Third world hopes and dreams essay

Third world hopes and dreams                      Q 4Introduction The history of the United States of America remains riddled in controversies in regards to its foreign policy. This rests on the premise that relations with foreign nations are determined by the policy agenda of states. The involvement of the United States of America in the three states has over time been strained (Hunt, 2004). USA and Vietnam When talk emerges on the United States of America history crops up in relation to Vietnam, the most notable issue relates to the longest war that the world’s lone superpower has engaged in. The war in Vietnam lasted a period of 15 years. To add insult to injury, the war ended in a stalemate (Hunt, 2004).

The United States of America entered the war in Vietnam with the hope of checking the spread of communism in the Southeastern region of Asia (Heng and Shapiro, 1984). This came behind the backdrop of the perceived threat of the communist forces gaining control of the Asian state. If Vietnam fell to communism, the United States feared that state after state would then succumb to the system. The fact that communism is a system that the united states strongly opposed was reason enough to wage war against Vietnam (Heng and Shapiro, 1984). It should also be noted that, Vietnam was split into two in 1954 following the war of independence. On the withdrawal of the French forces after defeat, the communist forces gained a foothold in the country. North Vietnam was taken over by Vietnamese communists under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh.

The south was non-communist, with a weak government which was supported by the United States.  Initially, the United States only used the south as a proxy in the war. However, as events continued, the United States was to employ the use of lethal air warfare in the region. The hostilities towards the USA were based on the attempt to derail the unification of Vietnam. Though with the withdrawal of the United States hostilities subsided, the two states do not enjoy the best of relations to date (Heng and Shapiro, 1984). USA and IraqRelations between the United States and Iran began as early as 1800. The early relations did not witness much controversy until after the World War Two period (Heng and Shapiro, 1984).

During the era of the leadership of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the ties between Iran and the United States remained good. However, after the overthrow of the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s regime during the Iranian revolution, things changed drastically (Heng and Shapiro, 1984). The Iran-Iraq war also points to one event that contributed to the straining of relations between the United States and the Iranian republic. It is alleged that the Reagan administration gave Iraq the green light to attack Iran. It is also pointed out that president carter gave Iraq the same support against Iran through the then prince of Jordan, Fahd (Hunt, 2004).

The hostility appeared to be on as the Bush administration held a tough stance on the country.  Giving a speech in 2002, the then president labeled Iran as one among the ‘ axis of evil’ alongside Iraq and North Korea. The contention as presented by Bush was based on perceived threat the nations posed to US interests. This speech was bound to cause outrage as it did in Iran. The united states continue spying on Iran over allegations of nuclear enrichment. Other allegations which shape the relations between the two states are based on allegations that Iran supports terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. On the other hand, Iran accuses the United States for infringing on her territorial rights.

This is premised on the using of unmanned aerial USA vehicles to spy on Iran (Hunt, 2004). USA and GuatemalaGuatemala, just like Iran and Vietnam are among the countries that hold stained relations with the United States. The talking point on the basis of relations between the two countries is rested on the 1954 coup which saw the toppling of a democratic government (Heng and Shapiro, 1984). A number of analysts like Peter Kornbluh and Kate Doyle claim that the coup in Guatemala was an exercise that got overwhelming support from the United States of America. They further claim that the coup was organized by Guatemala military leaders but refined by the United States intelligence system.

This coup left thousands f innocent civilians massacred. Another analyst, Stephen Rabe, claimed that by launching the coup, the United States had put in place a forty year long cycle of repression and terror (Heng and Shapiro, 1984). The killing of a US citizen, Michael DeVine in 1990 strained the relations further as the then president, George Bush withdrew the military aid they always gave to the country.

In 1999, the sitting United States of America president, Bill Clinton, sought to table an apology before the Guatemala government. This came after the publication of a truth commission that aimed at restoring the society from the evils which took place during the time. The act of apologizing to the republic of Guatemala indicates that the United States chose to take a better route by trying to amend the strained relations between the two countries. This was a good step towards developing cordial relations (Hunt, 2004).;;;;;;;;;;;; References; Hunt, M. H. (2004).

The World Transformed: 1945 to the Present. New York: Bedford/St; Martins. ISBN 0312245831. Heng, L. ; Shapiro, J. (1984).  Son of the Revolution.

New York: Vintage. ISBN; 0394722744.