Was just reminded of a Ronald Reagan quote: “Our country has never started a war.” Speaking as someone whose country (the Philippines) was subjected to an unprovoked attack and invasion by the United States (an event that is still insultingly remembered in the West as an ‘insurrection’) on the cusp of our independence and freedom for the sole purpose of acquiring our country…
What the shit is that?
Seriously. Do Americans still think that way?
Apparently, some Americans still do.
Some of them actually, up to this day, still don’t know that they duped Filipino revolutionaries who were fighting for independence. And that American soldiers would later fight the same Filipinos who were trying to preserve an independent republic; use the water-cure and other forms of torture against them; and subject civilians to re-concentration of populations and a scorched-earth policy.
But all these things are contained only in a little known (and maybe even little taught) chapter in American history called the Philippine Insurrection.
In the last 60 years, the United States has been engaged in over 400 conflicts that were just short of war. Wikipedia lists at least 190 wars/military conflicts the United States has engaged in since and including the Revolutionary War. Reagan never was renown for his intelligence or his love of facts. The United States loves starting wars and it’s good at it.
“Political and other leaders too often get away with misusing or abusing history for their own ends because the rest of us do not know enough to challenge them.” - Margaret MacMillan.
Information is awesome. Thanks for the list.
I am of the mind that what is or is not a war should not be defined by the aggressor, but by those who are defending themselves from aggression.
