Is the US no longer the "the universal police"?

[Pinoy]

In the past, the USA (thinking of their self-interest of course) helped small countries not to be bullied by stronger countries (e.g. Taiwan by China, Israel [when starting to be a nation] by Arab nations, Europe [west] by USSR ). But with what is happening in Ukraine in which the US (by the news i read) allows Putin to help ("invade"). Is the US no longer "the universal police" it was once?

In another news, in the south China sea, China already asserted itself from the disputed "Spratlys Island".

Is US already a weak nation? or Is Russia and China are just became stronger?

[Paprika]

Old news. Go look up the 2008 Russo-Georgian war.

[Outis]

In the past, the USA (thinking of their self-interest of course) helped small countries not to be bullied by stronger countries (e.g. Taiwan by China, Israel [when starting to be a nation] by Arab nations, Europe [west] by USSR ). But with what is happening in Ukraine in which the US (by the news i read) allows Putin to help ("invade"). Is the US no longer "the universal police" it was once?

In another news, in the south China sea, China already asserted itself from the disputed "Spratlys Island".

Is US already a weak nation? or Is Russia and China are just became stronger?

We really didn't start being the "universal police" until after WWII. Most of our history has been relatively isolationist, at least militarily.

Is that a sign of weakness, or of keeping ourselves out of issues that are not ours to control? The answer to that question depends upon your political views.

[Pinoy]

Old news. Go look up the 2008 Russo-Georgian war.

I thought georgia was mistake.

[RBerman]

In the past, the USA (thinking of their self-interest of course) helped small countries not to be bullied by stronger countries (e.g. Taiwan by China, Israel [when starting to be a nation] by Arab nations, Europe [west] by USSR ). But with what is happening in Ukraine in which the US (by the news i read) allows Putin to help ("invade"). Is the US no longer "the universal police" it was once?

In another news, in the south China sea, China already asserted itself from the disputed "Spratlys Island". Is US already a weak nation? or Is Russia and China are just became stronger?

Both are true. But it is has never been the case that the U.S. intervenes whenever any smaller country faces conflict with a larger country.

[seanD]

In the past, the USA (thinking of their self-interest of course) helped small countries not to be bullied by stronger countries (e.g. Taiwan by China, Israel [when starting to be a nation] by Arab nations, Europe [west] by USSR ). But with what is happening in Ukraine in which the US (by the news i read) allows Putin to help ("invade"). Is the US no longer "the universal police" it was once?

In another news, in the south China sea, China already asserted itself from the disputed "Spratlys Island".

Is US already a weak nation? or Is Russia and China are just became stronger?

The answer to your last two questions is yes. With more than 700 bases around the world, it's military spread thin in about a dozen campaigns throughout Africa and the Mid East, its currency no longer trusted and being bypassed by world powers in various trade deals and its economy on the brink of collapse with debt, it's more like it has overextended itself (the likely deterrent of a war with Syria and Iran). The other developed countries know this is and are now aggressively making their moves towards their own imperial conquest. It's the historical trend of the fall of an empire and the rise of another; the only difference this time is the presence of a whole lot of WMDs.

[Cow Poke]

We have international treaties with some countries that require (at least on paper) our defense if they are attacked.

Source: US Department of State

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY

A treaty signed April 4, 1949, by which the Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all; and each of them will assist the attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force.

PARTIES: United States, Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom

© Copyright Original Source

http://www.state.gov/s/l/treaty/collectivedefense/

[Epoetker]

"Universal Police"? We have Smart Diplomacy(TM), we don't need no stinkin' "Force Projection" or "Credible Threats"!