America's Role in Global Crises
From climate change to genocide, issues are only increasing in much of the world. While many of these are complex and have many contributing factors, a common trend is found in many of them: U.S. involvement. The U.S. is a dominant force in much of the world across various sectors. For example, one of the country's greatest achievements and a source of much pride is its military power. Currently the United States has over 750 military bases across 80 different countries. This influence and presence triggers many outcomes. The power the U.S. has is vast and with this power comes responsibility and it is beyond time for the U.S. to take responsibility for much of the world’s problems.
Constantly asserting its role as the world’s superpower, one of the United State’s greatest powers seems to be destruction, both foreign and domestic, yet it likens itself to a country that represents peace, freedom, and democracy. These values have been used as a reason to get involved in other countries. From Libya to Cuba, from Afghanistan to Cambodia, America has utilized those buzzwords to justify its presence, and ultimately, its destruction in countries around the world. Today is no different.
The crisis in Haiti is one that has been going on for quite some time. At first glance, it looks like an island that has issues with gangs and a lack of rule of law. When you delve into the complexities of the situation it unveils America’s long-term presence on the island. At one point, Haiti was occupied by U.S. forces after the president was assassinated in 1915. The American military occupied the country for almost 20 years. March of this year marked 20 years since the U.S. is said to have committed a coup d’etat in the island after sending the elected president to the Central African Republic. Many cite this as the beginning of the fall of democracy in Haiti, due to the fact that no elected officials are currently in office today. The U.S. government officially denies committing the coup, but it is hardly a coincidence that the president suddenly ends up on a different continent after refusing to comply with many American demands, more specifically, demanding a raise in pay for Haitian workers who were making American clothes. The lack of democracy today is not because Haiti is a failed democratic state; it is because Haiti has not been allowed to practice its democracy without action from the U.S. With these struggles come instability and violence. Women and girls have been the victims of kidnappings and rampant sexual violence. The island will not recover until America ceases to treat it like a colony for them to control.
The genocide in Gaza and other parts of the Occupied Territories in Palestine falls directly on the U.S. government. Israel relies heavily on money provided by the American government, more specifically, American taxpayers. Even with almost 40,000 people killed, almost 80,000 injured, thousands missings, collapse of educational and medical systems, famine, torture, targeted assassinations of journalists and aid workers, lack of menstrual products, medication, and so much more, the flow of money continues. Israel has been given a blank check to do whatever they wish. Even with U.S. President Biden ‘warning’ Israel to protect civilians, actual action is hardly taken against the Israeli government. U.S. officials have repeatedly undermined the terror Israel has enacted, maintaining their stance that they have a right to self-defense. Recently top government officials stated that there is no evidence of genocide. So long as money and weapons flow to Israel any type of condemnation is not enough. The United States is not simply complicit in the ongoing genocide in Palestine - they are committing the genocide.
The terror in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been going on for decades. Much of the destabilization comes from foreign entities hoping to have their hands on the rich minerals found in the country. It was the site of a proxy war between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, in which both countries opposed the ruling parties. Today, a similar trend emerges. The DRC produces around 70% of the world's cobalt. Congolese people live in one of the most resource-rich countries in the world, and yet 60% of people live on less than $2.15 a day. The exploitation of the DRC has resulted in thousands having to flee due to violence from armed groups, with women and girls facing a heightened risk of sexual violence. The U.S. government is working to promote peace, but is it peace just for the sake of the Congolese people? Not quite. Escalating violence in the country would make it more difficult for the U.S. to turn the country away from China. China currently has a large presence in the DRC, and America wants to not only challenge that presence, but have more access to the minerals found in the region. America is working tirelessly to enact more routes out of the DRC to increase export of the minerals. The U.S. does not have peace on its mind for Congo, it only wants more of its resources.
The three countries highlighted in this statement barely scratch the surface of America’s role in global conflicts, yet what they illustrate is just how far American influence goes. From the Caribbean to southwest Asia to central Africa, the U.S. knows no limits in getting involved in foreign matters. Peace and democracy tend to be the go-to reasoning for getting involved, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. What is shown is the desire for power, money, and influence which has triggered instability, war, conflict, gender-based violence, and so much more. It is time for the U.S. to back away from other countries and work to address the issues within. If they want to promote peace, then they can do so in a way that directly puts peace above influence. They can stop providing money and arms to Israel. They can stop mining in DRC and promote ethical channels. They can pay Haiti what they’re due so it can rebuild. We call on an end to all U.S. imperialism. Liberation for all.
Additional resources:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker
https://apnews.com/article/biden-netanyahu-3591fb5f82b22cf8e5d1060fccaef115
