"the U.S. has the ability to help give people self-determination and free them from oppression"
I don't get this. Self-determination, as I understand it, is a country's ability to operate free from outside influences. If the US frees people from oppression, assuming the oppression is domestic as is usually the case, it is not respecting their sovereignty. Likewise, if the US respects a country's sovereignty, respecting their self-determination, it should work with its recognized government.
I don't see that the US can provide both. Either we interfere and promote our values or we don't try to force our values on others. There are of course those who will criticize the US either way, they are referred to as the peanut gallery.
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Date: 7/2/11 11:29 (UTC)I don't get this. Self-determination, as I understand it, is a country's ability to operate free from outside influences. If the US frees people from oppression, assuming the oppression is domestic as is usually the case, it is not respecting their sovereignty. Likewise, if the US respects a country's sovereignty, respecting their self-determination, it should work with its recognized government.
I don't see that the US can provide both. Either we interfere and promote our values or we don't try to force our values on others. There are of course those who will criticize the US either way, they are referred to as the peanut gallery.