Going in simply to 'help out' generally leads to being mired in unpleasant situations, as in Vietnam, Somalia, and the Balkans.

Not going in at all... well, sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't. It depends on how much power the miscreants wield, and how much sway they have over the hearts and minds of their people. And what they're doing.

Now personally, I believe that engaging in a policy such as "ethnic cleansing" requires a general and complete annihilation of the "cleansers'" policymakers, as it did with the Nazi's in WWII. The problem in the Balkans is that ethnic hatred runs so deep that it would be hard to get the populace's support of someone who DOESN'T agree with it.

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"Nobody knows this, but I'm scared all the time... of what I might do, if I ever let go." -- Michael Garibaldi

Concur! And, that is why even a temporary annexation would inevitably lead to trouble. Someone would disagree and take matters into their own (often extremely violent) hands. Remember, the USA's involvement in Vietnam was supposed to be temporary, at least until the South Vietnamese government and armed forces were strong enough to defend themselves and police their own country - didn't happen. Temporary solutions have a way of mutating into permanent or long term problems. It may sound cold and heartless, but the people on the spot have to solve their own problems. Solutions canonly come from within, not from without. The USA should promote peace, yes, but we cannot be the world's policeman.

By the way, the food in my new house's 'frig really sucks! Whoever owned it before I "temporarily" annexed it really needs to hit the grocery store and feed me right! (Smile)

quote:

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The problem in the Balkans is that ethnic hatred runs so deep that it would be hard to get the populace's support of someone who DOESN'T agree with it

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As true as that might be, and has been since civilization arose in that area, the world is changing faster and faster around them. The people who populate these countries are slowing having a change of heart themselves. More and more people are trying to escape the countries, as there are becoming less and less faithfuls to the traditional factions.

But most importantly, the impressionable youth that feed the ethnic hatred are now being exposed to two ideas, one western pacifist and their traditional. The former is slowly gaining more support.

So thus there will be a time, not necessarily soon, when peace will become a reality.

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-Small Computer Systems Interface "Scuzzy" Emperor

Operator of the Goulag Hotel, maintainer of the workhouses.

Operator of Cargill Conglomerate Publications, http://www.cargillconglomerate.com

"Woman is deprived of rights from lack of education, and the lack of education results from the absence of rights. We must not forget that the subjection of women is so complete, and dates from such distant ages, that we are often unwilling to recognize the gulf that separates them from us."