Peace on Earth: Once a Year? (Korean Times, KOREA)

``Peace on Earth," people ritualistically intone every Christmas. It's a wonderful platitude. But utterly meaningless, at least in the United States. The American government is the most aggressive, belligerent, and warlike on earth.

That doesn't mean Washington is the worst, most murderous regime in existence. There are wars like America's invasion of Panama, and then there are wars like Iraq's invasion of Iran. Moreover, governments can kill promiscuously without invading other nations such as North Korea.

Yet no other country so frequently attacks other states or so ostentatiously claims the right to invade other states as the U.S. Consider the American government's record since 1980.

It has used, backed, or threatened force more than a dozen times: Nicaragua, Grenada, Libya, Lebanon, Panama, Haiti (twice), Somalia, Iraq (twice), Bosnia, Serbia, and Afghanistan (twice).

One can justify one or another of these actions, but most were relevant to no American interests and promoted no vital interests. Lebanon? Serbia? Somalia? Haiti?

The bankruptcy of Washington's position is evident in how U.S. officials routinely change their justifications to fit the circumstances. Iraq had to be invaded. After all, there were weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) to seize. Oops.

There were 9/11 terrorists to punish. Oops. There was democracy to promote. Oops. It turns out Washington doesn't need to have reasons, let alone good reasons, for invading other states.

The militaristic perspective of America's policymakers is reflected in U.S. ``defense" spending. Only one country, Russia, has a nuclear force comparable to that of the U.S., and Washington's arsenal remains far superior.

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