Some historians say that the United States military intervention strategies date back to 1898, when the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico were seized from Spain. The US intervention in the Cuban-Spanish-American war was against the will of President McKinley, but was largely driven by Congressional desire to acquire Hawaii and Cuba. The ambassador of Spain called McKinley “weak” in a private letter that was published in the news. Public opinion was further swayed by media reports that the Spanish government was behind the explosion of the USS Maine in the Havana Harbor that killed 266, despite adamant denials. After a military intervention, the US acquired Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico as protectorates. This set the tone for US further military interventions, which some say is a misguided solution that has led to unfavorable opinions around the world.

“We stand at the armagaddeon and we battle for the Lord,” Theodore Roosevelt yelled from the platform. He continued, “This country belongs to the people. Its resources, its business, its laws, its institutions, should be utilized, maintained, or altered in whatever manner will best promote the general interest.” The case for military intervention was to protect America from selfish interests. With American businesses opening up overseas, there was always the danger that the host country would rise against Americans overseas, thus jeopardizing American investment. This argument would be echoed by subsequent presidents as an excuse to invade the Middle East.

It’s rare for the public to support military intervention these days. The Vietnam War demonstrations and Iraq War protests are evidence of this widespread discontent. Critics of military interventions point to hypocrisy in US government policy, arguing that most of the WWII interventions carried out for “freedom” or “democracy” were actually defending dictatorships controlled by pro-US elites. US officials oversaw puppet governments in Vietnam, Central America, the Persian Gulf, Grenada and Panama, which the American people saw right through. Additionally, once reports surfaced from the front lines of atrocities committed by US soldiers during Vietnam, Americans saw that our own citizens were capable of the same sort of gruesome torture and terrorism we claimed to be fighting against. As a result, these double standards have left long-lasting distrust, discontent and even apathy among US citizens.

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