Are Americans war-weary?
- By Zhao Jinglun
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 21, 2014
Americans are finally becoming sick and tired of foreign intervention and wars because they are ruinous -- they throw the government deeply into debt; public services have shrunk, incomes have stagnated, opportunities are disappearing, and the economic future is looking increasingly dim. So the people's tolerance for foreign adventures is reaching its limits.
The American people may be war-weary, but Washington is not. The American governing class is still willing to use force anywhere, any time and at its own discretion in order to maintain their power as the world's hegemon.
The Obama administration has toughened its stand on island disputes between China on the one hand and Japan and the Philippines on the other, in spite of the fact that Washington and Beijing have agreed to establish a new type of big power relationship.
It is mulling over the possibility of training the Syrian rebels even though they are clearly dominated by al-Qaeda and like minded jihadists.
In its standoff with Russia over Ukraine, it has sent a second Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer the USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) into the Black Sea, and twelve F-16 fighter planes to Poland. It has also sent John Brennan, the CIA chief to Kiev, surely not just to have tea with the interim leaders there.
Even though the Obama administration may be wary about committing boots on the ground, it has stepped up its drone war and special forces operations.
The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/zhaojinglun.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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