Is the US a force for good in the world? | Head to Head
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 มิ.ย. 2013
- Is the US a force for good in the world?: The US appears to have taken a back seat role in international relations. In the US in decline? Or is it just taking stock as it accommodates to the new emerging world order?
In the episode of Head to Head at the Oxford Union, Mehdi Hasan challenges one of the world's most influential columnists and authors, Thomas L Friedman.
Critics say American self-interest has trumped democracy and human rights time and again, and that Obama's America is no different. So is the US foreign policy counterproductive? Or is America force for good in the world?
Friedman also talks about the powerful influence of the Israeli lobby and his experience in Yemen.
Joining the discussions are:
Seumas Milne: An associate editor and columnist at The Guardian.
Davis Lewin: The political Beyond the Economy and the Revenge History.
Henry Jackson Society: The former Middle East director at the Next Century Foundation.
Dr. Miriyam Aouragh: a lecturer in Cyber Politics, in the Middle East. She is also the author of Palestine Online: Transnationalism, the Internet and the Construction of Identity.
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#AlJazeeraEnglish #America #HeadtoHead - บันเทิง
One thing I will say about my country. We are horrible to our native people. Native Americans are some of the most oppressed people on the planet. I wish we would get our noses out of other people's business for long enough to fix our domestic issues and atone for our treatment of our natives.
+Trousersnake Pliskin guess what dumbass we are still here and you are still committing the same crimes. someone needs to continually beat some sense into idiots like you.
How about the treatment of black American. don't forget that
+Heath Kitchen Our natives? haha-jk it just sounds bad when you state it like that. I think in general we need to statrt treating the poor with dignity. The rightie lately keeps advocating we stop being PC- I say yes- lets unleash the truth on the right who forever denies facts and history to lean only on their Belief and philosophy.
+Federico Mazandarani
Really? The Native American people not longer starve to death, freeze to death, free healthcare, free college. There is no fighting between Native American tribes anymore. No slave or prisoner trading among them. Colorado River tribe operates huge farms. Navajos have oil and mine operations.
+Heath Kitchen Our country is run by thugs....who are now turning their sites on its own people......freedom? look at law enforcement being armed with military surplus equipment.....spying, justified by so called terrorism threats which they themselves create with their invasions and murdering abroad....and then they stand up and look so sincere and proper with their thousand dollar suites and speak mumbo jumbo lies.......we know our government.......it used to be good.....It no longer is and I base this conclusion not on theory but on simple fact and actions throughout the world and within our nation ......the truth is clear
Obama noble peace prize. lol. I think the term peace needs to be relooked at.
He received the Nobel Prize. 😁😁😁
If the international bodies have any credibility left not only Obama but many of the US president would have been tried and punished for human rights violation
@@JitenderSingh-ge2ip Ppl like this love the white conservative ex US presidents…They pretend to care about civilians that got killed by Obama administration…but right not only Obama but many other former US president deserve to be punished
Yeah I guess they define peace by increasing the drone attacks in the middle east
Nobel did invent TNT so maybe the prize is apt in these cases. 😆
As a U.S. citizen I think we are the greatest threat to world peace. The horrendous actions we have taken on the world stage, especially post-WWII, have been inexcusable and greatly over-shadow whatever good our government or citizens have done in the world.
+Kevin Pacifico Gonzaga - You are free to renounce your US citizenship and go live somewhere else. It's easy to criticize the US, but if you think that you've found a better place, isn't it insane not to relocate?
+SilvanaDil Im Canadian, and I acknowledge that these retards and the retards at ur universities are so politically correct to discredit ur nation its a travesty to democracy and free speech. Imagine a world without the us, u think the pussy EU can do anything? To keep China, Russia, the islamic world at bay
Mike Hunt thats what im saying, the us is what keeps in check, look at NATO it would be a cheap joke without the usa. only european country worth considering powerful is Germany and Britian
Mike Hunt American leftists too, in universities ugh man
+AIIUserNamesInvalid - Criticize, fine; but, if you think that the country is SO BAD, why stay?
It is amazing to watch this defending the US some 9 years ago and suggesting the US will learn from its mistakes around the world and only to see that it has only got worse.
It's so crazy to see them talk about America before Trump. Mehdi talked to JD Gordon and the Trump brain is SO OBVIOUS COMPARED TO THE OTHER GUESTS
The orange guy was a big setback but we still up boi
Kind of telling that Tom Friedman was the best person they could get to defend this position.
They chose someone that can get burnt and roasted time and time again without ever being affected...
We need more of these for 2019 !! Like this comment because they can see us ✌🏼
Waste of time. He dodges questions faster than NEO
Short answer: No.
Long answer: Nope.
Nothing against civilians.
"thats because u r a muslim."
What an incredibly stupid presumption to make.
umair,thats because u are jealous of our power and hope to one day be that power,good luck
@@makedonistoi No Muslim wants power that will make capital more precious than humanity.
@@hselctrical -then leave the jewish people alone to enjoy freedom finally in they homeland of scriptures called israel,can u do that?
@@makedonistoi you clearly are deluded. Blame the victim mentality.
Waste of 47 minutes, the answer is NO.
hhhhhhhh .. literally idiot X)
McRja'ey Amin Zaghal Yes literally, the US navy is keeping China from bullying its smaller neighbors like Philippines and Vietnam
Fool, you are clueless.
Why not?
USA ALL THE WAY!!!
This Tom Friedman is so detached from reality. What a miserable man!
That's he's job !
Yes, a total warmonger.
The aim of the game is to divide and control at whatever cost. We the people weren't included in these decisions ..... (WTF).
Yet we the people accepted it.
I felt like punching him when he replied how thankful we should be for keeping everyone safe from other countries in Asia like Korea, China and Japan from getting nukes. He doesn't know about Hiroshima? Cowards killed innocent children and women just to prove to the world how strong they're, that's just disgusting.
he is just someone who lives there and try to be good in thier eyes so he lives well and ofc he is a big fool but that fool knows the turth he just don't want to say it
SeNniN
not telling the true is the main source of all evil ppl like him are even worse than killers themselves coz they justfite the killing to make more and more ignorant support the kills
also he did lie about more things which made me not into watching the hole vid thats the kind of a person that governments like them
Yea let's kill him, but remember guys, they have smart dust/controlling people from minds, it's not secret anymore anyway.. N no one can defeat em not even UN, except we wait till Jesus Christ/son of marry came's, devil's will end, but first let em have funn now
Blinking Sink lol
+Ibrahim Goma :-P
"Did you get Iraq wrong?"
Imperialist stooge: "we overpaid for it"
Yeah, a few nukes would've been WAY cheaper. People like to be liberated by bombs, but sometimes terrorists interfere with the peace process. It's expensive to be so good.
@@SandhillCrane42 Well then Iraq would got an another Anti American leader...
@Ali Muslim My comment was meant to be a parody criticizing the evil butchers sir, I apologize for offending you. No normal person actually thinks what I wrote, but crazy people in the government do. Sorry.
I would take USA hegemony over Chinese, Russian or Islamic hegemony.
Yes very easy decision in that it was Chinese, Russians and the Islamic hegemony that dropped nukes on Japan, invaded iran, destabilized Libya, and list goes on.
the US is a good force for as long as it exercises that force within it's own borders and not force down Democracy on countries that never solicited it's brand of Democracy which is a veneer for gaining access to the resources of these countries.
This was perfectly accurate
@Big Daddy yes..."some"
Democracy, oh democracy. Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what their going to have for dinner.
The thing is, the sheep outnumber the wolves. So the wolves have to convince the sheep that its somehow in their best interest to put mutton on the menu, and removing all protections for sheep will make sheeps lives better somehow. This is how we turn lower class working people into conservatives and neoliberals.
Can you please have season 4 available to us in the US? Love this show
The question is 'Is U.S.A a force for good in the world'
Half of the debate is revolving around the Muslim world.
Yet U.S.A is involved in Sub Saharan Africa, Central and South America, the Carribean( HAITI !!!!!) and South East Asia( VIETNAM !!!!!)
Let me just stop you right there. 2:15 The Soviets were the leading engine in WW2. They defeated Germany and were invading Japan when the US burned all those Japanese with Nuclear weapons. The US did not win WW2, it was an accessory to a much larger fight.
Is Libya today an American democracy? Please let me know
Well Lybia does have slave markets now, so I can see some similarities to America
No, they're trying to become one. Of course, the candidates are chosen by the U.S and NATO.
Ok, gotta say -- overall the standard of debate in this series has been absolutely top notch. No matter where anyone stands, after these shows you really do feel things have been well laid out.
Hats off to Hasan and the production team for this show.
Excellent discussion. It kept me interested from beginning to end.
instead of debating whether it is good or not we should just see the us remove its military personnel for a year and record the results
NO MORE WAR.....
what rep umar said in 2019 friedman knew in 2013 so she was very right anout aipac
This man is one of those extremely dangerous people who talk nice... Until his previous comments are exposed.
Question: How many people died in the Congo?
Answer: More than six million.
This was phenomenal and incredibly important, thanks for the share. Honestly with the iran nuclear situation the only country to ever use nukes and another country who is not part of the n.p.t nor even admits they have nukes dictating nuclear policy for other countries is a joke. It's not even a debate, period, over. Secondly america has lost under 10,000 troops in the "war" in Iraq and Iraq has lost 1million people, I'm sorry to say this is not a war it's a slaughter. Same thing with the vietnam war, between vietnam, laos, and cambodia the death toll is over 2 million, compared to under 70,000 us deaths, again thats a slaughter and not a war
The death toll in Vietnam and Cambodia was over 4 million secretary of state at the time Dean rusk publicly agreed to that fact in later years
@@rickydee5863 wow even worse
I cannot agree more. Also same thing with backing Saudi Arabia in yemen and what they did in libya and Korea
@@cyberanon2463 9
@@aegeantepaa5056 9 million????!
My personal history is similar to of all my fellow countries in the neighborhood as for Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and so on. Back 32 years ago, with a doctor degree from George Washington University and working at the world bank, life looked promising. Then, America crushed me to the point of been slander in the streets of Washington DC and as consequence I lost not just the job but the working visa and to return no Brazil to fall in the hands of cruels militaries and my also of Family. America knew that what will be of me if had to return. After all, nobody end up to live a few miles from the White House without America knowing very well who I was and Why I was there. I dove deep into a mightmare of a miserable contry under control of pederasts in uniform. Somehow I manage to survive and every day since then I have ask to myself: "Why America has done that to me." Millions always have intered the country trying to escape persecution of all kind. America has never forced anybody out but did that to me! Why...? Well, this World is not divided between Democrats and Republicans but between Have and Have not. I am Have not, I guess. But now, at the age of 64 I know better. America's beacon of civilization is Comunist China.
What did you say that upset them?
@@peace-now I did not say, I have studied ! To have or have not, that is the question !
When has a "force" in the world ever been good ?
Always is. Criminals have existed ever since the beginning of man. There must be fear of a certain force or humans would eat one another.
There cannot be true freedom when it's involving another human.
ww2
Well said!
Gev Vartanian at least you are being honest no nation is perfect.
The lady Miriyam Ouragh talks a lot of sense! I like her arguments !!
Very interesting discussion. Different format works well. Fine moderating. Everyone had their say but no one took over
"We need to go over there with a very big stick, right in the heart of that world and go house to house, from Basra to Baghdad, telling people: SUCK ON THIS!" Human beings are unbelievable.
That statement was nothing but sheer arrogance.
Good discussion. I don't agree with everything but he made some good points.
The fact that the question has arose answers the question.
Ugh, Tom Friedman, bracing my stomach for this one..
:))
This is why I watch Al-Jazeera. Thank you for providing substantive/critical news--it's refreshing!
Al Jazeera is critical only to what the Qatari leadership is against. Can Al Jazeera be critical of Qatar? No.
@@yotk1406 Western propaganda has enough of that
@@noblenormie1179 Western media is independent, private, has all opinions and it also has self criticism about its own government, Al Jazeera has non of that.
@@yotk1406 Western media is not allowed to be critical of the status quo in the west. Corporations are the government.
The question should be, when has the US ever been a force for good in the world, and not just itself.?
I'd have to agree with that but would like to say by extension the same is happening in Canada as well. How do we fix it?
THANK U 👍🙏🏾❤️....
THANK U 🇺🇸🙏🏾❤️.....
a nation isnt good or evil. any nation in america's position would act the same as america. the roman empire, british empire, soviet union, etc. im fine for america taking responsibility for the world's problems, but not for free
In spite of all of the flaws that America has, the main reason that I love being an American is that no one criticizes America more than its people. In fact the one main strength of the American constitution is the power of free speech and freedom to assemble and protest. These are some of the values that Europe itself has had to adopt in order that it's people be freed from the mentality of the dark ages that bright it's countries to their knees for so long.
Ideas must serve individual human beings, and not human beings serving ideas. Whatever the idea is, if it is designed to denigrate people, condemn others and commit atrocities on human beings, then we should oppose it, to ensure its effects on real human life is minimized.
Your thoughts.
*****
The biggest problem in my opinion is organized religion. Wherever organized religion or religious influence takes over the discourse, harm is eventually going to be. The fact that the same spot that one religion says its God communicates with its adherents happen to be where subsequent religions says their leaders also connect with other Gods. Religion in essence becomes the excuse for human beings to do evil onto other people, claiming they have been instructed by God.
Unfortunately, many in the world today (probably more than 90%, perhaps yourself included) hold in part or in whole these wicked beliefs. That is why ridicule and contempt are strong tools to use against the stupid delusions that people hold that causes them to want to hurt themselves and others.
Imagine the concept eternal torture in Hell fire, continuous praise in heaven and harmful retributions in the here and now over non adherents.
Totally sick!!! Really.
American people r Good but Their politician turn out to be worst..
vote Bernie Sanders..
he will save USA..
I see so much respect in this debate, i love Thom Friedman's honesty
Honesty? He crafts his answers and contradicts himself every step of the way.
HOW DARE THE US SAY THAT ANY COUNTRY SHOULD NOT HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS WHEN WE HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
Might is right
the interviewer was so soft on that guy Thomas Friedman, compare this to the headtohead he did with the pro russian lady.
He allowed Friedman to lie and called out his lies. The audience caught on to it.
@Mehdi - you are really doing a verg good job, please continue to challenge openly based on the critics and realistic statistics across the world politics.
Also personally we really wanted people like you to raise concerns and questions as you do.
40:55 or thereabouts hits it right on with this fellow and this interview;
Friedman is one sophisticated interlocutor!
AA = American Arrogance 30:48
Lmao. Audience behind him is smirking and u can hear the audience laugh in the background. I hope he is joking
"The great nations have alway acted like gangsters, and the small nations like prostitutes." (Stanley Kubrick)
Dr. Miriyam knows the true. Amazing woman.
That was really good.
No, the U.S. is not and never was a force for good. Grow up in the end.
oops, got caught in the lie of all lies there at the end, huh?
Listening,it's a Sign of Respect.=D.Life is a daily Miracle.Universal Love is an Universal One.=D.
2019: AMERICA NOW IS A DICTATORSHIP CAUSING WAR, MISERY AND HAVOC THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. wELL DONE us FOR VOTING IN tRUMP; A GREATER WARMONGER THAN EVEN BUSH.
Man this guy is so deluded.
Even though US dropped the first atomic bomb,why he is bothering about world peace.
The guy towards the end is spot on. The average American has absolutely nothing in common with their governments foreign policy.
33:22 Those are by far the biggest eye balls I have ever seen in my life. Somebody submit this to Guinness world records immediately for a plaque!!!!!
Mehdi is not doing his job here.
He couldn’t hold the discussion getting any result which could be made.
David is extremist warmonger and hateful person. Why was he invited?
Thomas Friedman deflected every question and never clearly answered.
Mehdi gives the people space to prove themselves. That audience member called Friedman out and so medhi
Thank you aljazeera for doing the job the US media wont. Love it !
Unless you can propose a better way don’t criticise those that are trying to make a difference.
That question at 33:15 really got to him...
FINALLY I SAW AL JAZEERA BROADCASTING SOME THING GOOD AFTER LONG, LONG TIME
US or USSR or whatever U are neither good nor evil. They just do what is best for their government and their nations, that's all.
Small countries have to rely on themselves.
This version seems chopped. I think there are missing pieces but i'm not sure.
Thomas Friedman was fabulous here.
What a credit.
What good was bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Korea ,Vietnam ,Iraq,etc.?
Mehdi hassan you were interviewing him not doing head to head journalism
Only a person with potential profit or borderline lunacy would suspect America is a force for good.
The woman in purple behind the front row audience. Dang. Her mannerisms caught my eye and wouldn`t let go.
I like Friedman. His voice is that of someone who is speaking his mind. He actually admits he was wrong a few times. WOW, unheard of.
Yeah. He's very articulate. Signs of a guy with nothing to hide or censor
umm. from the title: no
Head to Head is currently my favorite show.
This is why i love Al Jazeera really, they actually talk about issue that matter. when i was watching this i felt like i was in my global politics class having a very professional and productive discussion about something that should be scrutinized again and again: america's role in the world. My view is that America has done many good things and some major bad things in the world. what i like about this show is that it shows the fact that one can critique the US without being Anti-american.
Global Warfare: “We’re Going to Take out 7 Countries in 5 Years: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan & Iran..”
Video Interview with General Wesley Clark
US is a Godzilla: king of the monsters.
@sneksnekitsasnek yeah lol
What word did she use at 35:00?
Never understood why americans try to take credit for ww1 and 2 when it was britain, france and russia that did all the work
The “5-part formula” is one of the most delusional, historically revisionist, nonsense I have ever heard of.
Even Niall Ferguson’s “6-points” were more accurate (although tin was much more historical and long term).
lmao wth I'm an American and I laugh that someone would actually think we are a force for good.
korle521 USA FREEDOM FIGHTERS OR TERRORIST THAT IS THE QUESTION IT'S A FINE LINE WE CROSS IT IMO
korle521 that's what happens when your education system fails you
@@spencerredd4452 Thats what happens when youre actually educated about history.
If US really support democracy and equality than they should also condemn Saudi Arabia monarchy
Does not occur to anybody that the US supported the most repressive regime, that of the Shah in Iran and was singularly responsible for undermining the democratic regime of Musaddaq in Iran - Let me remind also everybody, that Iran despite it's theocracy, is the most democratic of all the countries in the region including Israel.
It is a very difficult task to judge whether US interventions turned things for the better, because you have no way knowing what would have happened without them.
But there is one question that I did not find addressed in this discussion: Quite some anger comes from the feeling that there is some far away state intervening broadly around the world. Who entitles them to do so? Even if a majority may be for the good (who knows...) Shouldn't there be some sort of supreme legal entity that also US has to answer to? Shouldn't decisions on the global level be discussed in a global comunity?
We tried with the united nations, but some people want to control over the people. Democracy has to have people who want to live together, everyone has to be able to trust each other. People are people some are better than others, it is what it is. Unfortunately truth is in the eye of the beholder, and some people won't keep their word or agreement to others. The world is getting smaller and smaller. Hitlers weapons are increasingly popular. Einstein was right on about the next war because of our situation with each other .
The politicians work for the oligarchs, that simple!
Slaughtering millions is difficult to judge?...
It's May 29th, 0908 2019 and I still say NO!
You are saying NO to what?
@@lechat8736 The title of the video
Ask Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Palestine, Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, etc
A reality check:
All countries are controlled by multinationals. Assistance is based on geopolitical / economic interest. Sadly, Governments care little for their people, however, this can be changed, but it takes strong leadership & the political will.
If ever God blessed a truth filled man, it is Medhi Hasan. He is a blessing.
On the whole americas role has been positive. However in the last 30-40 years the doctrine of US exceptionalism promoted by republican and democratic politicans has destroyed Americas image abroad. After 9/11 the majority of people in Iran, Iraq etc felt great sympathy with the US. But now, after two failed wars, nearly a million lost lives, drone strikes, extra-ordinary rendition, guantanamo, waterboarding people look at america with much greater scruitiny. In europe you are looked at as idiotic, in the middle east and Asia you are seen as war-mongers. The Russians see you as the people who plundered and destroyed their economy after they were opened up to the ravages of international financial markets. America has gone from non-interventionism to an Empire with bases in over 100 countries. Think about it, the answer is not straight forward. For me, America has gone from a once great nation to a now slightly evil, hypocritical empire
What goes up must come down that is reality!!!
what is the alternative?
US is a force of good for themselves but a force for BAD in the world
Evils can never conquered Allah's words
it's not even a force of good for its own citizens, and I'm one of them. I say that not because I am poor or homeless, but I recognize the gross disparity between the haves and the have-nots.
Canada is the best option
Canada Land of The Free And Home Of the Compassionate I Love My Country! !
john wayne indeed
If you like winter all year long
Lol. This is one of the most articulate speakers on head to head I've seen
A poor liar nonetheless
His statement about Egypt is untrue only a month after he makes it!
@DeKlauwaard
"I'm Belgian, and I love America! Fuck the enemies of America"
Really?
In 1914 when you were invaded by Germany Britain immediately went to war against them. Britain itself was under no direct threat from Germany but it sacrificed almost 1 million of it's soldiers fighting against Belgium's enemies and often fighting in Belgium itself. America did nothing for 3 years and even then it only joined the war because it was threatened by Germany.
It was a similar story in WW2. America was happy to let Belgium and Europe burn under Hitler. It only joined in when Germany declared war on the US itself.
America isn't usually a good friend - unless you are Israel.
I wonder how you think Belgium would have done under Soviet rule? Little countries like Belgium relied on the US for protection against the Soviets for decades and likely would have been lost to the Germans in WW! and WW2 if not for US intervention and support for Britain.
adstanra
"I wonder how you think Belgium would have done under Soviet rule?”
Probably not very well. But Belgium never shared a border with any Soviet countries and Russia was a signatory to the 1839 Treaty that guaranteed Belgium’s independence. So the risk of a Soviet invasion was not significant.
.
“Little countries like Belgium relied on the US for protection against the Soviets for decades”
Not really. The post WW2 protection of Europe against the Soviet Union was by NATO troops stationed mainly in Germany.
.
“and likely would have been lost to the Germans in WW! and WW2 if not for US intervention and support for Britain"
Well in WW1 90% of it was lost to the Germans. In WW2 100% of it was lost.
Unfortunately for Belgium it was located between Germany and France. It was a kind of highway for armies in wars between these two nations. It was very difficult to prevent Belgium from falling to Germany because they shared a border. Germany could invade at a moments notice and it would largely be over by the time outside Allied forces could get there.
TheSmithDorian I agree with most of your post except that it was the military power and ideological power of the US that saved the world from Soviet/Marxist ideology. Britain and France contribeted to the power of Nato, but they were not powerful against the soviet union in the 50,60,70s. The US offered most of the military opposition to the soviets and Chinese---and no treaty from the 19th century was going to be honoured by stalin...I wouldn't have put any trust in it anyway....In the end, it was the US who freed Belgium from Hitler
adstanra
The Soviet Union had a far more active part in the defeat of Hitler than your limited understanding conveys. I think you need to do some studying.
davevak I think it is you who needs to do more studying. Stalin and Hitler had a pack from 1939-1941 and cooperated against France and Britain. This allowed Hitler to move huge armies against the British and French. Stalin also had a pact with Japan that allowed the Japanese more freedom in China and S.E Asia. After 1941, the US had to take on Japan almost single handedly, as well as mobilize a huge force in Europe and Africa, which engaged the Germans and made them leave considerable forces in the west. The americans also supplied Britain and the Soviets with considerable supplies of food, trucks etc.
And it was the US that contained the Soviets after the war,ultimately defeating Soviet ideology
Thomas Friedman has always been laughable. An apologist , straw man arguments, and selective picking of history
Davis Lewin should be an honorary American.
It's the american government that I'm against, not it's people.