Comment by redis_mlc | Hacker News Reader

Comment by redis_mlc | Hacker News Reader

The article is badly written and edited, and whatever facts presented are either cherry-picked or irrelevant.

- Japan, who were occupying Indonesia, as they realized that WW2 was lost, met with Sukarno and Hatta and offered Indonesian independence

- then the Dutch, colonizers for 350 years, attempted to re-take Indonesia

- the US told the Dutch to get lost after almost 400 years, and Indonesia was able to proclaim independence.

So first off, the US is primarily to thank for Indonesia's early post-WW2 self-determination.

- after WW2, communism was being promoted by both Russia and China world-wide. The US encouraged the Indonesian leaders to avoid that. Part of the problem was ethnic politics and loyalty - Chinese businessmen control finance in SE Asia, and the native Indonesian leaders decided to do something about that under the guise of "communism bad"

- the US until today is the primary military supporter of Indonesia, training virtually all of their air force pilots. The C-130 and F-16 are their main aircraft.

So when people criticize US involvement in Indonesia, I remind them that the US is their biggest friend, from 1945 until today. In return, the US has never colonized that country in any way.

For those who haven't visited Indonesia, the country made huge economic strides from 2000 to 2019, and if not for corona, would be doing very well economically. Central Jakarta, the capital, is very nice.

Regarding the South American anti-communist actions, that is what it took to prevent it taking root. You can see what the alternative is in Venezuela, a former oil exporter, essentially a destroyed country because of it.

Or closer to home, the burning of our downtowns by Marxists.

>whatever facts presented are either cherry-picked or irrelevant.

>Look what japan did.

>Look what the dutch did.

>Look, the US was altruistic enough to give them indipendence.

>Look, the US even trains their military.

You responeded with a bunch of whatabout and called the US an ally.

Would you call the US an ally of south america too? (And ignore all the horrible hegemonic involvement.)

Why do you only cherry-pick Venezuela as an example and not Cuba, where mixed races living peacefully, side by side?

How does rioting promote marxism or socialism?

(>Look at all this right-wing brainfuck.)

Since we are in the realm of fairy dust, I'd like to point out the two bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki as retaliation for Pearl Habour.

1. We may say what we like, killing and injuring severely 150K people in indiscriminate nuclear bombing is a war crime. They knew it was. Otherwise they would have bombed Tokyo. Im aware that The targets were were active military bases, but civilians lived there. better yet, they could have bombed Germany too but thats another story.

2. You misunderstand the subtlety of modern conquest. Much of SE Asia, JPN, SKOR are countries under pretty much protectorates of US government and it's lauaghable to call them sovereign nations. They are in name only.

> Regarding the South American anti-communist actions, that is what it took to prevent it taking root.

This is a can of worms I'm sure the US Gov makes sure is fuzzy as hell. No idea why an economic system of another country is of such personal significance to US citizens that they will readily send their sons to die for it. I'm willing to bet a hairy unicorn that a majority of people in the US have no idea why their country spends so much energy fighting and starting wars in the last few decades other than some basic platitude of "Terrorism" and "communism". Ever heard of the Panama Canal? The term "Banana republic"? Read a book by the author John Hopkins, an American author.

> You can see what the alternative is in Venezuela.

Perhaps Maduro's mustache rubs Washington the wrong way. They've spent a lot of money and lives fighting mustached enemies the last few decades. He looks like a dictator who abuses his people to no end. A flash replica of Saddam giving the older politicians nightmares. I can only postulate.

The real reason Venezuela is failing is because it does not have money (Resource curse schurse.). UAE and Venezuela differ only in one aspect. UAE isn't a bastion of Democracy but is filthy rich. The difference is sanctions. And who do you suppose imposes those sanctions at the UN NA? Why? Why do they care? Has Caracas ever declared war on Washington? Does the American taxpayer even know where Caracas is?

So many questions. So many simple answers. Not easy answers but simple.

> better yet, they could have bombed Germany too but thats another story.

The atomic bombs were dropped in August 1945. Germany surrendered in May of 1945, before the Trinity test (first test of a nuclear device) in July!

> I'd like to point out the two bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki as retaliation for Pearl Habour.

This is far too simple - it's widely accepted that there were multiple reasons for using the bombs that do not include simple revenge. Most notable were the estimates of allied casualties to invade mainland Japan after the experience of clearing islands during the Pacific campaign.

It's also worth noting that consent to use the bombs was required and given by the British per the Quebec Agreement of 1943.

> The atomic bombs were dropped in August 1945. Germany surrendered in May of 1945, before the Trinity test (first test of a nuclear device) in July!

True.

> This is far too simple - it's widely accepted that there were multiple reasons for using the bombs that do not include simple revenge.

Simple motivations are most powerful. Japan was teetering and no longer a credible threat. Air raids and the pamphlets had already weakened support for the war against US within the JPN government, considerjng most people did not agree with it initially. It was just a matter of time.

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