Our favorite frenemies

[bluegargantua]

Hi,

So last night we were talking about state quarters and presidential dollars and stuff and I said:

"You know what would be great? Quarters commemorating every country the US has invaded. The Japanese quarter would be AWESOME! A big mushroom cloud with BOOM! in comic lettering."

But it got me thinking: What foreign country have we invaded the most? By invasion, I mean we sent in US military troops/assets against the wishes of the ruling government and either removed said government or killed people/broke its stuff.

Like, Germany we've invaded twice, Iraq we've invaded twice. I'm not sure if there's someone we've invaded 3 times. I thought maybe Libya, but during WWII I'd be hard pressed to say it wasn't a German/Italian-controlled sector and thus counts as part of a larger invasion against them.

Any thoughts? Anyone we just love to invade?

later
Tom

Comments

[mazianni.livejournal.com]

Canada, twice. It didn't really work out either time though.

Interesting side note, the Irish Republican Brotherhood invaded Canada from the U.S. in 1866. The forces were comprised primarily of combat veterans from the War Between the States. Supposedly there was a tacit agreement from President Andrew Johnson to recognize the IRB as the Irish government in exile if they actually succeeded.

Mexico once. France once. Panama once.

The U.S. only invaded Germany once, in 1945. IIRC, the Armistice in 1918 was signed before Allied troops crossed into Germany.

Nicaragua

[drwex]

Three times. Four if you count the Contras as an "invasion."

[spiritseeker.livejournal.com]

That's quite a selection of coins: Native American Nations. Hawaii. Libya (back when it was Tripoli). Samoa. The Philippines. China (during the Boxer Rebellion). Panama. Russia (during the Communist Counter-Revolution). Germany, Korea. Vietnam. Grenada. Iraq. Somalia. Bosnia/Herzegovina. Kosovo. Afghanistan. And that doesn't include the hundreds of little incursions around the world.

As for the nation we've invaded the most I'd say Mexico. Three times. The Mexican-American War. The Civil War occupation of Texas and blockade of the Nueces and Rio Grande Rivers. And the US occupation of Veracruz during the Mexican Revolution.
We've moved that border more times

[bluegargantua]

Yeah, my only question about Mexico is if sometimes we're actually invading Spain. But it was my leading guess.

later
Tom

Re: Nicaragua

[bluegargantua]

Nope. Has to be US military forces, not people backed by them. That's why the Bay of Pigs doesn't count.

later
Tom

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Hmm. pierceheart could probably tell you. He's Mr. Military History, after all.

[bluegargantua]

*tsk* I don't want facts. I want unqualified speculation! :)

later
Tom

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

Philippines, 2-4 times depending on how you count. More if you want to be really liberal and include

Nicaragua: 3 times if you inclue the contras, 2 if you don't

Panama: twice, 1903 and 1989. Once could say the 1903 doesn't count against Panama as it was, at the time, part of Columbia. But landing marines is landing marines. If you count 1964 than 3.

Haiti easily 4 at 1891, 1914-34, 1994 and 2004.

[jeffr23.livejournal.com]

Possibly Spain. We were invading parts of Spanish Florida on a regular basis in the early 19th century, and you get the pre-Independence wars in Mexico and Cuba, Puerto Rico, and then the big one in 1898...

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

One could also argue China

1894-95 -- Marines land in Sino-Japanese War
1898-1900 -- Boxer Rebellion fought by foreign armies.
1911-41 -- Continuous occupation with flare-ups.
1922-27 -- Deployment during nationalist revolt.
1927-34 -- Marines stationed throughout the country.
1948-49 -- evacuate Americans before Communist victory.

or the dominican Republic

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

1903-04 U.S. interests protected in Revolution.
1914 Fight with rebels over Santo Domingo.
1916-24 8-year Marine occupation.
1965-66 Marines land during election campaign.

Or Honduras

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

1903 Marines intervene in revolution.
1907 Marines land during war with Nicaragua
1911 U.S. interests protected in civil war.
1912 Marines protect U.S. economic interests.
1919 Marines land during election campaign.
1924-25 Landed twice during election strife.

Aboput Nicaragua

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

1894 --- Month-long occupation of Bluefields.
1896 --- Marines land in port of Corinto.
1898 --- Marines land at port of San Juan del Sur.
1899 --- Marines land at port of Bluefields.
1907 --- "Dollar Diplomacy" protectorate set up.
1910 --- Marines land in Bluefields and Corinto.
1912-33 --- 10-year occupation, fought guerillas

[desiringsubject.livejournal.com]

Pretty comprehensive! But you left out Puerto Rico with the Phillipines as part of the Spanish American war invasions. Only PR, we never left...

[spiritseeker.livejournal.com]

At the point of the Mexican-American war, it was a separate nation from Spain. Much to it's chagrin when 20 years later it was invaded by France.

[pfloyd.livejournal.com]

Overtly or covertly?

[linnemanijog.livejournal.com]

Премного благодарен, что просветили. (http://zimnyayaobuv.ru/) (http://zimnyaya-obuv.ru/)

[laronjeja.livejournal.com]

Текст перспективный, помещу блог в закладки. (http://zimnyayaobuv.ru/) (http://zimnyaya-obuv.ru/)