so just what do you think our place in the world is? are we white hats or black? are we really trying to make the world a better place or are we just playing god for our own ends? step away from the propaganda machines, all of them, for a moment. look at history dispassionately and logically. observe human nature and its role in our societal evolution. recognize that difference, no matter how radical, is not necessarily evil. that evil is, in fact, just a convenient excuse for slaughter, more often than not.
Countries that were once part of USSR. As has been brought up a few times. Have you read any posts in this thread?
OK I thought you may have been promoting an isolationist stance. I agree we needed to get involved in WW1/2. And yes, we did start then becoming the aggressor in the world and invaded countries for unknown reasons.
How many NATO countries were forced to join by war? Or coerced against their will? Are you suggesting it's ok for Putin to wage wars to get those countries back?
I agree the world is not black and white. For that same reason, you have to take each conflict as a unique case. Vietnam may have been an inappropriate, even criminal, use of American force. Same for Iraq. But Ukraine is really not the same. Russia invading Ukraine is a return of imperialism which was always cruel and immoral. I know I'm kind of waving my hands and oversimplifying it here, but you really should acknowledge that the specific facts of the situation need to be considered. This is more like fighting Hitler for taking over countries than fighting Saddam for... having weapons. Sort of ironically it turned out Hitler actually declared war on us, but still that was a war worth fighting.