Student has differing view on America's role

When looking at the exercise of American power abroad throughout the course of the last century, an important trait of our country's exploits always stands out. Every time we stand up to an enemy, we do so in order to promote goodness in the world. Though most of us take this concept as a given, it is absolutely crucial to remember America's special moral role in the world as a beacon of freedom and democracy.

In reference to the column by Zak Salih in the Jan. 24 issue of The Breeze, there are some matters on the subject of moral precept that I would like to address. Although Salih made some excellent points about film portrayal of American military power, there are points pertaining to America's role in the world with which I disagree.

For example, I am confused by Salih's implication that a person cannot morally differentiate between the radical Islamic fundamentalists and America. Salih points out that while we condemn these terrorists as evil, they burn effigies of our leaders and claim that we invaded their holy lands. Presumably, this is a reference to our long-standing military presence in Saudi Arabia and also to our attack on Afghanistan. In the case of Afghanistan, our incursion into that country was executed in order to prevent any future calamities resembling the fall of the Twin Towers.

Osama bin Laden might try to label the United States as an aggressor by pointing to our military presence in Saudi Arabia, but why did we go there in the first place? We went there to defend the Saudis against the aggression of Saddam Hussein. We and the Saudis had a common interest in wishing to check Hussein's threat to international security and harmony. Hussein, after all, ignited the entire crisis by attempting to annex Kuwait. He persecuted millions of people in Kuwait, threatened other Arab nations and could have produced a global economic crisis by illegally seizing Kuwait's oil supplies.

Needless to say, I think we Americans were totally justified in our actions against these dangers given the harm that was done or could have been done.
Salih goes on to say, "Surely the Somalis involved in the events of 'Black Hawk Down' or the Nazis in 'Saving Private Ryan' had families, personalities and reasons for picking up weapons and joining the riot/war/cause." Well, yes, all political players on the world stage have some kind goal they wish to achieve. Let us consider what the goals of the Nazis were during World War II. Their goals included conquering all of Europe, spreading totalitarianism, exterminating Jews and other minorities and creating a society governed exclusively by Aryans — hardly legitimate or noble reasons for going to war.

What were the objectives of the Somali warlords and bandits whom we fought in 1993? Basically, they wished to prolong a bloody civil war among the Somali tribes to gain as much power as they could while their own people starved to death from famine. If it were not for our humanitarian intervention, many more would have died.

Salih says, "To describe the Somalis in 'Black Hawk Down' as brutal and base villains is to be ignorant of the fact that they, like us, are human beings directed by personal and political motives." However, while Americans gave food to the hungry people in Somalia, the tribal leaders neglected them and prolonged their suffering. Personally, I don't feel very comfortable with the idea that I am morally equivalent to a Somali warlord, and I doubt many other people are comfortable with the notion either.

As for "personal and political motives," let us examine some of the most prominent ones in history. Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Japan and the Communist Soviet Union all attempted to force a cruel brand of totalitarianism on people all around the world. America, on the other hand, consistently has supported the cause of freedom, justice and benevolence for all people. Granted, we have at times been forced to align ourselves with unsavory dictators in order to stop our enemies, but never out of the malevolent will to actually deny people their basic human rights. In fact, our influence on such dictatorships has helped to turn some of them onto the road to democracy. Such cases include El Salvador in 1984 and the Philippines in 1986.

As Americans, we should remember that our nation strives to promote the best in human nature. We believe that ordinary people have the right to live in a society where they may freely choose their way of life in a peaceful, bloodless manner. No, we are not perfect, and yes, we do make mistakes. However, what we truly want is a world where people do not suffer and are afforded basic liberties granted to all people by nature. By clinging to the belief that America is a force for goodness in the world, we can more easily see what must be done to shape a happier future for all people around the globe.

Jonathan Kelly is a freshman political science major.