Questions:
Is there some criteria that we should use before getting involved?
(if we assumed it really wasn't all about the oil and the top of the pyramid) One argument that I have heard is that if the U.S. doesn't do it then no one will...
or along the same lines- U.S. are the only ones with the ability..
I tend to use WW2 as a standard. (once again if we assume our goals were noble) We saw a threat that for SOME reason we decided was Evil and had to be stopped.. It spread in both directions and I am personally inclined to believe that the cause was just and valid.. though I assume that if I really knew all of the details I may think differently..
Vietnam and Korea... were people on board with these wars at the time? I wasn't there. I know there was so much hype about Communism.. so I'm guessing it was either in a similar state as the contemporary political view of Islamic Terrorism...
(at least for those needing political spin) So: What do we think happens if these guys indeed are left unchecked? Do you think there is a chance that they will actually succeed in creating a super-Islamist caliphate?
If that happened.. would you suggest that we make Peace with that state?
I guess that would also lead to.. what would have happened if Germany just left the Soviets alone and totally took over Europe. What would have happened to the world? I suppose the rest of the world would have to just call the a New Nation: United States of the Third Reich and made peace with it?
It seems that comparing the past wars and the US's reasoning for going to war or committing troops is folly anyway since public perspective sways so differently with each passing generation.. however, I do NOT think that the greed and corruption and the need to keep it secret has changed one bit...
The only logical step to all of this is a global police force..
can't trust it to any one nation.. so we'll just put the richest most powerful people in charge of it. We could continue leaving it to all the private contractors.. but
people respect consistency.