I'll name 3
Pakistan-India tensions after mumbai bombings.
Possible continuation of hostilities between Russia and Georgia
Possible military action between Iran and Israel... so far.
Whose to say the existence of a dominant power (in this case the US) alone doesn't prevent wars? There is no possible way your words could be proven as the existance of a dominant power itself could have a stabilizing effect.
You mean because Israel could actually defend itself? If Israel did not have the support of a power with influence in the region do you think the chances of hot conflict in the region, not the current low level insurgency would be greater or less?
So without US backing Iran and Iraq would not have gone to war?
Well that is beside the point because Iraq never had specific US backing, at least according to these sources
Shaking Hands with Saddam Hussein
United States support for Iraq during the Iran?Iraq war - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (under U.S. foreknowledge and reaction to the conflict on the paragraph starting with the words "Biographer Said K. Aburish"
Iran Chamber Society: History of Iran: The United States and Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988
These among others give some evidence (with admittedly varying degrees of authority) indicate that the US had very little to do with the beginning of hostilities. Saddam certainly had his own reasons and believed in his victory. Iraq also had bigger backers than the US in France and the Soviet Union. It should also be noted that Israel sold arms to Iran.
China's involved with North Korea, **** I guess it would be justified if a radical South Korean unification group cracked open the Three Gorges Dam!
As for Saudi Arabia, Its not an occupation if you're there under the invitation of the government.
Look up Chavez support of FARC and the ELN and tell me that the US is the cause of the conflict.
Looking at the source, claims of Ethiopian troops being US backed are apparently from Somalian islamists, there are more credible sources than that the state ethiopian troops are US backed. I assumed this from reading the name of the source, not the article of the source though, so this may be wrong.
That said,civil war and repression is unfortunately not new to Somalia, and certainly not US caused.
History of Somalia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For US response to Somalia's anarchy look at our efforts to empower the TFG an internationally backed secular govt.
Caps- cruise control for cool
Wait, so this wasn't ever about starting more wars than preventing, but about prolonging wars through its support of the side that best fits its interests? **** the same accusation could be leveled at any any country or government, China is certainly no exception.
Afghanistan would be have been a short and bloodless conflict if only the Taliban had given up immediately and cooperated with us
If only the Chinese would accept Indian ideas of their border there would be no need to militarize it!
If only the Israeli's would accept that they must be pushed into the sea to give Palestinians back their stolen land!
If only the USSR and China had not supported North Vietnam things would have been a lot less bloody.
If only the Palestinians would accept that the Israeli state is there to stay, recognise it, and try to make peace within its current boundaries!
If only China had not supported North Korea the Korean peninsula would be whole and there would be no military tensions on the peninsula!
You and I both know things are more complicated then that.
The US is not a peacekeeping force by any means, but our country is inherently interested in keeping the world as stable and conducive to trade as possible. instability leads to uncertainty. violent instability potentially impacts trade, and war is incredibly difficult to control. Stability means less uncontrolled change. As the current top dog of the system, with alliances throughout the planet, a capitalist economy, and more importantly a consumer economy, we gain benefits from that stability and the freedom to trade throughout the world.
It is one of the ideas behind the UN, a forum to mediate dispute instead of fight.
Of course this is just the general philosophy, individuals play a large role as well (ref Saddam).
If we had a more cautious president less eager to ride the wave of patriotism at the time of 9/11 and more critical of intelligence reports from allies perhaps we wouldn't have entered Iraq.
If Saddam was less confident of his ability to take on Iran as well as less ambition to be the head power of the Middle-East there would have been no Iran-Iraq war in favor of a sort of mini cold war?