[SSJPython]

Yes, it's pretty much identical to Russia-Ukraine. And I'm not justifying it, I am just explaining how the US sees it.

There is no morality in geopolitics. In the anarchic international system, there is no global enforcement mechanism, so states will always try to maximize their security at the expense of others. In short, might makes right in this system.

"The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must." - Thucydides

[keybored]

That’s right. It’s only us normal human beings that have an aversion to war and killing.

[IncreasePosts]

Basically everyone has an aversion to war and killing. Until something happens that they think is worth going to war for, or killing for.

[keybored]

The unnormal humans are the architects of these events who do it just for the sake of money and power.

[IncreasePosts]

Isn't that exactly what the poor 18 year old from Kentucky is doing when he signs up for the army?

[keybored]

That’s not a good way to get neither money nor power.

[IncreasePosts]

A common refrain to explain kids joining the army is to escape being stuck in a small town with no opportunities.

So, they are saying they're okay with killing in order to improve their economic prospects.

[fragmede]

Compared to other prospects for that 18 year old? College is out of reach without help and the military is a good way to get the help needed to go there.

[diggan]

> And I'm not justifying it, I am just explaining how the US sees it.

Yeah, I guess it's a thin line between "providing neutral historical context and reasoning" and "implicitly suggesting that the reasoning makes the actions acceptable or understandable". I'll trust what you're saying though and assume you're not actually trying to justifying it.

> states will always try to maximize their security at the expense of others

I don't think this is true for every single country in the world, especially those more concerned with their own well-being above their "global security status". That's the kind of black and white view that leads to more division and separation rather than humans trying to work together.

[SSJPython]

> I don't think this is true for every single country in the world, especially those more concerned with their own well-being above their "global security status". That's the kind of black and white view that leads to more division and separation rather than humans trying to work together.

For some countries, maximizing their security simply means trying to survive and not get taken over. These are typically smaller countries such as Armenia. They can't afford to focus on their economic well-being or working with other nations if their existence is threatened. For other countries that are established powers, maximizing security can mean anything from securing the territory it currently holds (India, Pakistan, North Korea, South Korea) to expanding its territory (Russia, Azerbaijan) to getting or maintaining a sphere of influence (US, Russia, China).