On this topic, I highly recommend Samantha Power's book "A Problem From Hell: America and the Age of Genocide" which details the United States inability to respond promptly to the many cases of genocide over the past century.
As a non-American, we are fucking lucky that America not only doesn't extord us for loot (as any other empire would) but actually spends so much energy, lives and money keeping protecting us. I am personally really happy that Putin knows there will be consequences if he rolls west.
It’s a careful detailed history of several genocides, one per chapter.
It’s a harrowing book, and reading each chapter would leave me depressed for a couple days. I couldn’t read more than about one chapter per month.
> what other great power has ever done so, unless it was for their benefit?
Right, it's for their benefit. Not just morally, but economically and geo-politically.
Which is why we want to make sure we can stop the problem rather than watching the tragedy unfold as we powerlessly flail against ourselves. (ie, waiting until we label something a genocide before trying to help.)
> As a non-American, we are fucking lucky that America not only doesn't extord us for loot
They're generally happier to gain a stronger position than to be up a few bucks. It's long-term thinking.
> I am personally really happy that Putin knows there will be consequences if he rolls west.
Ditto, but these days I believe less and less than the USA would do anything. Or at least until it's too late.
Powers argues that this is changing. The international condemnation and uproar from citizens has political consequences for those in power and thus is enough to generate action.