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Debate: No, America Should Not Export
Freedom Abroad

Original Article

Posted By: Alecto2, 6/19/2025 7:16:52 AM

The following is adapted from Antiwar.com editorial director Scott Horon’s statements in debate with Chinese exile Wang Dan on June 12 at Freedom Fest in Palm Springs, California “In order to preserve freedom at home, America must make an effort to export it abroad.” Ha. You’ve got to be kidding me. In the last 25 years, in the name of spreading democracy and freedom, the U.S. completely destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Mali, Syria, Iraq again, Yemen and major parts of Pakistan and Ukraine, killing and getting killed upwards of four million people, displacing 40 million

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In the words of Monty Python, "And now for something completely different." A long piece just for contrast to the many jingoistic ones we see.

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Reply 1 - Posted by: Mcscow sailor 6/19/2025 7:40:24 AM (No. 1966444)
Sounds like he has a major hurt with the US. Perhaps he would be more comfy in Chins
6 people like this.

Reply 2 - Posted by: jeffkinnh 6/19/2025 8:32:13 AM (No. 1966467)
What a mess of an article, extreme positions and suppositions on both sides. No, we should not try to export democracy to other countries, especially those so ill suited for it. Yes, we should seek allies like Israel who is of similar mind on governance and freedom and who we can work with. Yes, we should oppose terrorism but taking over a country to remake it in our image does not work, i.e. Iraq. We should thoroughly destroy terrorist strongholds and leave a clear message that if they rebuild, we will be back. Yes, we should use our economic power to strangle enemies and tell those who do work with them that they are NOt our friends and they might not want to get caught in any blowback. There are clear paths to a better world that doesn't require extremism on either side.
7 people like this.

Reply 3 - Posted by: red1066 6/19/2025 8:39:57 AM (No. 1966469)
Every place named never had freedom, so they had no freedom to lose.
2 people like this.

Reply 4 - Posted by: cor-vet 6/19/2025 9:38:33 AM (No. 1966493)
If the citizens of other countries want American style freedoms and independence, they need to obtain it the same way we got ours. If they get it, we can then welcome them to the fold!
5 people like this.

Reply 5 - Posted by: jasonB 6/19/2025 9:43:43 AM (No. 1966501)
Thank you OP. Refreshing. And after watching Cruz beclown himself the other day, I am more opposed to this nonsense than ever before. If you can't handle a few tough questions BEFORE you go destroy another country (again) maybe it's time to step back and reassess your thought process. Misquoting scripture to justify your position while claiming the other (BAD) guy is a religious nut ain't exactly winning me over. Before anyone responds, if you do, take a long moment and think to yourself, would you support this course we are on if Biden, Harris, Hillary or Obama were making the EXACT same case? Be honest.
2 people like this.

Reply 6 - Posted by: chumley 6/19/2025 9:45:13 AM (No. 1966502)
Most humans want to be ruled. They want to be told what to do and have a long list of rules and standards they must abide by. Thats even true here, and we consider ourselves free. People consider the idea of freedom scary, unlike the safe, warm blanket of tyranny. We ought to secure freedom here first. Then our example might inspire others. Lately we have not been much of an inspiration.
6 people like this.

Reply 7 - Posted by: Attila DiMedici 6/19/2025 2:29:46 PM (No. 1966678)
I am torn here because there is a conflict between what I believe that I, as a follower of Christ, should do and what I believe those who run the government of the United States should do. As a follower of Christ, I should seek what is best for others, even at my own expense. Those who run the government should seek to do that which serves the best interests if the people whom they govern. That being said...it is in the best interest of the people of the United States that all countries are governed by the rule of law. Which means that there are clearly written laws which define what can and cannot be done and those laws apply equally to all persons in that country.
0 people like this.

Reply 8 - Posted by: franco 6/19/2025 6:51:23 PM (No. 1966731)
Horton is an ill-mannered @ss-clown who, in any debate, seeks first to denigrate his debate opponent. There are lots of on-line videos of him exhibiting this behavior. He's like a medical doctor whose solution to everything is to give the patient syrup of ipecac. I don't find any of his views compelling, and it surprises me that even those nominally on his ideological page can tolerate him. But some people seem to enjoy mental abuse in their pursuit of "knowledge"...
0 people like this.

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