Spain-America: War

The Spanish American War was promoted in advance to the American people by what became known as the 'Yellow Press'. The media of the day, the newspapers, focused on the problems of Spanish rule in Cuba, exaggerating or altogether making up stories of atrocities. The explosion in the American battleship Maine was pinned on Spain by the media not by the government or the Navy.

Only with such a dramatic story involving the death of hundreds of American sailors was the 'isolationist' (anti-war, anti-expansionist, anti-imperialist) American public moved to accept the war long planned for them. The U.S. wanted to steal coaling bases from Spain to allow its navy to become a world power, an empire. The U.S. had tasted the fruits of imperialistic war in the war with Mexico (1846-1848). The successful war-selling slogan �Remember the Alamo�now became "Remember the Maine."

Never mind that the U.S. attrocities such as 'reconcentration' in the Philipines would later rival those of Spain. Never mind that the Alamo and the Maine were in Texan (Mexican) and Cuban (Spanish) territories. Never mind that the Maine exploded from the inside, and that even if this was possibly triggered by a mine, the mine would have most likely been set by Cuban revolutionaries covertly supported and supplied by Americans.

How interesting a parallel that the attack on the World Trade Center, if it was committed by Osama bin Laden's organization, was trained and supplied in covert operations by the CIA. The explosion aboard the Maine was caused by black powder inside the ship. The ship was a highly visible symbol of American power in an era before the airplane, when the world was still dominated by sea powers. The U.S. seized Cuba, Philippines, Guam and Hawaii in the Spanish-American War.

To view the stereo pair above, cross your eyes until you see three pictures, or look at the tip of a pencil as you bring it closer to your eyes from the screen until you see three. Click photo to see a standard stereo pair viewable with 10-20 prism diopters base out.

Even if the Spanish-American War had been lawful under the Law of Nations, the American instigated and U.S. military supported coup in Hawaii could not have been, and to this day, the U.S. recognizes (in word though not in deed) the right for the sovereignty of the Archipelago of the Hawaii. By the Law of Nations, if the U.S. took over Hawaii, a neutral nation, as a fueling station to support the War to take over the Phillipines and Guam from Spain, it was obligated to operate the Nation by the Hawaiian laws. Even if it did place Hawaii under American laws, it was obligated to return the nation to its own laws and sovereign rule at the end of the Spanish-American War.

Read more history of Hawaiian sovereignty in an educational lawsuit written (not yet filed) by the wizard.