at work in advancing or obstructing the agendas of others.
And then decide whether a known sell-out can defeat a candidate that has a long, established history of not selling out after he gets elected.
Ron Paul has not been able to upset any apple carts, he’s been a minority of one more often than not. He can dismiss an Attorney General and run the Justice Department with an Acting AG while the Senate stalls on confirming his appointment. There’s a lot that, as President, he could do. But there’s also a lot that he couldn’t do, that “the people” (think 99% or even 66%) would want and expect him to do.
In what direction would that herd the American people? That’s what will determine the outcome of the election, not Ron Paul.
December 26th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
A non-Muslim friend of mine thinks that the invasion of Iraq was partly justified on the grounds that we gave the Iraqis a new government. Is this true? Is Iraq better than it used to be?
December 28th, 2011 at 1:09 am
prototype of AL-CIA-DA in 1958 war
in 1958 US financed and Support Al-CIA-DA terrorist prototype in Indonesia, it was crystal clear US was behind this group since one of the CIA agent was caught, his name is Allen Lawrence Pope, later pope was put on trial and given a death sentence, but US govt Deny him as CIA agent,
after this incident President Eisenhower said, that US have nothing to do with the supply of modern US weapons and vehicles for the rebel terrorist group and The terrorist Rebel was Indonesia’s national problem only not international.