While military adventurism as a concept has been most closely linked in the minds of many with the USA in recent years, many other countries have indulged a passion for martial posturing throughout history. While the idea is most closely linked to 19th century European colonial powers, many other countries in the 21st century have indulged too. The build-up of military might that the 19th century colonial situation created played a massive part in starting World War One.
In the 21st century, the United States has been accused of military adventurism with reference to its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Certainly, in the case of the former, tenuous intelligence was used to justify an attack on Iraq. The original aims of the conflict in Afghanistan have become more opaque and harder to pin down as time has gone on.
This situation has seen the USA face accusations that their foreign policy seems dominated by military adventures of a kind which were supposed to have ended with World War Two. Afghanistan has been the site of other armed adventures too, with the British failing to exert martial control over the country in the 19th century. The Soviet Union also launched a campaign in the 1970s and 80s which would end in failure.
America is not the only country to have flexed muscles in pursuit of perhaps questionable aims in recent years though. North Korea, the most insular and repressed country in the world, has a history of 'sabre rattling' and trying to intimidate its neighbors militarily with aggressive behavior and carefully planned and staged acts. In the spring of 2012, this took the form of a rocket launch.
The public justification for this provocative act was that it was intended as a celebration of their leader's birthday. This rationale was treated with scepticism by much of the rest of the world though, where it was perceived as a way of testing long-range weapons capability. Obviously, this would also serve to intimidate South Korea considerably, with one of the world's most militarized borders separating the two countries.
Asia is also home to two countries whose relationship of mutual antagonism has served to fuel martial adventures from both over recent years. India and Pakistan are not only involved in a nuclear arms race, but also continue to have conventional forces building up along their mutual border. Accusations of inventions in internal conflicts within the two countries also fly from time to time.
It can be seen that bellicose adventuring is fairly widespread, even in a world which often claims to be at peace. Russia intervening in countries like Chechnya and Georgia in recent times is another example. Wherever war breaks out in the world, it seems that the great powers will look to influence matters in their favor.
The idea of military adventurism is not, sadly, a recent innovation, nor is it confined to elements in the United States. Flexing the muscles of the armed forces has been a part of diplomacy and international relations for years. Until the concept is better managed, we must endure living in an unstable world.
In the 21st century, the United States has been accused of military adventurism with reference to its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Certainly, in the case of the former, tenuous intelligence was used to justify an attack on Iraq. The original aims of the conflict in Afghanistan have become more opaque and harder to pin down as time has gone on.
This situation has seen the USA face accusations that their foreign policy seems dominated by military adventures of a kind which were supposed to have ended with World War Two. Afghanistan has been the site of other armed adventures too, with the British failing to exert martial control over the country in the 19th century. The Soviet Union also launched a campaign in the 1970s and 80s which would end in failure.
America is not the only country to have flexed muscles in pursuit of perhaps questionable aims in recent years though. North Korea, the most insular and repressed country in the world, has a history of 'sabre rattling' and trying to intimidate its neighbors militarily with aggressive behavior and carefully planned and staged acts. In the spring of 2012, this took the form of a rocket launch.
The public justification for this provocative act was that it was intended as a celebration of their leader's birthday. This rationale was treated with scepticism by much of the rest of the world though, where it was perceived as a way of testing long-range weapons capability. Obviously, this would also serve to intimidate South Korea considerably, with one of the world's most militarized borders separating the two countries.
Asia is also home to two countries whose relationship of mutual antagonism has served to fuel martial adventures from both over recent years. India and Pakistan are not only involved in a nuclear arms race, but also continue to have conventional forces building up along their mutual border. Accusations of inventions in internal conflicts within the two countries also fly from time to time.
It can be seen that bellicose adventuring is fairly widespread, even in a world which often claims to be at peace. Russia intervening in countries like Chechnya and Georgia in recent times is another example. Wherever war breaks out in the world, it seems that the great powers will look to influence matters in their favor.
The idea of military adventurism is not, sadly, a recent innovation, nor is it confined to elements in the United States. Flexing the muscles of the armed forces has been a part of diplomacy and international relations for years. Until the concept is better managed, we must endure living in an unstable world.
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