THE
BLOODIEST AND COSTLIEST CENTURY FOR WAR IN HUMAN HISTORY!
(The
Phrontistery, The History Guy.com, Zoltan Grossman, Frazer Chronicle)
My
wife has repeatedly ask me to blog about some of the lighthearted issues of the
day, my sister and niece have both asked me to write with the comic flair, even
my dog, Missy, gave me an ugly snarl whenever I talked with my wife about the
content of some of my blogs. I hate to say this, but my stark, analytical
approach to some current history might even have attributed to her, (Missy’s)
death.
But
I just can’t seem to help myself, there’s so much crap out there that people
need to realize, understand and ponder, that I feel it is my duty to report the
little tidbits that aren’t much in the main-stream news. You know the Chronicle saying, all the news that nobody else will print.
I’m
69 years old, since my birth date, November 16, 1943, how many U.S. military led
interventions, conflicts and outright wars has there been? I know I feel like a
war baby, and I’d say as much, but I don’t think it would fit….. my Dad was
Catholic, a Frenchman and simply adored women…..and loved my Mother…..so you do
the math, They were married in 1940, lost a child before me, and many people
would say that they should have stopped whatever it was they were doing
directly after my birth…..but they didn’t as proven by the addition of my three
sisters.
Just
during my time here on earth, there has been…..are you ready for this, 69, thanks to the powers that
be, those heady guys within our country who decide such things, have given me a
birthday give for each year of my life. Thanks fellas, it’s a gift that keeps
on giving year after fricken year.
But
this blog isn’t about just me, oh no-sir-e, although I feel honored and
fortunate to have received 69 wars, conflicts and military interventions for
each of my years, there still are 31 years left in the 20th century
to list…..so let’s get at it.
There
were an additional 42 confrontations by the United States military that
involved the use of firearms, planes, bombs and troops. Included in this number
were 10 confrontations involving states in America with regards to worker
unrest and political concerns by Native Americans. And of course we all know
what happened on September 11, 2001…..that grim military activity continues,
and will for the foreseeable future.
I
know that virtually every politician wants to leave a legacy; it’s talked about more today than at any time that I
can remember. Me and my legacy, I just hope that my creditors won’t know where
my final resting place will be, cause if they do, I know of several
unscrupulous finance departments who will dig up my old bones to check for any
valuables.
It’s
kind of funny, not in a ha ha way, but bizarre that there aren’t people still
living that have accumulated as many birthdays as the United States has invaded
cities, states, countries or territories over the past century and thirteen
years.
The
information that I used to research this blog does not include mobilization of
the National Guard, reinforcement of embassy personnel, the war on drugs in the
U.S. or abroad, covert activity, small hostage rescue military units, use of
proxy troops, and military or police training and advisory programs not
involving direct combat.
Throughout
the military history of the 20th century, the U.S. invaded several
countries repeatedly, apparently taking more time to get the objective right.
Nicaragua has been invaded by detachments of the United States four times, and
six times in you go back to 1898, the last invasion was in 1981, but that
invasion lasted the entire decade of the 80’s, C.I.A. activity, arms for guns,
Iran, President Regan and Oliver North…..all very hush, hush stuff.
Panama
was another favorite spot for military invasions, and why not, the country is a
beautiful vacation spot. The first American military action in Panama was an
example of early nation building by the U.S. Panama broke off from Colombia in
1903, and the move by the Americans annexed the Panama Canal Zone…..which
opened indecently in 1914.
Panama
seemed to be the Pacific area that was the hottest of areas for the United
States to police during the 20th century. There was U.S. military
activity in the Republic of Panama no less than eight times, and again I say why not, with an average daily
of 92.4 degrees, and lows in the 60’s or 70’s, what’s the big deal if you gotta
duck and dodge a few bullets…..surfs up at 4:00 P.M. and all hostility was
called off to the next morning at 8:00 A.M.
The
invasion schedule went like this, and of course was all about money, the Panama
Canal, and how much of it…..money
was going to be saved by American shippers. First in 1901-1914, to establish
the canal, then in 1908, additional troops were required to ensure the proper
elected officials were put into office.
Again
during the formative years of Panama, 1912, troops were again necessary during
a heated election period when America’s favorites were in jeopardy of losing
their seats. 1918-1920, battle hardened Marines landed to carry out police duty during unrest during
and after elections.
In
1925 American Marines suppress a general work stoppage by striking laborers,
and then after more than 33 years, military forces were again dispatched to the
Panama zone in 1958 when flag protests erupt into armed confrontation. Then in
1964 troops are again occupying parts of the republic to quell violence.
And
finally in 1989, troops, bombings, Nationalist government ousted by 27,000
soldiers, leaders are arrested, and more than 2500 are killed in most violent
activity during entire history of U.S. occupation and military intervention.
Somebody may have learned lesson, because for the past 24 years U.S. has stayed
out of the beautiful vacationland of that area.
Panama
has become a favorite mecca for retirement in
the world, with an average GDP per capita of $11,700, is it any wonder.
The Panama City airport, Tocumen International, is the largest and busiest in
Central America, offering daily flights to major international destinations,
all proving that American military diligence does pay off, even if it takes a
hundred years.
CENTRAL
AMERICA-MIDDLE EAST FAVORITE SPOTS FOR MILITARY ACTIVITY
If
there is a pattern of military action by the United States…..and there is, self
interest would be the paramount jumping off point. Of the 111 military events
during the 20th century, 42 were centered around the Central America
area the first in the 1890’s, and the last in Panama in 1989. The majority of
this activity occurred during the first three decades of the 20th
century.
After
stabilizing the central portions of the America’s that United States officials,
military leaders and industrialists felt was necessary, and after many of these
people died off, a new target was established, and of course new natural recourses
were involved…..petroleum was the new jewel that would be plucked from the tree
of the world’s natural resource orchard.
Between
1946, when the United States first intervened in Iran, telling Soviet troops to
leave the northern part of the country because of a perceived nuclear threat, and
2013, in Afghanistan, where the United States has been at war against
terrorists coming up on 12 years, the United States has attempted to install
governments that will align themselves with America’s interests.
Contrary
to historical thinking, the war in the Middle East did not start with the
airplane bombings on September 11, 2001, no-sir-e, things were set in motion
long before that horrible morning attack, it’s almost as if the powers-that-be
knew all along which places to target, and I suppose some people would call the
sight of these people, far sighted, I
personally would rather point out the fact that more than a million lives have
been lost, and the United States is close to bankruptcy.
NATION
BUILDING, IMPERIALISM, AND MONARCY
Does
anybody understand how long oppression of people has been going on…..well I can
tell you, since man was spit here on this orb that we call home. I remember
President George W. Bush saying in one of his speeches that “the United States
was not interested in nation building.” Huh…..wait a minute, then why did we
invade Afghanistan, and more to the point, why are we still there.
Everybody
knows why we invaded Afghanistan, even I’m pretty sure that Osama bin Laden orchestrated
the September 11th nobody pointed a finger and said that the United
States shouldn’t have brought military reaction to the September 11th
attack.
But
not so many people were convinced that Iraq should have been attacked, even if
you believe the flimsy reasons for the action. It was pretty evident to any
thinking person that didn’t have their head squarely planted up their butts, or
in some other dark corner.
It
seems to me that the Bush administration, or was it the Cheney administration…..you
know, I couldn’t really figure out which of those bozos was in charge, one day
Bush would be following Cheney so close you couldn’t tell where Bush stopped
and Cheney started, and the next day it would be vice-versa…..funny how government
works.
Clearly
Bush was nation building with Iraq as well as Afghanistan, Iraq became too
costly, and there was an almost complete change in administrations. However the
new administration, Obama took up many of the same ideas that were already in
place.
I
am sick and tired of our elected officials being treated as royalty, and you
can’t tell me that it goes to their heads. Elected officials like the feel of
power, a little nation building here, a little imperialism there, and a dash of
monarchy to complete the effort…..ah yes, there we have it.
No
even though the 20th century was the bloodiest and costliest, the 21st
century has a rousing start to meet and beat the war mongering century that we
just put to bed. Thank God, I’m my age, and won’t have to watch another episode
of man’s inhumanity towards man, and don’t try fooling me with the rhetoric
that’s coming out of Washington…..cause I ain’t having any of it.
HAVE
A NICE DAY!
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