The Policemen of The World

Assignment 2.2: Policemen of the World Final Paper
Due Week 10 and worth 120 points
You have already developed a thesis statement and developed an outline in which you explored two (2) real-life international incidents from the past five (5) years involving the United States involving the United States as a world power. Now you will develop the final paper in which you explore your main points in detail.
Write a three to five (3-5) page paper in which you:
1.Introduce your paper with your previously crafted thesis statement.
2.Identify two to three (2-3) international events from the past five years that can be traced back to a foreign policy created after the Civil War.
3.Discuss three (3) aspects of US history since 1865 that have led to the USA's rise as a world super power policeman.
4.Identify three to five (3-5) international incidents since World War 2 where America has taken on a policing role.
5.Determine three to five (3-5) driving forces that fueled international policy decisions involving the international incidents you outlined previously. (Consider treaties, exit strategies, elections, wars, etc.)
6.Use at least three (3) academic references besides or in addition to the textbook. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
-Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
-Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the professor's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
-Analyze the rise of the United States to a world "superpower" and how that status has shaped its internal developments in recent decades.
-Recognize the major turning points in American history since the Civil War.
-Use technology and information resources to research issues in contemporary U.S. history.
-Write clearly and concisely about contemporary U.S. history using proper writing mechanics.
The U.S Military as Policemen of the World
America has claimed the responsibility of not only keeping peace in the world but also spreading democracy throughput the world through the “Empire of Liberty” policy. Consequently, this has seen the United States' military take a responsibility of safeguarding human rights whenever there is anarchy in many parts of the world. This essay seeks to establish an argument that the United States' military functions as the world “police”. This essay seeks to establish that the United States military perceives itself as responsible for maintaining order in the world
It can be argued that the U.S has always been at war. This is attributed to its self-justification that it is the agents of spreading democracy and peace in the world. Some of the territories which have been under the United States military watch and influence in the recent past include Afghanistan, Yemen and Libya. In spite of President Obama's promise that U.S troops could have been withdrawn from Afghanistan after the war seemed to subside, the American military has continued its policing activities of hunting terrorist in Afghanistan. DeYoung (2014) theorize that although violent attacks remain a reality in the United States, in 2013 president Obama declared that threats to the U.S are more akin to the 9/11terrorist attacks. As a result, he concluding that he found no need for making the U.S a “perpetual wartime footing”. Later on Caitlin Hayden, the National Security Council spokeswoman, reaffirmed that the President's direction were steadily implemented.
The president's directions involved new policies that were meant to shape the United States' military involvement in world affairs. According to DeYoung (2014), the policies provided new restrictions that guided using of drone-fired missiles with an intention of ambushing and killing alleged terrorists. Providing the rationale of the new policy, President Obama declared that it was meant to target only terrorist alleged to pose a persistent and imminent threat, especially to the American citizens. In line to this new policy, Roggio (2014) asserts that America's involvement in Afghanistan has not subsided yet. Roggio (2014) notes that since 26th December, 2013, the Unite States had never used drone strikes at target terrorist in Pakistan but on 14th May 2014, the U.S military in its policing role, killed multiple fighters from a Taliban linked group, the Lashkar-e-Islam, in Afghanistan and Pakistan through three airstrikes.
These attacks are reported to be a shock move because many expected the number of drone attacks to reduce in accordance to the new policy. Nevertheless, to some extent, DeYoung (2014) notes that number of similar attacks have dropped from 46 to 28 in 2012 to 2013 respectively. However, it was noted that the number of human causalities increased significantly, from 4 to 14. DeYoung (2014) observes that these changes may be as a result of the newly adopted policy. Besides Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United States' military involvement in Yemen has reduced hence reducing its drone-based impact as well. DeYoung (2014) notes that drone attacks in Yemen have substantially decreased from 41 to 26 in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Nevertheless, the new policy has influenced 12 new attacks. Between 2012 and 2013, Yemen reported a decrease in civilian deaths from 35 to 17 respectively, and only 6 have been reported this year. DeYoung (2014) also points out that the United States military also exerted its policing effect in Somalia early this year in January. Although these attacks have been witnessed, it is difficult to determine the association between their numbers and new guidelines/policies because the United States government has never acknowledged specific drone strikes or given any information regarding any inadvertent human casualties (DeYoung, 2014). All the above are but just examples of effects that have been influenced by United States military policing role in the world.
There are aspects of the United States history since 1865 that have influenced her rise as the world super power policeman. Three of these aspects include;
i. American's activeness in fulfilling its westward expansion. The U.S has taken upon herself the duty of restoring order in the world by sending her troops throughout the world where there is anarchy to protect national interests and stop wanton murder (Ries & Weber, 2007)
ii. Imperial power that has influenced her global reach through civilization and Christianization of the world (Ries & Weber, 2007).
iii. Rapid economic growth witnessed after the Civil War which increased United States' diplomatic leverage and provided resources to build a navy-army, Panama Canal, expansion, and enhancing of her soft power (Ries & Weber, 2007).
Since World War 2, the United States has undertaken policing roles in many international incidents including
i. The Vietnam War – fighting North Vietnam (1965-1973).
ii. U.S intervention in Somalia in 1960s under UNOSOM.
iii. Deposing of the Taliban government through Afghan War.
The United States military's intervention in the above international incidents was fueled by the following forces:
i. The United States entered the fight against North Vietnam upon requests from Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam.
ii. U.S military's intervention in Somalia in 1960s under UNOSOM was influenced by U.N humanitarian operation.
iii. Deposing of the Taliban government through Afghan War was influenced by political motives by President Bush.
In conclusion, the United States military's policing roles have led to both positive and negative consequences. Although they are driven by the motive of needing to restore peace and order in the world, their actions have also led to loss of lives. There are different driving forces and policies which influence the execution of these roles some of which may involve responding to humanitarian crisis or political ambitions.
REFERENCES
DeYoung, K. (2014, May 21). National Security: Obama's revamp of anti-terror policies stalls. The Washington Post. Accessed, 26 May 2014, < http://www(dot)washingtonpost(dot)com/world/national-security/obamas-revamp-of-anti-terror- policies-stalls/2014/05/21/79ac0f20-e053-11e3-8dcc-d6b7fede081a_story.html >
Ries, J., & Weber, M. (2007). The Fateful Year 1898: The United States Becomes an Imperial Power. Institute for Historical Review. Accessed 26 May 2014, < http://www(dot)ihr(dot)org/jhr/v13/v13n4p4_Ries.html>
Roggio, B. (2014, May 14). US drone strikes target Lashkar-e-Islam fighters in eastern Afghanistan. The Long War Journal. Accessed 26 May 2014. < http://www(dot)longwarjournal(dot)org/archives/2014/05/us_drone_strikes_tar_2.php?utm_sourc e=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=us-drone-strikes-target-lashkar-e-islam- fighters-in-eastern-afghanistan# >