Was Teddy Roosevelt wrong?

[manifold]

Was Teddy Roosevelt wrong when he told Panama that the US would support their claim to independence after Colombia turned down his canal proposal?

Or was this blatant act of imperialism justified? Especially since the canal itself later proved to be a major factor in defeating the Axis in WW2?

 

[Ravi]

Was Teddy Roosevelt wrong when he told Panama that the US would support their claim to independence after Colombia turned down his canal proposal?

Or was this blatant act of imperialism justified? Especially since the canal itself later proved to be a major factor in defeating the Axis in WW2?

Dubya is no Teddy Roosevelt.

 

[manifold]

Who said anything about Dubya?

 

[manifold]

Was Teddy Roosevelt wrong when he told Panama that the US would support their claim to independence after Colombia turned down his canal proposal?

Or was this blatant act of imperialism justified? Especially since the canal itself later proved to be a major factor in defeating the Axis in WW2?

<bump>

Seriously folks. I recently watched a History Channel feature on Teddy and this was briefly discussed. I think it's an interesting matter to consider.

If we had a history forum, I would've put it there. But since we don't, politics seemed like the next best thing.

 

[del]

Was Teddy Roosevelt wrong when he told Panama that the US would support their claim to independence after Colombia turned down his canal proposal?

Or was this blatant act of imperialism justified? Especially since the canal itself later proved to be a major factor in defeating the Axis in WW2?

no, he wasn't wrong. he dealt with the Colombians in good faith. When the Colombians tried to jack the price up and cut the French out altogether, he supported the Panamanian independence movement.

He should have made it a National Park, though.