Policing the World: Right or Wrong Track?
The US currently spends more on its military than the next top 14 spenders combined.
Some people claim the US cannot sustain being the world’s police force in the long run as the process is not only costly but also harming the US economic interests all over the globe.
Others claim the US is not really being the world’s police force but that all what it’s doing is promoting and defending its interests around the world—sometimes rightly, sometimes wrongly depending on one’s point of view.
Though we can talk hours about the subject matter, I would like to make it short and sweet and hear your respective opinions in this regard.
So what would happen if the US were to suddenly go away?
Well, for starters, I believe Russia and China would immediately fill in and assume complete dominance over their regions of the world.
- Russia would effectively re-absorb its former empire and would make things very difficult for Turkey and Eastern Europe especially Germany, Poland and Finland.
- China would exert its control over Southeast Asia and East Asia. Our friends Korea, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia and Australia would immediately feel very uncomfortable in their given situations.
- Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Israel would immediately go to war. And before blaming that situation on the US, cool your jets. Everybody on earth depends on stability in the region. The US has pressured Israel to remain outside of two Iraqi wars, and to end its hostilities in its most recent war with its neighbors. Saudi Arabia and Iran absolutely hate each other and without the US there to stop them, there’s zero doubt that a hot war would brew very quickly.
- The seas are currently patrolled by the US + UK/Australia. Without this powerful maritime front, most of the treaties and enforcement on earth would fall apart.
The trope that “the US starts civil wars/ without the US civil wars would stop” is utter bunk and not supported by facts. Powerful nations meddle in the affairs of less powerful nations. Civil wars will continue happening, even without the US. While the US has a very sad record — one I’m ashamed of — its absolute dominance has overseen the last 25 years of general progression towards increasing freedom around the world.
In Syria, the US is being simultaneously pressured to interfere and to stay out. The “stay out crowd” consists of Russia and Iran who are already fighting a proxy war there. The “get in crowd” consists of Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia and a good portion of Europe. Syria’s civil war wasn’t started by the US, but guess how quickly it ends the moment the US throws itself into the ring.
In 30 years, when China matches the US in supremacy, I wonder if all the voices denouncing American hegemony will have a different pitch when Chinese autocrats effectively dictate policy in their region and destabilize regions around the world to their benefit. History has shown that when there are multiple hegemonies, things usually get ugly.
Share your thoughts….
