Interventionist ‘help’

It might be interesting to note that while the US did not win major conflicts during the past 70 years, American military intervention might have helped improve some countries, and that was the prime objective, not conquest or occupation. Sure, it has made things worse in Iraq, but look at Korea, North vs. South. No one actually “won” the Vietnam “war”, but it did lead to an improvement once the country was united, most of it with American aid that was pumped in.

As for Afghanistan, neither the Americans, the Russians or anyone else has ever made a difference. Even Alexander of Macedon could not make a dent in Afghanistan and left it alone.

As for Cambodia, the Killing Fields might have gone on indefinitely if not for American help in ousting Pol Pot. While the present Cambodian leadership is a wolf in sheep’s clothes, Cambodians are better off than before.

DAVID JAMES WONG