this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2025
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We are not all the same (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 1 year ago by sapetoku@sh.itjust.works to c/memes@lemmy.ml
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[–] sapetoku@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Let me break down for you why I'm anti-American. History and the absolute disregard for life the US promotes, as illustrated by the grim list below:

1. Direct Military Deaths (Combat & Bombing):

  • Korean War (1950-1953): Estimates vary widely, but civilian deaths in Korea are generally placed between 2 and 4 million. US military actions contributed significantly to this toll through bombing campaigns and ground combat. A reasonable attribution for direct/indirect deaths attributable to the US is 600,000 - 1,500,000.
  • Vietnam War (1955-1975): This is where the largest numbers lie. Estimates of Vietnamese civilian deaths range from 2 million to over 4 million. US bombing campaigns (Operation Rolling Thunder, Linebacker I & II) and ground operations were major contributors. Estimated US attribution: 1,000,000 - 3,800,000.
  • Laos (Secret War – 1964-1973): US bombing of Laos was extensive and largely secret. Civilian deaths are estimated at tens of thousands to over 100,000. Estimated US attribution: 20,000 - 100,000.
  • Cambodia (Bombing – 1969-1973): As mentioned previously, estimates range from 50,000 to over 500,000. Estimated US attribution: 50,000 - 500,000.
  • Iraq (Gulf War 1991 & Iraq War 2003-2011): The Gulf War resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths due to bombing and sanctions. The Iraq War is even more complex, with estimates ranging from hundreds of thousands to over a million. Estimated US attribution: 100,000 - 750,000.
  • Afghanistan (2001-2021): Civilian deaths are estimated in the tens of thousands. Estimated US attribution: 20,000 - 40,000.
  • Libya (2011): As mentioned previously, airstrikes contributed to an estimated 25,000-30,000 civilian deaths. Estimated US Attribution: 5,000 – 15,000.
  • Other Interventions/Conflicts (Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Balkans, Syria): These smaller interventions resulted in fewer direct military deaths but still contributed to overall casualties. Estimated US attribution: 5,000 - 20,000.

2. Indirect Deaths (Famine, Disease, Conflict Disruption):

  • Korea: Sanctions and disruption of agriculture likely led to famine-related deaths. Estimates are difficult but could be in the hundreds of thousands.
  • Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia: Displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and disruption of healthcare systems contributed to disease outbreaks and malnutrition. Estimates range from hundreds of thousands to over a million.
  • Iraq (Sanctions after Gulf War): UN sanctions imposed with US support are widely believed to have contributed significantly to civilian deaths due to lack of food and medicine. Estimates vary wildly, ranging from tens of thousands to over 1 million. This is the most contentious area of attribution.
  • Somalia: The "Black Hawk Down" incident and subsequent interventions disrupted aid efforts and exacerbated famine conditions.

Estimated Indirect Deaths attributable to US actions: 500,000 - 2,000,000+ (This is a very broad range due to the difficulty in isolating US influence).

3. Colonial Era (Philippines, etc.):

  • Philippine-American War (1899-1902): Estimates of Filipino deaths range from 200,000 to over 1 million. This includes combat deaths and those due to disease and famine exacerbated by the conflict. Estimated US attribution: 100,000 - 600,000.
  • Other Colonial Actions: Smaller incidents in other territories are difficult to quantify but likely resulted in additional deaths.

Overall Estimated Range of Deaths Attributable to US Foreign Interventions Since 1945:

Combining all categories (direct military, indirect, and colonial era), a reasonable estimate falls within the range of 2.5 million to over 8 million deaths. It is crucial to understand that this is an estimate based on available data and methodologies, and the true number could be higher or lower. The wide range reflects the inherent uncertainties in these calculations.

Regarding CIA-Installed Dictatorships:

While a precise count is difficult, historians generally identify at least 10-20 countries where US involvement (including covert operations by the CIA) played a significant role in installing or supporting authoritarian regimes since 1945. Examples include:

  • Iran (1953)
  • Guatemala (1954)
  • Chile (1973)
  • Brazil (multiple interventions)
  • Argentina (multiple interventions)
  • Greece (1947-1949)
  • Philippines (various periods)
  • Indonesia (1965)
  • Nicaragua (1980s)
  • Afghanistan (1980s)

This list is not exhaustive, and the degree of US influence in each case varies.