Apparently We Waded Into Quite A Few Wars Under The Pretence Of "dictators Bringing Hell To Their People" And So "we're The World Police" Caper

[Quangoid]

If that was the case then could someone please explain to me why we haven't invaded North Korea or Iran?

This is not a rhetorical question, i would genuinely love to know thge answer.

[Old_Geezer]

The idea is to apply pressure for change for what will hopefully prove the better where we can, not rush into every mire up to our nostrils at any opportunity.

[ichkeria]

I can't think of any examples of us invading a country just because of "dictators Bringing Hell To Their People"
The nearest I can think of is Libya, and that wasn't an invasion.
Sierra Leone was a succcessful operation in the early years of the first Blair govt, but that was to defeat rebels.
Invading N Korea or Iran, or Syria etc would be very stupid.
And before you mention Iraq, that wasn't done for reasons of altruism, but because rightly or wrongly their dictator was seen as a threat to regional stability. And he was a relatively easy target.

[Jackdaw33]

Why haven't we invaded North Korea? China.

[ToraToraTora]

No need, no point in risking a single life for it. What the west is doing is correct, watch and monitor and if ding dong ping even looks the wrong way, flatten it. A couple of US warships could hit every target worth more than a pint of beer in about an hour.

[ToraToraTora]

JD, the tiddlies may once have been an ally but really NK is now an embarrassment that they'd like to ignore I'd imagine.

[Peter Pedant]

oh god what crap

we havent been a world policeman since at least 1914
probably 1850

so why havent we invaded North Korea
or gassed Paris
or nuked Mars and Venus
why hasnt the queen taken two husbands

so many questions and so little time .....

[Quangoid]

Personally i wait until the weekends before getting drunk.

[Quangoid]

and abusive

[agchristie]

I think the Government has enough on its plate....

[Jackdaw33]

"The Tiddlies". LOL! You don't half come out with some purlers at times.

[Quangoid]

That didn't stop blair

[andy-hughes]

Some of our foreign policy is simply national arrogance - the unshakeable belief that democracy is the only form of government any country should have, and we force it on them by military means.

Some is economically based - the government feels it will gain financial advantage by supporting this or that regime, or alternately destroying this or that regime.

And some of it is politicians wanting to carve their place in history.

In the Middle Ages, if you wanted your name to live on, you financed a cathedral. The modern equivalent is a Millennium Dome, or HS2, or war, if you can get one going.

The common thread that runs through all these scenarios is the effect of power on an arrogant mind - history shows it has always been the same.

[ToraToraTora]

So, Andy, you are a supporter of ping pong pang then? (sorry couldn't resist a "so")

[andy-hughes]

TTT - Your use of the prefix 'So' - is entirely appropriate - you have referred to something that is not in my original post, and I have to confess that on this occasion, I have no idea what you are talking about.

If you would care to explain, I will be happy to responds.

[ToraToraTora]

apolugies, TIC, I was trying to demonstrate the AH "so" rule, I guess I got it wrong!

[andy-hughes]

TTT - // apolugies, TIC, I was trying to demonstrate the AH "so" rule, I guess I got it wrong! //

No - as advised, your application of the 'So' rule was perfect in every detail.

[Old_Geezer]

When you see how other forms of government work, usually by ignoring the needs of the masses, then it becomes clear that democracy is the only reasonable form of government for a society that believes everyone should count. Naturally not all societies are advanced enough to realise that; but it is a good thing that, where an area is failing to govern well and the people are suffering as a result, encouragement to civilise is given. It is just a pity that we have yet to see proper democracy anywhere; but until tech solves the issues associated with large national populations, there has to be compromise.

[andy-hughes]

Old_Geezer - you make an excellent point, and seen from the perspective of someone who enjoys the benefits of democracy, it's difficult to argue.

But if you only know a twelfth-century feudal system, then the imposition of an unknown rule by military force must represent a terrifying invasion of everything you know and understand.

It's not the bringing of democracy to the world that I have trouble with, it's the forceful military invasion used to do it that is entirely wrong.

[Old_Geezer]

Fair enough; but I suspect it gets introduced, where it gets introduced, by revolution rather than evolution. The elites don't give up power voluntarily that often. But maybe it is all down to knowing how to win the peace.

[Garaman]

I am beginning to lose faith in democracy.