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Why the US is almost always at war? | DW Documentary | DW Documentary | YouTubeToText
YouTube Transcript: Why the US is almost always at war? | DW Documentary
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Summary
Core Theme
The United States has a deeply ingrained history of military engagement and expansion, evolving from a nascent republic to a global superpower. This military identity is intertwined with its national narrative, cultural output, and foreign policy, shaping its role and perception in the world.
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[music]
This is one of the most famous buildings
in the world and it's shrouded in secrecy.
secrecy. [music]
[music]
The Pentagon, the center of US military
[music] power, lies on the banks of the
Ptoic River with a view of the most
important centers of the nation's
political power in Washington [music] DC.
DC.
In early September 2025, [music] US
President Donald Trump renamed the
former Department of Defense the
Department of War.
The US military showcases its [music]
power in videos featuring hundreds of
thousands of US troops on continuous
deployment across all continents [music]
of the world.
A global military presence that no other
[music] like to tell themselves that
we're a peaceful nation. We're a
peaceful people. But the reality is the
United States [music] has been almost
constantly at war since we became an
Since [music] its foundation, the US
military has been involved in hundreds
of wars and military conflicts. For the
United States, war is not an exceptional situation.
situation.
For [music] more than 250 years, war has
played a central role in shaping the
Worldwide, there seems to be a
heightened risk of military
confrontations [music]
between nations or peoples, as in
Ukraine, the Middle East, and perhaps
>> [music]
>> What will the future course of the US
look like? Will the country aggressively
defend [music] its interests or will it
commit to upholding its historical moral
values? [music]
Uh we are the only remaining global
superpower at this point and we have
interest everywhere. We're not out in
the world seeking imperial expansion nor
are we out in the world doing favors for
people. We're just looking out for our
own interest which happened to be worldwide
when terrorists attacked the US on
They both attacked its economic power by
targeting the World Trade Center and its
military power [music] with the Pentagon,
Pentagon,
Construction work on the Pentagon began
on [music] the exact same day 60 years
previously on September 11th, 1941.
It wasn't [music] to be a skyscraper as
steel supplies were needed to build
planes and ships. [music]
World War II was in full swing. The US
was viewed by many as a global [music]
police force and the Pentagon came to
>> Every year in Massachusetts in the
northern United States, hundreds of
American volunteers reenact one of the
battles that decided the war in favor of
the United States.
It took place [music] in the Pacific on
By defeating the Japanese [music]
stationed there, US troops gained access
Amid the ongoing war, the Pentagon
decided to establish [music] its first
To this day, [music] strategic bombers
can still reach anywhere on the Asian
[music]
>> A great many battle reenactments like
these take place across the country
every year.
They play a part in making war a key
[music] pillar of national identity as
do the various memorials, museums, and
uniformed ceremonies. [music]
[music]
>> But in its bid to anchor its military
might in the hearts and heads of the
population, the United States has an
even more effective method in its arsenal.
The War Movie. A Hollywood invention.
Military blockbusters that flaunt US
dominance to the nation's people, but
also [music] to the rest of the world.
>> You will not like me.
But the [music] more you hate me, the
>> The river is wide and that the current
is strong. Hey Mary,
>> take cover.
During the Second World War, there were
dedicated motion picture units attached
to different branches of the military.
And in that sense, the military and the
Hollywood community were enmeshed and
and collaborating in bringing films into
the world. and some of some of America's
best directors left their work in
Hollywood to go and literally sign up,
join the American military and
participate in making films in
collaboration with the military that
were shown to the American public and internationally.
>> First, let's examine a typical Japanese
soldier. He has been trained to be a
soldier almost from birth and into his
tough little mind has been drilled and
hammered the fanatic belief that
Japanese [music] are descendants of gods.
gods.
>> And those filmmakers included um George
Stevens, uh William Wiler, John Ford, um
John Houston, um all of whom at the time
Hollywood and the US military developed
a special connection that endures to
>> Come on, you luck.
>> The Second World War is a recurrent
>> Move fast and clear those murder holes.
Steven Spielberg's Saving [music]
Private Ryan was filmed in the 1990s,
shortly after the first Gulf War.
>> But it was World War II that provided a
more effective canvas for constructing a
legend telling of a US fight for the
greater good.
>> Captain gave you an order.
>> Yeah, take the money to take this
machine gun.
>> Yes, sir. That was one. Saving Private
Ryan is really an expression and
articulation of America
uh coming into the world and uh putting
lives at risk to to do something good.
Um often times at great cost to itself.
I if you [snorts] look at the wars
America was fighting in Iraq in
particular um uh
it's really not so clear that that is
what America is doing abroad or how it's
being perceived.
>> I think it's not great because we're
actually spreading misinformation that
way. But yeah, pop culture is is
probably I would say number one in terms
of how we maintain hegemony
because of the perception and perception
>> These war films encourage viewers to
And did you know this tradition of
singing the American national anthem on
almost every occasion, especially at
sporting events?
>> It was only during World War II that the
national anthem was sung before team
sports, be it baseball or American
football, in order to generate a sense
of national pride, out of patriotism, as
though two armies were fighting against
each other. It wasn't like that before
World War II.
We watched were so gallently streaming
streaming
for the land
of the free
I think that World War two absolutely is
the one that Americans can still get
behind and understand why
>> World War II can be an easier story to
tell about why the United States went
into a war. It's not about ideals. It's
about a direct attack on the United
States. For most Americans, World War II
remains the war that's uh uh that's most
present in their minds when they think
of uh how to win effectively. Uh but in 1939
1939
uh at that time the American military
ranked 19th in the world in terms of
total size 19th. Uh so this huge country
with a huge industrial capability was a
military pygmy. The World Wars, which of
course we came out on the winning side
in, uh, transformed the United States
from a minor regional power into a
global superpower and transformed the
average American's understanding of the
purpose of the country in which they lived.
lived.
>> 2 million New Yorkers jammed Time
Square. It's official. It's all over.
The United States was still relatively
new on the world stage in 1945,
but thanks to its military might, it now
dictated the new world order, a role it
has largely retained to this day. [cheering]
[cheering]
Across the country, World War II was
celebrated as the birth of the new America.
The largest naval base on the US West
Coast is in San Diego, [music] California.
California.
Here, the last US aircraft carrier built
during World War II, [music] the Midway,
has been converted into a museum where
visitors can marvel at the military
In Washington DC, the imposing World War
II memorial almost directly opposite the
White House occupies a large section of
the National Mall at the heart of this
World War I is remembered at this
[music] memorial here in Kansas City,
far off the beaten track.
It was during this conflict that America
became more aware of its power and
emerging role in the global order. But
for a long time, the US was reluctant to
enter the fry. [music]
It didn't want to get mixed up in this
war between European nations, many of
whom colonized large parts of [music]
North America. The United States had not
been socialized to a global role.
Americans had not previously thought of
themselves as a world power.
You know, there had been a heavy
ideology in the United States of
avoiding foreign entanglements
>> and it's a very powerful force in
American politics. We have a
presidential election in 1916 and the
peace movement pacifists are are very
instrumental in helping reelect Woodro
Wilson who did after all run on a
platform of he kept us out of war. [music]
In 1916, the US was still strictly isolationist.
isolationist.
The future giant [music] wasn't yet
[music]
But Germany started interrupting its
trade with the Anton of World War I. In
particular, hampering [music] Atlantic
After a while, sections of the American
public [music] began demanding entry
into the war. [music]
But it wasn't until 1917 that President
Wilson took that decision. In doing so,
he didn't just [music] break his own
promise. He also issued a new foreign
policy [music] doctrine that justifies
US military interventionism. To this day,
day, [music]
[music]
the US saw itself as entrusted with a
sacred mission to stand up for [music]
perceived American values everywhere in
the world. [music]
So when the United States does
eventually enter the war in April of
1917, Woodro Wilson gives a really
important war address in which he really
outlines what's both at stake for the
United States and also the role that the
United States can play in this conflict.
And he really does propose a sort of new
role for United States in the in the
world. World War I was really the
gestation of a lot of what we would call
now propaganda techniques uh to convince
people one way or the other. And in
fact, our federal government created a
whole department of of war information
to do exactly that, to send people out
to presentations and events to convince
people. They created a whole series of
posters to you know invoke emotional
responses and I think that was a big ingredient.
ingredient.
>> What is so significant about this moment
is that those Wilsonian principles that
are meant to dictate [music] what the
first world war means have animated
The US sent two million men to fight
[music] in the World War on the European continent.
continent.
The country introduced conscription,
built up a huge arms industry, and
learned to coordinate troop deployments overseas.
overseas.
[music] It was a huge logistical and
human undertaking that changed the US
World War I is the beginning of the
modern United States military. It is the
beginning of
America [music] of the 20th century. It
is the beginning of what some historians
call right the era of [music] America as
as a superpower. So much of who we
became, who we have become is so deeply
influenced not only by the military
actions but by the [music] social, economic,
economic,
cultural uh consequences both positive
and negative of the first world war. A
big part of American kind of
self-identification, self-identity comes
out of wars that we were successful in.
World War I and World War II, Americans
think the United States saved the world,
rescued uh the rescued civilization
uh from terrible scourges. And I I I
think that has played an outsized role
uh in American sense of what is America
about? What makes America different?
What makes America unique?
And boy, home here, swing it.
>> The [music] US may not have wanted to
enter both world wars initially, but
each time it emerged victorious and
changed. In 1952, the United Nations new
base of operations opened in New York
City. The choice to build [music] there
was an indication of the world's new
political center.
The [music] United States financed the
reconstruction of Europe with the help
of the Marshall Plan. It asserted its
values and made the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights the
cornerstone [music]
of the UN.
In Washington, it founded the World Bank
and the International Monetary Fund. It
forged a new world order.
The massive industrial mobilization that
the war created took an economy in a
state of depression supercharged it and
created the basis for massive prosperity
after the war. It it was this transformative
transformative
experience in World War II that put the
United States first of all in a material
position of uh radical power and
secondly impressed Americans with the
need for engagement globally. [music]
Today, this international commitment is
evident in the fact that more than
200,000 US military personnel are
permanently stationed abroad at hundreds
of bases [music] around the globe,
enabling intervention anywhere in the
world within [music] a matter of hours.
Some 60,000 soldiers are enlisted every
year to keep the United States military functioning.
functioning.
[music] It has 11 aircraft carriers,
more than any other nation in the world.
It [music] maintains around 14,000
military aircraft, also more than any
other country. >> [music]
>> [music]
>> It owns some 5,000 nuclear warheads,
which can also be launched from its
submarines [music] or by strategic bombers.
On the 16th of July 1945, [music] in a
desert close to the Mexican border, the
United States became the first country
3 weeks later, President [music] Truman
decided to deploy this new bomb in Japan.
[music]
A short time ago, an American airplane
The shock over the destruction of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked the end of
the Pacific theater of World War II.
The US possessed the ultimate weapon
that would secure its superiority moving forwards.
With this bomb, we have now added a new
and revolutionary increase [music]
in destruction to supplement the growing
power of our armed forces.
In their present form, these bombs are
now in production and even more powerful
bombs are in [music] development.
It is an atomic bomb. It is a harnessing
of the basic power of the universe.
Let there be no mistake. We shall
completely destroy Japan's power to make war.
To this day, there are still question
marks over the US decision to drop
atomic bombs on our country.
I understand that some Americans believe
the outcome of this bombing was largely
positive, but that doesn't end the debate.
For my part, I don't think nuclear
weapons should exist. However, if they
were to disappear, this could lead to
even more violent wars fought with
This could cause even more suffering for
people all over the world. In other
words, the deterrent effect provided by
nuclear weapons helps to prevent wars
On August 6th, 1945, the B29 bomber took
off with its deadly payload from the
[music] new US base on the Mariana Islands.
Islands.
For much of humanity, this aircraft
became a symbol of the horror of nuclear
weapons. For the [music] US, the Anola
Gay is a reminder of one of the
The aircraft is [music] now on display
in a museum in a suburb of Washington DC
After Hiroshima, a second bomb was
dropped on Nagasaki. This forced Tokyo,
which had long put up fierce resistance,
World War I ended with an armistice.
In World [music] War II, the conflict
was brought to a close by an
uncompromising, sweeping demonstration
of power [music] by the US against its enemies.
>> It was an unconditional surrender. There
was nothing to negotiate. According to
Washington, the justification for this
hardline approach was that no
compromises could be made with Japan's
political system. Just like with the
Nazi regime, Japanese militarism had led
to Pearl Harbor and had to be totally
eradicated. That's why the US army
decided to use nuclear weapons against
80 years after Hiroshima and the
emperor's capitulation, the US Army is
still stationed in Japan.
In Yokosuka, a small coastal town at the
entrance to Tokyo Bay. Tourist boats
offer daily trips to one of the largest
US naval bases outside the United
[music] States. 10 US ships, including
an aircraft carrier, are mored here in
On the opposite key, the Japanese Navy
demonstrates its growing power. The once
The US armed forces are unique in the world.
world.
They station troops in outposts around
the globe which play a central role in
in the Asia- Pacific region. For
example, Japan is home to the largest US
The headquarters of the US 7th Fleet is
located here in Yokosuka near Tokyo.
In addition, the largest US air base in
Asia is in Kadina on the island of
Okinawa. Around 50,000 members of the US
armed forces are currently stationed
there. And in the event of a crisis in
Asia, these Japanese bases would be
In Europe and Asia, the US has opted to
counter threats by relying on its former
enemies. In Germany, the US army has a
particularly strong presence with regard
to Russia. Japan, another defeated
country, facilitates a response to the
growing threat from China. This is a
>> [music]
>> By stationing troops with its former
enemies and arming itself with nuclear
weapons, [music] US supremacy seemed
[music]
But on June 25th, 1950, something
happened to tip [music] that balance.
This was the day North Korea invaded its
Japan's surrender in 1945, a liberated
Korea had been divided into two
occupation zones.
[music] A Soviet sphere of influence in
the north led by Kim Ilsung and in the
south [music] an area under US control.
The move represented the first attack on
[music] the new global police force. To
initiate counter measures, 2 days later
in New York, [music] the US put the
first international military
intervention to a vote at the United Nations.
At late success, the United [music]
Nations Security Council met to deal
with this act of unprovoked aggression.
The Soviet [music] Union chose to be
absent. The council voted for United
Nations military action against the
aggressor and provided for a unified
command of United Nations [music] forces.
forces.
General Douglas MacArthur was appointed
commanderin-chief and accepted the first
United Nations battle flag.
The [music] port of Busousan on the
South Korean coast lies close to Japan
and in Japan were the only readily
available United Nations forces. United
States troops were landed at Busousan
[music] to carry out the instructions of
the Security Council.
>> MacArthur then launched a counter
offensive from US bases in Japan with
his soldiers under the flag of the
United Nations. This marked the start of
the first war to defend the principles
of international law. It was a brutal
war that killed millions, among them
tens of thousands of US soldiers. A
price paid by MacArthur, who managed to
push back North Korean forces. His aim,
the complete surrender of Pyongyang and
its communist, Soviet, and Chinese
allies, even if that meant deploying
nuclear weapons to limit US loss of
life. But the world had changed in the
meantime, and US supremacy was [music]
In 1949, the Soviet Union had also
detonated its first atomic bomb.
Moscow thought the operation had been
conducted in the utmost secrecy. But
Washington discovered radioactive traces
of the explosion in the atmosphere.
In South Korea, MacArthur had to give up
As the war dragged on, domestic
resistance in the US grew. Forcing North
Korea to surrender became too costly for
the US.
Now that the Soviet Union was a nuclear
power, Washington also feared that the
conflict could escalate into a nuclear
war with Moscow.
The US therefore abandoned its goal of
complete reunification of Korea and
As a result of this renunciation, the
division of the Korean peninsula became
permanent. This is the reason for the
ongoing confrontation between South and
North Korea. It is a tragedy for East Asia.
In Pyongyang, the man in charge today is
Kim Jong-un. He is the grandson of Kim
Sunung, instigator of the Korean War.
Kim Jong-un has nuclear weapons at his
disposal and has made his hereditary
dictatorship untouchable.
The atomic bomb helped the US force
Japanese surrender in 1945.
But the idea of nuclear deterrence
turned against the US itself and it
It represents a failure of 25 years of
American policy. A as does Iran's
progress toward nuclear weapons by not
confronting the problem earlier enough
and dealing with it effectively. This is
what Winston Churchill once called the
confirmed unteability of mankind. [singing]
[singing] >> [music]
>> [music]
>> The proliferation of nuclear weapons
rapidly challenged US supremacy.
In 1949, it was [music] the Soviet Union.
Union.
In 1952, the United Kingdom in 1960,
[music] France. In 1964, China and then
shortly after in Israel, although not
officially admitted by the Middle
Eastern state. [music] Then India,
All of our deterrence theory rested on a
bipolar nuclear world. So it was us
against the Soviet Union. And clearly
the American nuclear arsenal has got to
expand dramatically because it's one
thing to believe you have an adequate
deterrent capability in a bipolar world.
It's very different in a tripolar world.
>> Japan faces two threats today. On the
one hand, the rise of China on a
military level in particular, and on the
other hand, the provocations of North
Korea. Both countries have nuclear
weapons. We must be realistic. Even with
US support, we'll never be able to
defeat these two countries. Washington
won't risk its own destruction. In the
event of a conflict, we must find a
compromise with our enemies. We have no choice.
>> [music]
>> The United States of America no longer
has the means to defeat all its [music]
enemies. If US dominance is to be
maintained, other methods must be considered.
Movies and television help the United
States achieve its legendary military status.
status. >> Guys,
>> Guys,
They also helped in the global
dissemination of American values. [music]
[music]
Cars, big houses, shopping malls,
individual freedom. Hollywood became a
factory [music] producing the American dream.
>> I remember reading that said to Kennedy,
"You don't need propaganda. You've got
cinema. Everyone wants your swimming
Everyone wants to live like the people
in American movies do. Who wants to live
There's an ideological conflict, which
is why the US can't avoid assuming its
role as leader of the free world. This
is both a response to the calling that
the US feels to this North American
[music]
>> This is the pale deio in Paris,
headquarters of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization. To this building
come [music] ministers from 15 nations
of the Atlantic community. American
[music] soft power developed thanks to a
broad network of diplomatic and military
alliances aimed at [music] counteracting
the transnational communist movement.
On April the 4th, 1949, representatives
[music] of 12 countries met in
Washington DC to form NATO.
The founding members were 10 Western
European nations plus the United [music]
States and Canada.
Officially, NATO was opening a US
protective shield over Europe, but it
also put Europe on the same side as the
US. America was spinning a global web,
[music] primarily to protect its own interests.
Well, the United States has interest
around the world more than any other
country. And uh if anybody thinks
somebody else is going to protect our
interest other than us uh they need to
rethink their understanding of the world.
>> From the American perspective, the
foundation of NATO and the American
leadership role within NATO was
something completely new. Starting with
the foundation of the US, the principle
had been no entangling alliances.
and that changed after World War II. One
factor was based on a prevailing view
that the United States withdrawal from
security policy after World War I had
been a mistake, at least according to
the popular opinion at the time. A
decision that had favored the rise of
[music]
>> This alliance logic also led to the
division of Europe into two ideological
blocks which culminated in the
construction of a wall through the
middle of [music] Berlin in 1961.
The cold war front cut through Germany
with each block [music] convinced of its
For Western Europeans during the Cold
War era, the Pax Americana was
definitely a blessing because it
provided security against the Soviet Union
Union for
for
created the conditions for freedom,
The US was prepared to cooperate with
dictators as long as they were anti-communist.
anti-communist.
In this [clears throat] respect, it can
certainly be agreed that the Pax
But what would the alternative have
looked like? Would a world order
dominated by the Soviet Union have been
I can assure you
that as long as there are any who join
with us,
who wish this common effort to continue,
the United States will help bear its
fair share of the burden in a great half
circle stretching from Berlin to Saigon.
We will keep this free world free until
the day comes as Thomas Jefferson
predicted it would that the disease of
liberty which is catching spreads
throughout the world. [music]
There was always this very strong sense
of manifest destiny. We like to call
things not wars but crusades.
Dwight D. Eisenhower entitled his
history of World War II, the Great
Crusade. President George W. Bush talked
about um going to war in Iraq as a
crusade. And we have a very
uncomplicated sense of that historically
because we believe we're going we're
fighting on the on the the [music] right
In the name of these moral democratic
[music] principles, the US granted
itself the right to use force, but
others weren't allowed. America's
conviction [music] of its moral and thus
military supremacy wasn't an outcome of
the Cold War. [music]
[music]
The belief has its roots in the early
Every year in spring, thousands of
volunteers gather in Virginia to reenact
the beginning hours of the United States.
States.
It's one of many such events taking
place throughout the northeast of the country.
country.
In 1775, New England was still a colony
ruled by the British King George III.
He wanted to levy higher taxes on his
subjects without granting them political
rights. American revolutionaries took up
arms and fought against the British red
coats to establish the American Republic.
Republic.
The Declaration of Independence in 1776
stated that all were born equal, not
just Americans.
This moral stance claimed universal validity.
The independence fighters were led by
General George Washington, a former
officer in the British Army. 2 years
after the start of hostilities, he
received crucial support from the French
army under General Lafayette.
In 1783, peace was finally concluded in
Paris. Britain had to give up some of
its colonies in North America.
I think the military has always played
an important I wouldn't say central but
an important role in American identity
because starting with the birth of this nation
nation
it took a revolution and George
Washington our first commander who then
becomes our first president to make that
happen and so I think you know birthed
in conflict birthed in war we have
taken that principle of, you know, an a
an armed and ready republic uh to the
General Washington became the first
president of the nent [music] American
republic. He decided to found a capital
on the Ptoic River, not far from [music]
his family plantations in Virginia where
he'd grown up.
The capital took [music] his name after
his death and a huge obelisk, the
Washington Monument, was erected close
to the White House. [music]
[music]
Since then, 30 of the 45 presidents of
[music] the US have previously been
officers in the US military.
However, the newly emerging republic
>> Certainly, Congress in the waning years
of the revolution and in the early years
of the republic [music]
uh was definitely opposed to having a
standing army. Um Washington
would have preferred to have had some
kind of standing army. One of the
reasons that the the Continental Army is
so crippled during the revolution is the
reluctance of the Continental Congress
to uh to fund it or to provide for
enlistments that last for very [music]
long because of that fear of the
political uh the possible uh political
fallout if a politically ambitious
general, you know, were able to use an
army as a tool as a political tool. The
tradition in the United States was or
American republicanism that there should
be no standing army because then the
state could use it. Whoever's in power
could use it against their own
population. And they had seen old world
monarchies, especially the British
Empire do that. So they said instead we
will have armed citizens. So all
able-bodied adult male citizens should
bear arms in defense in an emergency.
whether it was fighting against Native
Americans or a foreign power, we would
just call this militia, this armed
militia, and they would defend the
country. That's what the Second
Amendment is for. It's not for everyone
to own a semi-automatic rifle today and
just shoot up everyone. Today, we have
standing army. We have a huge US
military complex. We don't need an armed
Instead of a standing army, the populace
should defend itself and bear arms. The
result? Today, there are more firearms
>> On the 6th of January 2021, a mob of
demonstrators, some of them armed,
stormed the capital parliament building
The demonstrators were Donald Trump
supporters who refused to recognize the
election he'd lost against Joe Biden. On
this day, the US came dangerously close
If history happens the first time as
tragedy and the next time is fast, we
already had that fast with the January
6th insurrection when for the first time
a Confederate flag flew inside the
capital. Did not happen during the Civil
War. It's the first time and that was
shocking to me as a historian of the
Civil War. Um, I don't think we are on
the verge of a civil war, but I do think
that Trump's rhetoric uh and those of
his followers has really incited
domestic political violence, right-wing
extremist domestic political violence,
>> Mention of the American Civil War brings
back [music] memories of a very specific event.
Every year in early July, one of the
country's largest military reenactments
Thousands of costumed volunteers
recreate the Battle of Gettysburg from
July 1st to 3rd, 1863.
It was the turning point of the Civil
War when northern states gained the
upper hand over southern states.
This battle saw the highest number of
casualties in the entire war, claiming
People forget that that's how the civil
war started because a group of southern
slaveholders, extremists, secessionists
from the deep south states refused to
abide by the results of the elections of
1860, the presidential elections. So,
does this sound familiar to you today?
The Civil War was the first industrial
war on earth, not only in the United
States, but on earth. The use of the
railroads, the first uh introduction of
ironclad or iron ships, all of this took
place during the CI during the Civil
War. Um the focus on um on denying your
your adversary industry and access to
resources. All of these things took
place during the Civil War. So from a
military perspective, it was absolutely
a defining moment.
>> Uh the civil war in fact resulted in the
death of 750,000
is the latest count around that much uh
Americans in this war which is more
American fatalities than the first world
war, the second world war, the Vietnam
and the Korean wars combined. And we are
talking about America in the 19th
century when the population was much less.
>> It was a fratricidal war [music] with
Americans fighting Americans. After
scoring several victories, the southern
states were forced to [music] admit
defeat after four years of fighting.
>> So this was like a catastrophe. Uh this
enormous raging civil war for 4 years
that resulted in the death of so many
Americans. At the same time, as Lincoln
put it in Gettysburg, the war also
consecrated American ideals. uh ideals
of human equality, of natural rights, um
ideas of representative government, uh
meaning you just if you don't like the
results of an election, you can't just
take up and leave or uh take up arms
against the government, which is what
the Confederacy did when Lincoln was
elected president in 1860. There are
still um lingering uh legacies of the
civil conflict in this country, the
civil war in this country. Um but I
would say they've come a long way. And I
would tell you the fact that we're
having this conversation right here and
you reached out to me as a retired
United States Army general is evidence
of the fact that while it hasn't always
been a positive road, um we follow the
better angels of our nature and a lot of
The US in the 19th century was a violent
[music] place. Although the Civil War
claimed the most victims, many other
conflicts centered on the fledgling
nation's chief goal, expansion.
In the early 19th century, the US
controlled only a small portion of its
current territory.
Settlers faced resistance [music] from
Native American tribes.
Some areas of the North American
continent were French and Spanish
colonies, while the British still
>> [music]
>> The United States first war of expansion
The American Navy achieved remarkable
success against its British counterpart,
but it also suffered crushing defeats on
The United States, among other reasons,
wanted to drive the British away from
its border and increase its territory
through the annexation of Canada.
Britain, on the other hand, wanted to
protect its lucrative maritime interests
at [music] any cost.
In 1814, the British military raised
Washington, the symbol of American
independence, [music] to the ground. A
peace treaty was signed that same year
in which the waring parties agreed to
restore the pre-war status quo.
At the beginning, the US was kind of
fighting for its own survival. I mean,
you think about the War of 1812. The US
is really fighting to remain a country,
fighting to remain safe. Um, and I think
we've always sort of carried that idea
with us that we're we're the good guys
that we're fighting these for the for
the right reasons. This becomes the new
story US starts telling about itself,
which is that we are now not just a
nation in the [music] United States, in
America, but a nation that is global,
that is powerful, uh, that is a [music]
rival to all of the other great empires. >> [music]
>> [music]
>> The Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence
River marked the border between America
and the British Empire. Canada didn't
[music] gain full sovereignty until 1982.
But the founding fathers of the US
dreamed that [music] one day the
territory would come into their fold.
The first US Constitution, [music] the
Articles of Confederation, even included
an invitation to Canada to join the
As the northern boundary ruled out
expansion [music] in this direction,
border war shifted to the west and
south. Some territorial gains were made
through negotiations with other colonial
powers [music] in which indigenous
Americans did not take part. With the
Louisiana purchased from France, the US
doubled in [music] size. Florida was
next, acquired in talks with the
Spanish. Then there [music] was the
Treaty for the Oregon territory, where a
compromise was found with the British.
But the entire southwest was under the
control of Mexico which had declared its
>> The conquest of the west underwent one
of its [music] most famous phases here
in Texas in San Antonio. [music]
>> Yeah. So I am
This is the location of the Alamo, [music]
[music]
>> one of the key military tourism
destinations in the United States.
>> Several Hollywood films depict the
heroism of Texan settlers as they
[music] clashed with the Mexican army here.
here.
Around 200 Texan rebels battled Mexican
troops for 10 days before they were all killed.
killed.
Among them, the famous trapper [music]
This battle still resonate today when
you think about the battle of the Alamo.
Why is it important in world history?
Other than the fact that nations are
born, nations are defeated. Well, every
country has their own Alamo. They have
their own battle in which a group of men
will stand and fight for overwhelming odds.
The legend fails to mention that the
settlers primary aim was to reintroduce
slavery which had been abolished in
Mexico. Their defeat at the Alamo also
led to a large-scale mobilization and
swift ensuing battles that ended Mexican
control of the province of Texas which
officially became a US state around a
decade later. You know, it is a tragedy
how popular culture and myths uh about
American exceptionalism that we don't do
bad things that the United States always
does the good thing. And what's worse
about the Mexican War, it came after the
annexation of Texas. Uh and that also
was motivated by very bad aims. It was
not to spread liberty, but actually to
spread slavery. So it was a real land
grab by a a powerful country against a
smaller country going against
international uh rules and international
law you could say. Um there were also
warfare against Indian nations against
native nations um that in the middle of
the 19th century became really brutal.
You would understand them as wars of
imperialism because they did not respect
any rules of warfare. [music]
[music]
The city of San Antonio rested from the
Mexicans at such great human cost now
has a population of 1.5 [music] million.
It's also home to military bases with
close to 100,000 military personnel.
That military presence is visible
everywhere. [music]
The best hospital in town is run by the
military. So is the best high school and
most certainly the best barber shop, too.
These days, San Antonio also goes by the
name of military city. [music]
It exemplifies the importance of the
military in the greater picture of the
United States [music]
and exists as a monument to the conquest
of the West.
Today, the border [music] between Texas
and Mexico is fortified with a wall
To justify their nation's expansion
project in the mid-9th century, United
States media and politicians invented
the concept of manifest destiny. [music]
Fill the earth and subdue it, says the
book of Genesis.
The new America, [music] using religion
as its justification, saw itself on a
divine mission to conquer the vast
tracks [music] of land towards the Pacific.
In Montana, railroad lines built during
the pioneering era still run through
vast open landscapes.
One of the last wars for a unified
In June 1876, [music]
Lieutenant Colonel Kuster squared up to
a force of Sue Cheyenne and Arapa
warriors led by Sitting Bull, chief of
the Lakota Sue. The US had defeated the
Spanish, English, French, and Mexicans,
but still faced resistance by several
hundred,000 Native Americans. Kuster
took it upon himself to attack the camp
because in his mind he couldn't be
defeated. This is a man that's proven
himself in battle. So he had them right
right in his sights and he wasn't going
to let him slip out. He was a seasoned
Indian fighter too. He knew the tactics
of natives. Um but he overestimated his force.
[music] The Native Americans emerged
victorious. Kuster and the last
remaining troops of the seventh cavalry
regiment were killed in the valley of
[music]
>> Fighting and screaming.
>> Kuster's grave is in a national cemetery
now in the middle of a Native American
reservation where people also gather
every year to reenact this key chapter
the goldenhaired
white man
became the first I mean
uh military hero out here in the west
for dying and losing a battle.
Then he was glorified.
Kuster um gave his life for American expansion.
expansion.
He messed up. But the consequence is
when Kuster gets defeated,
the government finally puts all of its
power into this.
And just one little battle changed the
Indian wars and ended it. They ended it
quickly. I mean, they chased everybody
down. And that was the battle actually
kind of set the precedent of how they
were going to treat Indians after that.
You're not going to embarrass us. There
definitely was
intentional genocide
on the part of the US military,
especially in the later wars, the later
encounters, but certainly at the
beginning as well. If you look at look
at it the the totality of the history
when it comes to what is perceived of as
an enemy of the United States,
Despite their victory, the indigenous
people were forced to live on reservations. And despite his defeat,
reservations. And despite his defeat, Kuster [music] was fitted as an American
Kuster [music] was fitted as an American hero.
hero. The US Army had already recognized the
The US Army had already recognized the importance of writing a national epic
importance of writing a national epic where Native Americans would never play
where Native Americans would never play a leading [music] role.
Every movie we watch, there's always there always has to be a great white
there always has to be a great white hero. And Kuster was it.
hero. And Kuster was it. >> And that's kind of where that myth grew.
>> And that's kind of where that myth grew. Um I don't know if you've watched Dances
Um I don't know if you've watched Dances with Bols.
with Bols. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> Kevin Cosner.
>> Kevin Cosner. >> Who's the hero? Kevin Cosner and his
>> Who's the hero? Kevin Cosner and his white
white wife. White Indian wife that was taken
wife. White Indian wife that was taken in. Never fixed her hair. looked I mean
in. Never fixed her hair. looked I mean just looks silly, you know.
just looks silly, you know. [music]
The long and bloody American Indian Wars ended in 1890.
ended in 1890. The indigenous people no longer offered
The indigenous people no longer offered any resistance.
any resistance. 90% of their population were dead.
90% of their population were dead. [music]
around the end of the 19th century, we closed the frontier. The American West
closed the frontier. The American West is settled. Um, we've conquered the the
is settled. Um, we've conquered the the continent, and there's a very strong
continent, and there's a very strong sort of confusion about what to do next.
sort of confusion about what to do next. Now is the moment when we actually start
Now is the moment when we actually start to dominate not only the American
to dominate not only the American continent, but the Western Hemisphere,
continent, but the Western Hemisphere, um, and even out into the Pacific, uh,
um, and even out into the Pacific, uh, and around the world. and we start going
and around the world. and we start going after the nations that stand in the way
after the nations that stand in the way of that. So, our great rival in the
of that. So, our great rival in the Caribbean is the Spanish Empire and we
Caribbean is the Spanish Empire and we go to war with Spain in 1898. Uh, and
go to war with Spain in 1898. Uh, and then we begin to push out into the
then we begin to push out into the Pacific.
A new chapter of American imperialism had begun.
had begun. The SpanishAmerican War led to the US
The SpanishAmerican War led to the US occupation of the Philippines 10,000
occupation of the Philippines 10,000 [music] km from home.
[music] km from home. In the late 19th century, the US
In the late 19th century, the US controlled a vast part of North America.
controlled a vast part of North America. It went to war against Spain to conquer
It went to war against Spain to conquer the island of Cuba off the coast of
the island of Cuba off the coast of Florida. The Philippines was also a
Florida. The Philippines was also a Spanish colony at the time.
Vice Admiral George Dwey of the US Navy struck upon the idea of attacking the
struck upon the idea of attacking the [music] Spanish fleet in Manila Bay to
[music] Spanish fleet in Manila Bay to cut the supply of reinforcements to
cut the supply of reinforcements to Cuba.
The attack was a complete success and sunk the enemy fleet.
sunk the enemy fleet. This 1898 event gave history [music] an
This 1898 event gave history [music] an unexpected twist.
unexpected twist. Suddenly the then US President William
Suddenly the then US President William McKinley had achieved a military and
McKinley had achieved a military and colonial victory on the other side of
colonial victory on the other side of the world.
the world. [music]
[music] So McKinley suddenly finds that he's the
So McKinley suddenly finds that he's the owner of an archipelago that he actually
owner of an archipelago that he actually apparently has to look on the globe in
apparently has to look on the globe in the Oval Office to even locate. He
the Oval Office to even locate. He doesn't know where the Philippines is.
doesn't know where the Philippines is. Um, and so he has to decide what to do
Um, and so he has to decide what to do with it. And when he decides that the US
with it. And when he decides that the US is going to enex it, he discovers to his
is going to enex it, he discovers to his shock that the Filipinos
shock that the Filipinos aren't really going to cooperate [music]
aren't really going to cooperate [music] with that. They're not excited about
with that. They're not excited about being part of the US being a colony.
being part of the US being a colony. They want their independence. Um, and so
They want their independence. Um, and so the US gets [music] sort of sucked into
the US gets [music] sort of sucked into a war that it's it's perfectly willing
a war that it's it's perfectly willing to fight, but it's not something that
to fight, but it's not something that they were expecting to do when they
they were expecting to do when they started fighting over Cuba.
started fighting over Cuba. [music]
Washington waged a brutal war to gain control of the Philippines and came up
control of the Philippines and came up against insurgent [music] tactics it
against insurgent [music] tactics it would encounter frequently as time went
would encounter frequently as time went on.
on. [music]
But the US military was battleh hardened and triumphed both here and in Cuba
and triumphed both here and in Cuba where it also drove the Spanish out. Not
where it also drove the Spanish out. Not forgetting Puerto Rico, an island also
forgetting Puerto Rico, an island also brought under American control at this
brought under American control at this time. President McKinley now stood at
time. President McKinley now stood at the helm of a new US colonial empire.
the helm of a new US colonial empire. [music] It was the beginning of an
[music] It was the beginning of an American golden age.
American golden age. So the whole history of American
So the whole history of American imperialism begins there with the
imperialism begins there with the colonization of the Philippines, the
colonization of the Philippines, the annexation of Hawaii uh because of
annexation of Hawaii uh because of business interests, um the ability to
business interests, um the ability to interfere in Cuban affairs uh on the
interfere in Cuban affairs uh on the pretext of protecting national strategic
pretext of protecting national strategic and economic interests. These are all
and economic interests. These are all wars for empire, formal and informal.
wars for empire, formal and informal. And you can trace the rise of American
And you can trace the rise of American empire and America's rise as a global
empire and America's rise as a global imperial power to these wars.
For a long time, the imperialistic presidency of William [music] McKinley
presidency of William [music] McKinley faded from the forefront of American
faded from the forefront of American discourse.
discourse. He had waged war for US profit and
He had waged war for US profit and prosperity, forgetting the ideals of the
prosperity, forgetting the ideals of the founding fathers.
founding fathers. Under Barack Obama, Mount McKinley in
Under Barack Obama, Mount McKinley in Alaska was renamed Denali, [music] its
Alaska was renamed Denali, [music] its original native designation.
original native designation. But in early 2025, the ideals of this
But in early 2025, the ideals of this president and ardent expansionist were
president and ardent expansionist were rehabilitated. We will restore the name
rehabilitated. We will restore the name [applause]
[applause] of a great president, William McKinley,
of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley, where it should be
to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs. [applause]
President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent.
rich through tariffs and through talent. He was a natural businessman and gave
He was a natural businessman and gave Teddy Roosevelt the money for many of
Teddy Roosevelt the money for many of the great things he did
for around half a century. The Philippines existed as a US colony in
Philippines existed as a US colony in Asia.
Asia. The US granted Manila independence
The US granted Manila independence [music] in 1946
[music] in 1946 and allowed the Marcos family to
and allowed the Marcos family to establish a dictatorship.
establish a dictatorship. [music] The island nation then became an
[music] The island nation then became an outpost for US military operations in
outpost for US military operations in the Pacific. [music]
the Pacific. [music] The most fascinating part of this story
The most fascinating part of this story about the US and the Philippines is how
about the US and the Philippines is how friendly
friendly the relationship has [music] been
the relationship has [music] been throughout this period. Uh when the
throughout this period. Uh when the Japanese occupied the Philippines,
Japanese occupied the Philippines, [music]
[music] rather than greeting them with open arms
rather than greeting them with open arms as liberators, the Filipinos started a
as liberators, the Filipinos started a massive
massive um violent gorilla campaign of
um violent gorilla campaign of resistance against the Japanese, waiting
resistance against the Japanese, waiting for the Americans to [music] come back.
for the Americans to [music] come back. Uh and then in the post-war era, the
Uh and then in the post-war era, the Philippines has been [music] perhaps the
Philippines has been [music] perhaps the US's most consistent ally um since the
US's most consistent ally um since the end of World War II.
end of World War II. This Philippine ally now faces [music]
This Philippine ally now faces [music] daily provocations from China. Clashes
daily provocations from China. Clashes between Chinese and Philippine boats in
between Chinese and Philippine boats in maritime regions claimed by both nations
maritime regions claimed by both nations are filmed by officers on board and
are filmed by officers on board and published to send a political message.
It's a situation that could escalate at any time.
It's very difficult for any rational Filipino who loves his country
Filipino who loves his country to tolerate Chinese bullying right in
to tolerate Chinese bullying right in our backyard.
our backyard. Uh but on the other hand, we know the
Uh but on the other hand, we know the cost of running to the United States
cost of running to the United States for for military support. The US will
for for military support. The US will not give us military support with
not give us military support with without anything in exchange.
without anything in exchange. The US has its own
The US has its own agenda.
In Subi Bay, people now await the return of the US Navy.
The US military plans to come back here and set up a base across the sea from
and set up a base across the sea from China.
>> America has a history with this bay. It was one of the nation's main bases
was one of the nation's main bases during the Vietnam War.
In Washington, DC, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is probably the most
Memorial is probably the most inconspicuous war memorial in the US. A
inconspicuous war memorial in the US. A long, dark scar in the ground.
It bears the names of 58,000 US soldiers who died in battle in the Vietnamese
who died in battle in the Vietnamese jungle.
It's thought as many as 3.4 million people died in the Vietnam War on both
people died in the Vietnam War on both sides.
sides. from World War II until Vietnam
from World War II until Vietnam was a there was a very uncomplicated
was a there was a very uncomplicated sense in the United States that we were
sense in the United States that we were doing the right thing, that we were
doing the right thing, that we were fighting for the right side, that when
fighting for the right side, that when we went into other countries, we were
we went into other countries, we were welcomed as liberators or saviors from
welcomed as liberators or saviors from communism.
communism. Vietnam made that much more complicated.
Vietnam made that much more complicated. Vietnam was so messy and so ugly both in
Vietnam was so messy and so ugly both in Southeast Asia and at home in the United
Southeast Asia and at home in the United States that coming out of it there was a
States that coming out of it there was a very strong sense in the United States
very strong sense in the United States that wait a minute this is much more
that wait a minute this is much more ambivalent ambiguous than we thought.
ambivalent ambiguous than we thought. This is we're not necessarily the good
This is we're not necessarily the good guys. By the time we get to the Vietnam
guys. By the time we get to the Vietnam War, the country is divided. And this
War, the country is divided. And this was a war where people were actually
was a war where people were actually seeing
seeing the events of the conflict in Vietnam on
the events of the conflict in Vietnam on their television at home.
While World War II is recreated for the movie screen, Vietnam was the first war
movie screen, Vietnam was the first war to be shown on TV.
to be shown on TV. It was a nightly guest in American
It was a nightly guest in American living rooms across the nation.
living rooms across the nation. >> San Antonio reserve. Howard, what's your
>> San Antonio reserve. Howard, what's your job here in Vietnam?
job here in Vietnam? >> I'm the supply of
>> I'm the supply of thousands of demonstrators.
thousands of demonstrators. >> This triggered a mass cultural counter
>> This triggered a mass cultural counter movement. For the first time, young
movement. For the first time, young people in America refused to be drafted
people in America refused to be drafted into the military and wear a [music]
into the military and wear a [music] uniform representing values they
uniform representing values they couldn't comprehend. in the dayong
couldn't comprehend. in the dayong disturbance.
disturbance. >> My fellow Americans,
>> My fellow Americans, not long ago, I received a letter from a
not long ago, I received a letter from a woman in the Midwest.
woman in the Midwest. She wrote, "Dear Mr. President,
She wrote, "Dear Mr. President, in my humble way, I am writing to you
in my humble way, I am writing to you about the crisis in Vietnam.
about the crisis in Vietnam. I have a son who is now in Vietnam. My
I have a son who is now in Vietnam. My husband served in World War II.
husband served in World War II. Our country was at war.
Our country was at war. But now this time it's just something
But now this time it's just something that I don't understand
that I don't understand why.
This spelled total upheaval for the military. The end of conscription and
military. The end of conscription and the transition to a professional
the transition to a professional military.
military. Precisely what the country's founding
Precisely what the country's founding fathers had feared.
The link between the military, politics, and US society have been broken.
War movie production companies changed their screenplays. The US military often
their screenplays. The US military often was no longer the hero. His army no
was no longer the hero. His army no longer exemplary.
[music] Instead, individuals became the focus of
Instead, individuals became the focus of the story, even if they opposed military
the story, even if they opposed military institutions.
institutions. [music]
The evacuation of surviving American troops and their South Vietnamese allies
troops and their South Vietnamese allies took place on the 30th of April, 1975.
took place on the 30th of April, 1975. The first lesson that I learned is you
The first lesson that I learned is you shouldn't get into something without
shouldn't get into something without simultaneously
simultaneously knowing how you're going to get out. The
knowing how you're going to get out. The second lesson and in Vietnam to have
second lesson and in Vietnam to have American soldiers carrying weapons where
American soldiers carrying weapons where Vietnamese could carry weapons was
Vietnamese could carry weapons was inappropriate.
inappropriate. The US is slow to learn lessons.
The US is slow to learn lessons. Many of our friends learn from the
Many of our friends learn from the history. We seem to keep repeating it
history. We seem to keep repeating it over and over.
[music] Richard Armmitage served in Vietnam
Richard Armmitage served in Vietnam before holding key positions in several
before holding key positions in several Republican administrations, particularly
Republican administrations, particularly [music] after 9/11 and during the wars
[music] after 9/11 and during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He worked
in Afghanistan and Iraq. He worked closely together with [music] President
closely together with [music] President George W. Bush and Secretary of State
George W. Bush and Secretary of State Coen Powell.
Coen Powell. Both of these US military interventions
Both of these US military interventions [music]
[music] were described as endless wars,
were described as endless wars, impossible to win and difficult to end.
impossible to win and difficult to end. It seemed the nation really hadn't
It seemed the nation really hadn't learned from past mistakes.
learned from past mistakes. To justify its invasion of Iraq,
To justify its invasion of Iraq, Washington [music] tried to convince the
Washington [music] tried to convince the UN that Saddam Hussein was building
UN that Saddam Hussein was building weapons of mass destruction,
weapons of mass destruction, a claim [music] based on manipulated
a claim [music] based on manipulated intelligence. Sodom Hussein already
intelligence. Sodom Hussein already possesses two out of the three [music]
possesses two out of the three [music] key components needed to build a nuclear
key components needed to build a nuclear bomb. He has a cadray of nuclear
bomb. He has a cadray of nuclear scientists with the expertise and he has
scientists with the expertise and he has a bomb design.
a bomb design. >> We know
>> We know >> but that didn't prevent the US going to
>> but that didn't prevent the US going to war. all they possibly can to ensure
war. all they possibly can to ensure >> we invaded Iraq. More than 4,000
>> we invaded Iraq. More than 4,000 Americans, a good number of coalition
Americans, a good number of coalition soldiers, a known number of Iraqi
soldiers, a known number of Iraqi civilians all died.
civilians all died. That's the consequence
That's the consequence today. You believe it was a mistake to
today. You believe it was a mistake to go there? I surely do.
>> [music] >> The outcome is well known. After the
>> The outcome is well known. After the toppling of Saddam Hussein, the war
toppling of Saddam Hussein, the war became a [music] nightmare.
became a [music] nightmare. The nation unraveled into a chaos that
The nation unraveled into a chaos that produced the Islamic State and its
produced the Islamic State and its global wave of terror. At the same time,
global wave of terror. At the same time, Iran expanded its influence, creating a
Iran expanded its influence, creating a situation that was the opposite of
situation that was the opposite of America's [music] original goal.
The even more protracted and costly war in Afghanistan also ended in failure and
in Afghanistan also ended in failure and with the same humiliating images as in
with the same humiliating images as in Saigon in 1975.
We can acknowledge that Iraq wasn't great for us and Afghanistan wasn't
great for us and Afghanistan wasn't great for us. Vietnam wasn't great for
great for us. Vietnam wasn't great for us. uh in fact the last set of wars were
us. uh in fact the last set of wars were not great for us. Um so how do you
not great for us. Um so how do you determine good versus evil in in that
determine good versus evil in in that instance? And and the answer isn't so
instance? And and the answer isn't so clear.
Just a few months after the de to debacle [music] in Afghanistan, on the
debacle [music] in Afghanistan, on the 24th of February 2022, Vladimir Putin
24th of February 2022, Vladimir Putin launched Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine resembles the classic war
Ukraine resembles the classic war scenario. Armies fighting each other on
scenario. Armies fighting each other on the battlefield.
Whereas former President Joe Biden pledged US support for Ukraine, the
pledged US support for Ukraine, the Trump government's position isn't so
Trump government's position isn't so clear.
clear. At one point, the administration was
At one point, the administration was considering making concessions to Putin.
considering making concessions to Putin. To the horror of Europeans given
To the horror of Europeans given Russia's threats.
The credibility of US alliances is at stake. [music]
stake. [music] America's president at the time, Joe
America's president at the time, Joe Biden, was willing to continue
Biden, was willing to continue supporting Ukraine, but the United
supporting Ukraine, but the United States was about to change its approach.
States was about to change its approach. >> So, thank you so much for this help. We
>> So, thank you so much for this help. We really counted on it. You spend this
really counted on it. You spend this money for our lives
money for our lives and I think that we save the the lives
and I think that we save the the lives for for Europe and for for all the
for for Europe and for for all the world.
German society had settled into a security policy fantasy world and has
security policy fantasy world and has now been brutally awakened. At the same
now been brutally awakened. At the same time, we're seeing that the country is
time, we're seeing that the country is no longer able to safeguard its own
no longer able to safeguard its own security on its own
security on its own and that we remain dependent on the
and that we remain dependent on the military protection of the US.
military protection of the US. conventional.
conventional. >> This means both the conventional forces
>> This means both the conventional forces of the American armed forces and the
of the American armed forces and the nuclear shield.
nuclear shield. shield and if the US and NATO as a whole
shield and if the US and NATO as a whole uh don't succeed in repulsing this act
uh don't succeed in repulsing this act of unprovoked aggression by Russia it
of unprovoked aggression by Russia it will have a profound effect in capitals
will have a profound effect in capitals like Beijing uh that will say look if
like Beijing uh that will say look if the Americans won't defend a country in
the Americans won't defend a country in Eastern Europe against an attack who
Eastern Europe against an attack who thinks they're going to stand to help
thinks they're going to stand to help Taiwan
Taiwan >> we are still the most important country
>> we are still the most important country in the world but we also have to accept
in the world but we also have to accept that that power is diminished because
that that power is diminished because others are coming up and um the world
others are coming up and um the world doesn't want a unipolar power.
One of the main factors affecting [music] the credibility of US deterrence
[music] the credibility of US deterrence policy could be that a new president is
policy could be that a new president is elected in Washington every four years.
elected in Washington every four years. [music]
[music] >> North Korea's Kim Jong-un, Xiinping of
>> North Korea's Kim Jong-un, Xiinping of China, and Vladimir Putin of Russia are
China, and Vladimir Putin of Russia are able to develop their strategies over
able to develop their strategies over the long term.
the long term. >> Please raise your right hand and repeat
>> Please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Donald John Trump, do
after me. I, Donald John Trump, do solemnly swear. Hi, Donald John Trump.
solemnly swear. Hi, Donald John Trump. >> In the US, a change of course is
>> In the US, a change of course is possible after every inauguration.
possible after every inauguration. >> So help me God. So help me God.
>> So help me God. So help me God. Congratulations, Mr. President.
public. Two distinct mindsets emerged fairly quickly. On the one hand, that
fairly quickly. On the one hand, that the US should stay at home, keep
the US should stay at home, keep [clears throat] out of foreign affairs,
[clears throat] out of foreign affairs, and concentrate on its mission of
and concentrate on its mission of creating a moral republic for itself.
creating a moral republic for itself. According to the other viewpoint, the US
According to the other viewpoint, the US should be present and active in the
should be present and active in the world for moral reasons. Both mindsets
world for moral reasons. Both mindsets still exist to this day, which is
still exist to this day, which is evident from the almost constant
evident from the almost constant pendulum swing in US foreign policym.
I think that there is a very strong strain of Americans that is back to this
strain of Americans that is back to this kind of preworld war interworld war
kind of preworld war interworld war period where Americans are saying we're
period where Americans are saying we're kind of done over there. We've paid our
kind of done over there. We've paid our dues. Can't other people take
dues. Can't other people take responsibility?
Glory, [singing] glory, [music] hallelujah.
glory, [music] hallelujah. >> Donald Trump seems to be pursuing a
>> Donald Trump seems to be pursuing a third way, much like President McKinley
third way, much like President McKinley did over 100 years ago.
did over 100 years ago. His primary concern, American supremacy.
His primary concern, American supremacy. [music]
>> As commanderin-chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our
responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions. And
country from threats and invasions. And that is exactly what I am going to do.
that is exactly what I am going to do. We will do it at a level that nobody's
We will do it at a level that nobody's ever seen before. [applause]
ever seen before. [applause] Our
Our armed forces will be freed to focus on
armed forces will be freed to focus on their sole mission, defeating America's
their sole mission, defeating America's enemies. We will again build the
enemies. We will again build the strongest military the world has ever
strongest military the world has ever seen. We will measure our success not
seen. We will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by
only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end. And perhaps most
the wars that we end. And perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.
importantly, the wars we never get into. [applause]
In the view of the current administration,
administration, this supremacy serves exclusively
this supremacy serves exclusively American interests, particularly
American interests, particularly economic ones.
To achieve it, the Trump administration wants to replace the old world order
wants to replace the old world order with an all new system of American
with an all new system of American power.
Senator Rubio, the post-war global order is not just obsolete.
is not just obsolete. It is now a weapon being used against
It is now a weapon being used against us. And all this has led to a moment in
us. And all this has led to a moment in which we must now confront the single
which we must now confront the single greatest risk of geopolitical
greatest risk of geopolitical instability and of generational global
instability and of generational global crisis in the lifetime of anyone alive
crisis in the lifetime of anyone alive and in this room today.
and in this room today. Eight decades later, we are once again
Eight decades later, we are once again called to create a free world out of the
called to create a free world out of the chaos.
chaos. >> We will be a nation like no other, full
>> We will be a nation like no other, full of compassion, courage, and
of compassion, courage, and exceptionalism.
exceptionalism. Our power will stop all wars and bring a
Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has
new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent, and totally
been angry, violent, and totally unpredictable. America will be respected
unpredictable. America will be respected again and admired again, including by
again and admired again, including by people of religion, faith, and goodwill.
people of religion, faith, and goodwill. We will be prosperous. We will be proud.
We will be prosperous. We will be proud. We will be strong. And we will win like
We will be strong. And we will win like never before.
never before. >> Order.
The 45th and 47th US president himself looks back on [music] an uneasy history
looks back on [music] an uneasy history with the military. He didn't serve in
with the military. He didn't serve in the Vietnam War and often clashed with
the Vietnam War and often clashed with veterans and highranking US military
veterans and highranking US military [music] representatives.
And yet once again, he's the most unpredictable commanderin-chief of the
unpredictable commanderin-chief of the world's largest army.
An incredibly powerful leader of professional soldiers who are at his
professional soldiers who are at his beck and call.
A commander who can decide the world's future.
One of the things which I teach my students about is the United States has
students about is the United States has a legal mechanism to go to war. It's in
a legal mechanism to go to war. It's in the constitution. It's Congress that
the constitution. It's Congress that declares it. The president typically the
declares it. The president typically the executive will ask Congress to declare
executive will ask Congress to declare war. And the last time that occurred was
war. And the last time that occurred was in 1941.
in 1941. All of the conflicts we've been involved
All of the conflicts we've been involved with since were
outcomes of what the executive wanted to do for the interest of the United
do for the interest of the United States.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAY I HAVE your attention, PLEASE?
attention, PLEASE? THE CEREMONY THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO
THE CEREMONY THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO witness is the changing of the guard. In
witness is the changing of the guard. In keeping with the dignity of this
keeping with the dignity of this ceremony, it is requested that everyone
ceremony, it is requested that everyone remain silent and standing.
remain silent and standing. Washington is once again eyeing
Washington is once again eyeing expansion options such as Canada,
expansion options such as Canada, Greenland, and Panama. After 80 years of
Greenland, and Panama. After 80 years of the PAC's Americana, old alliances with
the PAC's Americana, old alliances with the Europeans are being tested and there
the Europeans are being tested and there are challenges to the supremacy of the
are challenges to the supremacy of the United States and the security of its
United States and the security of its allies. In Europe by Russia, in Asia by
allies. In Europe by Russia, in Asia by China, will the US once again resort to
China, will the US once again resort to war to reassert its power? If it does,
war to reassert its power? If it does, any soldiers who give their lives for
any soldiers who give their lives for the stars and stripes will be buried
the stars and stripes will be buried here at the Arlington National Cemetery
here at the Arlington National Cemetery directly above the Pentagon.
[bell] [music]
[music] Heat. Heat.
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