by Joshua Pantalleresco

Created on: April 14, 2009   Last Updated: April 15, 2009

I think the most obvious answer is power. The United States (US) has been the most powerful country in the world since arguably the end of the second world war - undisputedly since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The United States until this year found itself as the most financially viable country and with the most militaristic might. The United States stood alone.

Everybody wants to be in this position. The United States policies and decisions impact the world the most. There's a reason they say the President is the most powerful man in the world. His (or her) decisions can have a huge impact not just on the United States but on everyone else.

So what happens when the decisions of the US go against the interests of other countries? We all have different agendas and motivations for what we do. It's just human nature. Put yourself in another country's shoes. Let's say a decision made by the US bankrupts your country or takes away your business. Wouldn't you be upset at that? I would. I despise the idea of someone else making decisions that impact my life and fortune. I want to be the only one to do that. And who doesn't feel that way?

That point of view can lead to ambition of wanting the same thing. This way, if you don't like how policy in say, England, bothered you, you could change it to one more to your advantage. Who wouldn't want to be in that position?

This alone would create conflicts. The other aspect about the US is their need to be involved in the activities of other countries. Currently the US has military bases in over 149 countries. From their point of view, it is very easy to see the US as a hostile enemy who could take over at any time. After all, who wants a potential enemy (or even friend) with military holdings in your own backyard? It's almost empirialistic.

These are just microcosms. Look at how the US impacts the world on a regular basis. How where it leads many other countries follow. Look at countries such as Cuba or Vietnam or Iraq. Look at Canada and Mexico. Their impact from the US is visible. Enemies are almost an inevitability. I think it wouldn't matter who called the shots. Sooner or later you're bound to piss somebody off.

Finally, one almost has to ask if the United States itself benefits from the enemies America has. The military certainly does. They are the ones that fight for our freedoms. The big weapon contractors do. The government spends trillions on them. As for the country itself, would things like Homeland Security exist without Osama Bin Laden? Probably not. The country as we know it today exists in part because of the enemies we have. It affects our viewpoints. It affects our spending habits even. I think in one sense this essay asks the wrong question. I think the more interesting one is if we, as Americans, would be as we are without the kind of enemies we have?

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