After the world war period, the United States America became the super power making it a key player in the international relations and the world police. This paper seeks to establish some incidences that have occurred portraying America as the world police and the impacts it has made in such regions/incidences.
Prior to 2003, Iraq was perceived by both United States of America and United Kingdom to be in possession of weapons of mass destruction. Due to the threat these weapons had on international scale, America and U.K had to act to stop the manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction. The period between 2003 and 2011 saw America sent its military troops to Iraq. In 2009 president Barack Obama announced the withdrawal of the US military from Iraq by the end of 2011. This was after a lengthy disarmament and civil war.
On 19th March, 2011, a multistate coalition began military intervention in Libya with the aim to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution of 1973. Libya had got into a civil war that was escalating and leading to numerous fatalities. America and British began the operation by firing missiles and imposed a no-fly zone. The fighting continued until 31st October 2011, when Muammar Gaddafi was killed.
The United States have largely been involved in international relations and interventions. But, these interventions do not come without consequences. In the Iraq war, USA suffered many casualties on its side, and the economic burden was too huge (about 1.9 trillion dollars), (CBO). This has negative effects on the economy of the country. In the Libyan case, the legality of the invasion is questionable. At what point can an independent country be invaded by foreign armed military remains debatable. Dialogue and other peaceful means of solving conflicts were not fully utilized before the attack. The cost was too high ranging between $ 896 and$ 1, 500 million by September 2011 (Ukman, Jason , 23 August 2011)
In the past five years, there have been several incidences, for example, United States affirms its alliance to the United Kingdom, and that it is its most important bilateral relationship in the world. This is evidenced by its political alignments with the UK and the joint military activities like the one targeting Libya in 2011. The United States of America is a member of NATO alliance. The NATO has been playing key role in the fight against terrorism all over the world.
The United States of America rose to super power status due to several events. These include
- The defeat of the NAZI
- The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the subsequent end of world war 11 with America proving to be the strongest military
USA has progressively influenced policy making in;
- IMF and World Bank
- The G7 world affairs and decision making
- The international criminal court although it is not a member
Reference
U.S. CBO estimates $2.4 trillion long-term war costs, Politics Reuters. Reuters. 24 October
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Ukman, Jason (23 August 2011). Libya war costs for U.S $896 million so far. The Washington
Post. Retrieved 18Februry 2014. From "Libya war costs for U.S.: $896 million so far"
James M. McCormick (2009). American Foreign Policy and Process. Cengage Learning. ch 7-8
Cliff Staten (August 2005). U.S. Foreign policy since World War II. American
Diplomancy Publishers Chapel Hill NC. Retrieved on 18th Feb, 2014 from
http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/item/2005/0709/stat/staten_reality.html
