Thesis: The role of U.S. military has become the primary force which opposes terrorism by capturing and/or eliminating terrorists as is exemplified by two raids that were conducted in Tripoli and Somali (Starr, Perez, & Botelho, 2013). These two instances also illustrate how the United States views itself as the one who should decide what to do with terrorists once they are captured as they took the terrorists without discussing it with the Libyan government giving the rest of the world the impression that the US believes they are superior.
Two International Incidents
The capture of Abu Anas al Libi in Tripoli (2013): US Delta Force waited for him at his home with his wife while Abu was out completing his early morning prayer because they allege that he was involved in the bombings of two US embassies which were based in Africa in 1998 (Starr, Perez, & Botelho, 2013).
The capture of Ikrima in Somalia (2013): Navy Seals targeted him because he was a commander of the terrorist group Al-Shabaab and was believed to have been a part of the bombing of an embassy in Nairobi back in 1998 (Starr, Perez, & Botelho, 2013).
New World Order: this policy was developed after the conclusion of the Cold War when the US suddenly found itself as the only superpower left to deal with that which threatened the safety and stability of the world including the threat of terrorism (DeLorenzo, 2000).
Aspects that have led to the US’s rise as a world super power policeman
US decide to help the Cuban resistance fight Spain in 1898 thus changing their stance from liberal nationalism where they only focused on their own problems to one that included other nations as the US became a colonial power (Historian, 2016).
Revising the Monroe Doctrine in 1904 by President Roosevelt so that the US could intervene in Latin America because they were afraid the European countries would obtain political influence over the US (Historian, 2016).
Placing embassies overseas (US Historian, 2016).
International Incidents Since WWII
Vietnam War (1961-1973): US went from being just an advising role to an active one where they would conduct covert options and deploy troop (PBS, 2014).
Beirut (1982-1984): The deployments of US troops to Lebanon to deal with what had resulted from the Israeli invasion (PBS, 2014).
Persian Gulf War (1990-1991): President Bush deploys a large coalition of US troops to try to make Iraq leave Kuwait (PBS, 2014).
Invasion of Haiti (September 19, 1994): President Clinton sends US troops to Haiti to reinstate former President Aristide in order to divert a wave of Haitian refugees (PBS, 2014).
Driving Forces
The fear of communism spreading
The fear of terrorism spreading
Wanting to eliminate threats to the US
Diverting refugees from entering the US for economic reasons supposedly
References
1898: The Birth of a Superpower - Short History - Department History - Office of the Historian. (2016). Retrieved August 19, 2016, from https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/superpower
A Chronology of U.S. Military Interventions. (2014). Retrieved August 19, 2016, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/military/etc/cron.html
DeLorenzo, J. (2000). [Regents Prep U.S. History] Foreign Policy: Introduction. Retrieved August 19, 2016, from http://www.regentsprep.org/regents/ushisgov/themes/foreignpolicy/index.htm
New Policies for Latin America, Asia - Short History - Department History - Office of the Historian. (2016). Retrieved August 19, 2016, from https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/newpolicies
Starr, B., Perez, E., & Botelho, G. (2013, October 06). U.S. forces raid targets in Libya, Somalia, capture al Qaeda operative. Retrieved August 19, 2016, from http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/06/world/africa/us-forces-africa-terrorist-raids/
The Practice of Diplomacy - Short History - Department History - Office of the Historian. (2016). Retrieved August 19, 2016, from https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/practice
