Is our government incapable of keeping their nose out?

History always repeats itself, maybe the century changes, fashion changes, political thinking changes [at least for a short time before changing again] but History does repeat itself. The present "why us?" when watching a Dictator killing men, women and children by the hundreds and indeed thousands is merely another repeat. The British Public did exactly the same before World War One and Two. In WWII governments dragged their feet while other countries were invaded and put to the torch and people like us said "why us?" and wrung our hands.
America became isolationists after WW1 and had to have war declared on them by Japan after Pearl Harbour and then Germany declaring war on them. They didn't join Great Britain in the war because of patriotism or the wish to right a wrong, they did it out of practicality. After the war their mind set changed when they realised they were a Super Power and decided to become the World's Policeman.
We were a Super Power before WWII just holding on to an Empire we weren't big enough to hold onto once other Countries decided they had territorial ambitions. Now we may not be militarily strong or financially strong but we still remain a country with a conscience. That conscience has led us into many clashes since WWII but I don't think any were ones that we jumped into but were forced upon us by circumstances and other Countries arguable territorial claims, such as the Falklands, or the killing of untold numbers of civilians. We've lost many a good serving man and woman in those "why us?" clashes and that's a price hard to live with but we still haven't lost our conscience.
So why us? Well, if you forget the myth that we have been and are being led by the nose by the Yanks, then the simple answer is that we are one of the very few countries that asks "why us?" and is still standing there when other countries turn their faces away still muttering "why us". The UN has over the years become a politically divided organisation that can no longer function and the Maverick countries threatening war on others or killing their own people know it. I don't think anyone thinks the UN is worth anything these days and as one Politician said "If you got rid of the top 20 floors of the UN Building it would have no effects on world events"
So here we are again asking "why us?. You might not think it but the arguments being used now to support the question "why us?" were being used over 70 years ago. So the answer to "why us?" is one we actually know despite our protestations..........because history has taught us we can't afford not to.

 

Cracking post @ARMANDII - and truly gives a perspective I hadn't considered.

 

Pete, no country or countries can stop what's happening in the Middle East. But is that sufficient cause to ignore the use of Chemical Warfare on civilians and the massacre of Syrian men, women and children? We can sit here in our relatively safe country and houses and pontificate about the wisdom of getting involved in affairs that we can argue are nothing to do with us.
There's been wars fought in the Middle East for centuries over Religion, the struggle for political power, military gain and it's still going on. Even up to WWII Europe was heavily involved in some of those struggles and after that war we and Europe redefined Middle East countries drawing up new borders, supporting leaders that we possibly shouldn't have, leaders who became Dictators but were useful to us, and ignoring the future. But in doing that we couldn't change consequences of the thousands of years of Religious belief, the fall of many great Eastern Empires and Societies, that have lead to the present state of the Middle Eastern area. I served in the RAF in Aden, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Egypt and to be honest I couldn't understand the religious/political structures and beliefs as they were professing one thing and practicing the complete opposite. You may think our Politicians do the same but not to the extreme as in the Middle East. There are many reasons, both historical and present, that have ignited the dramatic changes and overthrows of harsh corrupt governments and leaders in the Middle East and leaving them in a state of upheaval, conflict and struggle. Some countries govern basically the same way that they have for centuries being run by the few and meeting any discord with violence and cruelty.
Maybe the present state of affairs are the symptoms of a democratic, secular, or more moderate religious culture change that might lead to the creating of a more free better way in which the Middle East countries can govern themselves without being dictated to by the Military, Dictators, or religious leaders...............and then again maybe not.. I am not wise enough to know the answer to all that but I do know that despite all the perfectly good arguments why we should walk away and ignore the screams of men, women and children being brutally killed in which ever country it's happening in I would feel ashamed if we did.

 

Well, it's recognised that Religious organisations of whatever shade have in the past relied on control over education and knowledge to maintain their positions of power and in some areas of the world still do, as do certain Dictator and communist states.
It is a losing fight as technology is spreading knowledge throughout the globe and with knowledge comes questions and restrictive, power controlling organisations hate and fear that. It'll take time and, tragically, more loss of life before more cultures and countries become more aware and able to run their own lives in a free and undistorted way but I'm at least reasonably sure that it will happen. Then maybe the question "why us?" being asked partially in fear, timidness, or just selfishness will stop being asked.

 

On the contrary, Freddy, it's a wise man who knows the difference between Right and Wrong and that he should, and has to, do something to stop the massacre of men, women and children.

As Edmund Burke said:

"THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS THAT GOOD MEN DO NOTHING"

That, for me, sweeps all the dithering, timid, self righteous, politically correct, and inward isolationist arguments into the Bin.