Do U.S. Bases Threaten World Peace?

Who really threatens world peace today? Spokesmen for the most powerful military nation in the world, the U.S.A., state that rogue states and terrorists threaten the stability of our world; and that it intends 'to control space in order to protect U.S. interests and investments.'

With over 1,000 U.S. military bases around the world, at a cost of a trillion dollars a year, I am surprised that very few people (including the mainstream media) seriously raise the question of who really threatens the world order.

Stars show U.S. military bases in the middle-east.
From map posted by Lew Rockwell (12/6/2011).

In his December 12, 2011 article: Remembering His-Story - Iran Attack Next?, author Bruce K Gagnon addresses this serious question. Mr. Gagnon is Coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space. The map in his article summarises the situation. Each star represents a U.S. military base. In the middle, in blue, is Iran. Iran has no military bases outside its borders. Just north of Iran is Georgia that has essentially become a U.S. / NATO base. Turkey belongs to NATO. Iran has been checkmated. North of Georgia is Russia. Can there be any wonder why Russia is so alarmed about an attack on Iran?

Let's suppose that a foreign power set up a base just outside of the U.S.A — the government would probably go ballistic. So why can't the citizens see that their own nation is threatening other countries around the world with its colonial-type 'manifest destiny' approach? In our one-world community, we should follow the wisdom of classical cross-cultural anthropologists in respecting strangers.

From my anthropological training, I have learnt that 'stepping into the shoes of the other' is a good way to learn about the stranger. This wisdom encompasses the same attitude that is found in the Russian proverb 'When entering a church, do not bring with you your own charter.' Another proverb says the same in another way: 'Do not measure others by your own arshin (Russian: yardstick, measure).'  Effective cross-cultural workers and international negotiators certainly know these skills and use them in achieving their various ends.

Americans and other powerful nations, wake up! Let's remember that each country has its own interest. Collectively, the best interest of the world is global peace.  Let us therefore, follow the Golden Rule: 'Do unto others what others wish us to do unto you!