America is often seen as an aggressor in foreign intervention. Give up imperialism | Opinion

U.S. often seen as aggressor

The United States has often found itself cast as the enemy in various global conflicts, even when acting in the name of defending democracy or containing communism. After World War II, the U.S. emerged as a global superpower with an expansionist foreign policy, seeking to shape world affairs in its image. In conflicts like the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the more recent invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military intervened in foreign lands, often with destructive consequences.

The U.S. justified these as necessary for the defense of freedom, often portraying adversaries like the Soviet Union, communist insurgents or extremist groups as the ultimate threat. These interventions were frequently marked by civilian casualties, political instability and the imposition of American ideals through force, which led to resentment and resistance from affected populations. In regions such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East, U.S. actions often fostered long-lasting conflicts, displacement and the rise of anti-American sentiment.

Many of these wars are seen as imperial overreach, where the U.S. was perceived as the aggressor, not the liberator. Thus, in numerous global conflicts since 1945, the United States has at times been viewed, not as a force for good, but the enemy.

Gregory Lee Alderete, Steilacoom

Trump has a mandate

With President-elect Trump’s overwhelming victories in the Electoral College and the popular vote, he clearly received a mandate from the American people. The electorate rejected Democrat positions; overspending leading to high inflation, open borders, defunding the police, sanctuary cities protecting illegal migrant criminals, transgender women competing in women’s sports. Were these good ideas?

Democrats were pushing wokeness, DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and CRT (Critical Race Theory) when we needed normality, common sense and reading, writing and arithmetic in our schools. Trump will eliminate them.

Many Democratic governors have vowed to be uncooperative and defiant. According to U.S. News and World Report 2024, Washington state ranked #40 in college readiness and #35 in high school graduation rates. It appears taxpayer dollars would be better served improving our education system and deporting migrant criminals rather than spending millions suing the Trump administration. The American people have spoken.

Craig A. Chilton, Bonney Lake

Pharmacy benefit manager reform needed

I hope that pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform will be a top priority for lawmakers. As someone who is on Medicare and take medicines for chronic illness, I have seen the negative impacts of price at the pharmacy. Not only do PBMs have near full control over when and where patients can access their medication, but they can also decide how much patients and their families pay out-of-pocket at the pharmacy. As anyone who relies on prescription drugs knows, these savings could be vital for patients at the pharmacy counter, and it’s sad that PBMs simply boost their profits at our expense.

While I understand that leaders in Congress have a lot on their plate, I hope that PBM reform will not get lost in the crazy DC shuffle. Countless patients like me are counting on legislators to stand up to these bad actors, and we can’t afford for this bipartisan opportunity to improve access to prescription drugs to go to waste.

Dan Telford, Tacoma