Just since the end of World War 2, the United States has: Attempted to overthrow more than 50 foreign governments, most of which were democratically-elected. Dropped bombs on the people of more than 30 countries. Attempted to assassinate more than 50 foreign leaders. Attempted to suppress a populist or nationalist movement in 20 countries. Grossly interfered in democratic elections in at least 30 countries. Though not as easy to quantify, has also led the world in torture; not only the torture performed directly by Americans upon foreigners, but providing torture equipment, torture manuals, lists
of people to be tortured, and in-person guidance by American instructors. Where does the United States get the nerve to moralize about Russia? (15) Here is the list of United States overthrowing, or attempting to overthrow a foreign government since the Second World War: ( ... indicates success.) ouster of a government) China 1949 to early 1960s Albania 1949-53 East Germany 1950s, Iran 1953 ... Guatemala 1954 ... Costa Rica mid-1950s Syria 1956-7 Egypt 1957 Indonesia 1957-8 British Guiana 1953-64 ... Iraq 1963 ... North Vietnam 1945-73 Cambodia 1955-70 ... Laos 1958 ..., 1959 ..., 1960 ... Ecuador 1960-63 ... Congo 1960 ... France 1965 Brazil 1962-64 ...Dominican Republic 1963 ... Cuba 1959 to present Bolivia 1964 ... Indonesia 1965 ... Ghana 1966 ... Chile 1964-73 ... Greece 1967 ... Costa Rica 1970-71 Bolivia 1971 ... Australia 1973-75 ... Angola 1975, 1980s Zaire 1975 Portugal 1974-76 ... Jamaica 1976-80 ... Seychelles 1979-81 Chad 1981-82 ... Grenada 1983 ... South Yemen 1982-84 Suriname 1982-84 Fiji 1987 ... Libya 1980s Nicaragua 1981-90 ... Panama 1989 ... Bulgaria 1990 ... Albania 1991 ... Iraq 1991 Afghanistan 1980s ... Somalia 1993 Yugoslavia 1999-2000 ... Ecuador 2000 ...Afghanistan 2001 ... Venezuela 2002 ... Iraq 2003 ... Haiti 2004 ... Somalia 2007 to present Honduras 2009 Libya 2011 ... Syria 2012 Ukraine 2014 ...
Russia, in contrast, has no School of the Americas and only 16 military bases abroad in 10 countries, most in former Soviet republics. There are about 50,000 military personnel in six countries. I could not find the numbers in the other four countries. Armenia's 102nd military base and 3624th airbase have between 3,214-5,000 personnel, Belarus hosts a radar and communication center, and the 61st fighter airbase, 1,500 personnel Georgia 2 bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, 8,000 personnel Kazakhstan radar station, anti-ballistic missile testing range and a space launch facility, unknown number of personnel Kyrgyzstan Kant air base & 338th naval communication center with torpedo testing range, unknown number of personnel Moldova facility in Transnistria separatist region with 1,500 peacekeepers Syria naval facility in Tartus and Khmeimin air base, unknown number of personnel Tajikistan 201st military base with 7,500 personnel Ukraine Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol Crimea with 26,000 military personnel Vietnam naval resupply facility at Cam Ranh Base, unknown personnel
China only has one other overseas port base and that is a commercial one at Hambontota in Sri Lanka. Two others are in construction in Myanmar and Pakistan. None of them have military missions per se. Djibouti, for instance, is at the Horn of Africa where there have been a lot of pirate raids, because much of the world's shipping passes by.
By contrast again, the U.S. has 4000 military personnel at Lemonnier, in Djibouti, its largest permanent base on the continent where it plans bases and military personnel in each nation. China is developing military installations on a few islands close to its land. They are to be mainly unsinkable aircraft carriers, an answer to the "pivot to Asia" challenge introduced by Barak Obama. China has one of four underway, a 10,000-tonne destroyer. U.S. has several ships encircling China.
One cannot conclude that by China and Russia becoming more potent than the United States that our problems of war and violence will end. But it might just curb the insatiable US American desire for constant warring. If it does not, then key sectors of the populations of the U.S. and Europe will have to rise up and crush the war machine!
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
3
3
2
