To the attention of Alain Robert, who wrote the previous comment.
Your way of talking surprises me since it suggests that you are an educated and smart person. From this on, I hardly believe that your are that ignorant in history.
So, could you tell me, please, which worthy natural resources France, Italy, Belgium, and others in the same region did justify the costly U.S. intervention in Europe in 1944?
In the aftermath, when the U.S. came to realize that these European countries proved unable to get back by their own to normalized economy and that a sizeable part of the European population (German in particular) was starving, the U.S. government put under way the Marshal Plan. A spectacular plan whose cost dearly added to the already huge losses occasioned by the previous U.S. military intervention; all this albeit there was no oil, gas, or anything else worthy to be imported to the U.S. over there.
For the record, the Federal Reserve has been literally ransacked to sustain this help which truly lasted for much more years than this was initially planned. French still vividly recall this period they nicknamed Les Trente Glorieuses (The Thirty Glorious), meaning the 30 golden years of growth following the Marshal Plan. What did the U.S. got in return?
Oil, gas? Not at all. In many instances they even were thanked with groundless anti-Americanism and jealousy.
Shall we take a look at Japan, now.
All right; they got two atomic bombs and appalling incendiary bombings. But what happened to Japan then?
Within a handful of years following 1945, the U.S. made this country the second richest power in the world. Which natural resources did the U.S. get back in return? Tell me, please?
Until the U.K. and the U.S. handled the destiny of the Arabic peninsula what kind of areas deserving the noun of country could you find there? Which Arabic economy proved capable to feed its people in this region before WWII?
Americans entrepreneurs were the first to open factories in China when this country opened its doors to the rest of the world, and some of these entrepreneurs have been sharply criticized for the cheap wages they paid to Chinese workers. Did the Chinese government ever complained about that? What kind of country China is today? What kind of natural resources the U.S. got in return? As far as I know, they never did get any such a reward.
Instead, the U.S. is best China’s customer today, and it’s not a profit at all; it’s a cost for America, Alain; as was the case for Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and for many other countries.
Do you sincerely believe that the Middle East produces oil for U.S. consumers, only? Why don’t you spare of few minutes of your time to look at statistics on oil exports in this region, this just for the sake of seeing where does go all that oil, actually? And please, give me a favor; spare a bit more of your time to see which countries are the biggest and the most ambitious oil and gas dealers nowadays.
You make allusion to colonization at some point of your comment.
Good.
Which country has been the most active at abolishing colonization throughout the world; and for which kind of natural resources in return?
I was talking about large countries; I can talk as well about the smallest areas of the world.
Take a look at the economy and rate of unemployment of an island such as Hawaii, for example; and then compare it to a similar places governed by any other country you want? You’ll be enlightened, and if by chance you do not indulge too much in self-deception you might be surprised, I promise you.
You can always look for some detailed examples of American failure, and you’ll find out some. Then, enlighten me about examples of success similar to the aforesaid ones, but made by any country other than U.S., this time. It’s hard, right? And I surmise you should find yourself in the uncomfortable obligation to resort to a somewhat farfetched argumentation to justify yourself, if ever you persisted in your way.
Sorry, Alain, I am afraid neither Fox News nor any other U.S. TV channel can “brainwash” people. For there is too big a choice about TV programs in U.S to leave any hope for such a thing to happen someday.
To brainwash people the way you suggest one needs tight state control over media, as it happens in some said-to-be free and democratic countries. In those countries I am making allusion to less or more officially state controlled TV channels broadcast everyday the same news, the same opinions, and even, quite often, the same sport competions at the same time; so much so that one can hardly escape watching it, unless one rents a DVD or invests in a dish antenna (if one is not poor and/or not unemployed, of course). In those other countries, whichever the TV channel one may choose one shall watch also the same few singers, artists, and local famous, but, in those country where things go that way, you would never find yourself able to watch a good movie certain days of the week, owing to obscure or untold reasons.
Well, after I addressed to you such a comment (my deepest apologies to Dr. Ledeen whom I shamelessly ignored) you’ll think I am a brainwashed American neo-con, presumably.
No. Not at all.
Actually, I’m French, born in France and living in France, near Troyes, in Champagne Ardennes. I lived in United States with my family during nearly 4 years; in Massachusetts to be precise, the most leftist U.S. state, reputedly.
Before I went to the United States I had heard countless bad things about this country and more especially about Americans. But I came to realize at some point that it was just too much to be true, and once in United States I did discover that it was too much to be true, indeed.
When I lived in U.S. nobody ever attempted to brainwash me and to transform me into a neo-con, quite on the contrary I should honestly say. I learned English language by my own, mostly. Just, now and then, some Americans were kind enough to help me a bit at the beginning when I was barely able to order a meal. That’s all.
I didn’t meet much rich Americans, and still less conservative Americans (perhaps because I lived in Massachusetts, I surmise).
I have seen a lot of blue collars in there, in revenge; and a great many of poor Americans too. But according to the European standards I think that those low income people where not as unhappy as some are quick to pretend, after all. Also, I noticed that few of those poor Americans were unemployed; and even I found that they enjoy much more freedom than any other poor person may expect to have in France, for example, and in any other country of the world in general.
I understand my talk may surprise (or disappoint) you; or perhaps even will you believe I’m lying. I swear I don’t, even if my choice to write under such a nickname might suggest the contrary (will you pardon me to have some reasons of my own to be that discreet).
As sole explanation of my eagerness to defend the reputation of the United States (a country in which I dearly hope I’ll return to for good, I must confess) I cannot but reach the conclusion that I possibly brainwashed myself against countless “disinterested” attempts to deterring me to do so, and without the influence of Fox News, I’m pretty sure.
Best regards to Dr. Ledeen.
