Do you think the United State's involvement in the Cold War has made us a target to terrorists or an international peace keeper?
I think its a little of each. Since we're really the only superpower left I think other countries look to us to help them out in their time of need. Yet, at the same time, I think some people feel we should not be so powerful and if we became weaker it would be beneficial to their country. However, I think we are more known as a peace keeper because a lot of other countries have terrorist attacks as well. I just think we only really hear about the big things that happen in other countries. We were attacked on Sept. 11, but other countries are being completely taken over by terrorists. I think the countries that are in need look to us to pull them out of it and help them out, especially after the cold war. The war we went into was initially a civil war, but the United States did not want it to become bigger so we got involved. I think that showed more to other countries that if we helped one country obtain peace, then why cant we do it to every country in need.
It doesn't seem like the Cold War led directly to terrorism. I guess one could argue that there are connections with the turning of power in Iran (a process that started around 1950 and turned fundamental by 1979) that prevented it from becoming Communist and with the Russian invasion of Afghanistan (1979). However, I don't quite see any motive for terrorists to attack the US in these situations. Perhaps bitterness over military presence? I don't really think so--there is something more cultural to it than political as even civil wars there are rooted in cultural and religious differences before political struggles. It is difficult for our American, democratic minds to understand.
The Cold War did contribute to the US role as a peacekeeping force. It led to the stock up of strategic arms, and the US foreign policy of containment played a huge role as we gave economic and military aid to prevent struggling countries from turning to Red support. (Also led to the Korean and Vietnam Wars.) It seems there is still that expectation that the US should spread democracy in the face of totalitarians and dictators.
We are not the only superpower left--the EU, China, and Russia are all formidable but somewhat quieter powers that are less willing to take such a role. (Though a few of these countries are on the Security Board for the UN... but that doesn't mean a lot.) Many of these nations have different policies and interests that leave the US in its lonely position. I mean, Russia and China are supposedly supplying some of our adversaries...
Wow, reading that over still sounds really confusing to me. Such is our nation's foreign policy :-/
I think it made us look more like a target. In my opinion, it made others think that we like to control the world and thus made us appear as a threat.
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