USA Intervention Of Central America

The history of Central America was considered to be a colorful one, though it was a very complicated because of historical events that took place influencing the political, economical and cultural development of the Central America region. The United States of America intervention of Central America was very extensive in the twentieth century (Burbach & Flynn, 2009). The apologists and prosecutors explain the U.S interventions by arguing that the American policy makers have genuinely believed that the Central America is an area of vital significance to the U.S and so it has intervened there repeatedly in the name of states’ security, despite the exaggeration of the national security threats. During this period, the worldwide drive for consolidated empires prompted the American policy makers to develop a positive approach to protect American economic as well as, military strategic interests in the western hemisphere (Leonard, 2009). In summary, this paper will argue on USA Intervention of Central America while attempting to explain their frequency by highlighting factors such as political, security, social and economic interests, which made the U.S. interventions of Central America so common.

The immense differences in size as well as, influence between the U.S and the States of Central America have made interventions to be a low risk solution crisis which threaten American interests in the region. In 1980, the US interests in Central America became greater than ever making the American government power in the area less effective. The most recurring themes of the US is that of the foreign intervention with the Central America. Like other countries such as Africa and Middle East, Central America had a long history of meddling by the foreign powers. The foreign intervention with the Central America profoundly shaped the character as well as the history of the region. For instance, the conquest of the Americas was one of the greatest acts of foreign intervention in the US history. This resulted into death of many people; many peoples and cultures were also wiped out (Burbach & Flynn, 2009).

By the early 20th century, many U.S. companies managed to dominate the economies of five Central American republics; as a result, they were in control of railroads, port facilities, banana production, mines, as well as, banking institutions. The study showed that the American foreign policy for many years had been nationalistic and aggressive (Leonard, 2009). As a colonial power with valuable investments outside the country, the U.S became more and more involved in international affairs (Burbach & Flynn, 2009). As a result, the United States constantly intervened in the affairs of Central America for commercial, economic as well as for other benefits. There are many reasons that led the U.S to intervention; the U.S feared the Russians, Spanish and other European countries who were able to gain control of Central America.

Conversely, there were three major instances when the U.S intervened in the development of Central American nations. These included when the U.S. control over Cuba through Platt Amendment in the aftermath of Spanish- American War, the Samuel Zemurray’s involvement in the 1905 coup in Honduras, as well as, the role and responsibility of the United States in the creation of Panama in the 1903. These events are very significant for the reason that they all resulted in the creation of a new government and Central American nation since they demonstrated a pattern of the U.S. imperialism in the Central America (Burbach & Flynn, 2009). It was also noted that the Central American were having difficult times in coping with the issues that had affected most people during the Cold War, for instance, according to the Central American report, the said “…The vast majority of the Central Americans today live in perpetual misery beside the tiny elites who tend to enjoy unparalleled prosperity. They added by saying that, the just like the case of the average cat in the US who happen to eat more beef than the average people who live in Central America. For instance, it is reported that, in Nicaragua, at least 54 percent of the people complained of safe drinking water. However, in Guatemala, it was reported that 44 percent of the people were illiterate (Leonard, 2009).

Cases of the US Intervention of Central America

With the current political in U.S, the American foreign policies for many years are looking to soften the historic reputation in the region by deferring negotiations to Central American diplomats. One case which led to the U.S intervention was as a result of the Independence of Panama in 1903. Panama was itself part of a country called the Great Colombia following the independence from Spain. The Colombia government had negotiated with the U.S to allow them build a canal that was to be used as a bridge between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; however, this did not succeed because the US was mainly supporting a separatist movement in Panama. Following the establishment of the Republic of Panama, the French engineering magnate by the name Philip Burnau decided and sold his concession to the building rights for the US government. As a result, the US demanded control of the canal, which led to tension that, killed more than 20 Panamanians and about 10 US soldiers (Burbach & Flynn, 2009).

The other case which led to the U.S interventions of Central America was as a result of the 1965 issue. In 1965, the U.S marines landed in the Dominican Republic, where they supported the Dominican military while clashing with the forces from the Constitutional (Leonard, 2009). The US intervention with the Dominican was significant in that it gave the Dominican military a psychological boost, as a result, allowing them with a free reign to gain control of the countryside, despite the fact that the rebels were left to pent-up in the capital. This led to the establishment of the interim government and a newly held presidential election. During this period, the US succeeded in preventing the democracy as well as, liberty from taking the firm hold in Dominican Republic (Leonard, 2009). This on the other hand, established a conservative anticommunist government, under the ageing leadership, Balaguer who was elected as the president. Likewise, the US government saw their interventions with the military as a failure, where they criticized the military for overestimating the communist threat along with underestimating the gravity of the situation in the Dominican Republic prior to the rebellion (Burbach & Flynn, 2009).

According to Burbach & Flynn, (2009), they both argued that the establishment of Dominican Republic had led to torture, repression, death, an increase in poverty as well as, malnutrition for vast emigration, mass of the population, vast emigration, slave labor conditions and outstanding opportunities for the US investors, whose control over the economy had reached the new heights. Consequently, there were various themes which came up as a result of the US military intervention of Central America. First, the intervention was to defend the lives as well as, the rights of civilian populations; however, the military tactics were noted to have often left behind massive civilian (Burbach & Flynn, 2009).

Conclusion

It is still evident that the US foreign intervention in Central America is up to date taking place. For example, time has greatly changed but foreign powers are still active in meddling in the affairs of Central America. Furthermore, the France is said to continue holding a colony on the mainland of South Africa and United States, while the Britain on the other hand, up to date still control the island in the Caribbean. Moreover, it is also evident that communism which was practiced by the US government is barely kicking; this has made the US government to gain power of modifying its foreign policy position regarding the Americas as well as, other countries across the world. In addition, if the US will continue to intervene with Central America, then this will help in maintaining its power as well as, answering the domestic concerns as in its intervention in the Panama and Dominican Republican.

References

Burbach, R., & Flynn, P. (2009). The Politics of intervention: the United States in Central America. New York, N.Y.: Monthly Review Press ;.

Frater, J. (2012). 10 Cases of American Intervention in Latin America. Listverse. Retrieved December 15, 2013, from http://listverse.com/2009/07/11/10-cases-of-american-intervention-in-latin-america/

Leonard, T. M. (2009). Central America and the United States: the search for stability. Athens: University of Georgia Press.

Stepan, A. (2007). The United States and Latin America: Vital Interests and the Instruments of Power. Global. Retrieved December 15, 2013, from http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/33346/alfred-stepan/the-united-states-and-latin-america-vital-interests-and-the-inst