Reply #2: What could have been

[izquierdista]

Suppose, for a minute, that John Kennedy laughed off his military advisers in 1961, told them "No, we're going to do things a new way. That Peace Corps that I just got through Congress, that's going to be our instrument of foreign policy. You in the Defense Department, are going to do just that, defend the United States."

Suppose that he sent teachers, agricultural experts, medical personnel, and civil engineers to countries that were "in our national interest". Suppose further that they built roads and dams and flood control projects, had teaching hospitals as part of the American embassy, and staffed schools and agricultural extension programs.

Suppose we showed more concern for the people of a country than whichever despot had managed to seize power.

Where would we be 50 years down THAT road?