US involvment in world affairs

[WI Crippler]

Recently I have read some posts criticizing the US for not intervening with Hitler prior to WWII starting. And ever since the US has taken on a more agressive role in world affairs, and been heavily criticized for it.

The question here is, What do you think the United States involvment in world affairs should be?? And what do you think the benefits of the policy you would support would be??

 

[ARealConservative]

decrease involvement. It's not that we are ruining the world though as the poll choice provides.

I don't have a problem with an organization like the UN - but it must only allows free nations a say.

Humanitarian relief must be voluntary - so foreign aid is not the governments responsibility.

The benefit - The biggest one is that we stop pretending to be the lone super power while sinking our selfs deeply into debt just to play along.

Also - involuntary aid is theft - and decreasing theft is a benefit.

Lastly - not rewarding corrupt governments with UN status takes their voice away - and that is a good thing.

 

[Kandahar]

It depends on the "world affairs" in question. Overall, I'd say that we need to increase our involvement. But not necessarily military involvement.

I think that we should do more to combat hunger, AIDS, and malaria worldwide, simply because we can save so many lives for so little money. Also, studies have shown that people in regions that have recently been visited by the USS Mercy have a much more favorable impression of the United States. This is exactly the kind of thing we should be doing more of, to "win the hearts and minds" of the world.

On security issues, I'd say that our level of involvement is a little on the high side, but (aside from Iraq) not drastically too high. There are many places in the world where our level of involvement is too low (Israel, Afghanistan), and many others where our involvement is too high (Iraq, Colombia). We should be more willing to negotiate...especially with regimes that we obviously have no intention of attacking, like Syria, North Korea, Cuba, and (arguably) Iran. Putting our fingers in our ear and saying "LALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU SYRIA" doesn't accomplish anything.

In the economic sphere, I'd like to see much more international cooperation. In fact, economics is the one sphere where I wouldn't mind giving up a little bit of sovereignty in the name of free trade. For example, countries being allowed to sue each other through the WTO is a great idea, because it ultimately increases free trade. NAFTA and CAFTA should be continued, and we should work to remove even more barriers to trade. Our ultimate goal should be to make the entire world a free trade zone.

As far as IGOs like the United Nations...I do support their existence, but I recognize that it's difficult-to-impossible to get the body to take any real action on security issues. The Security Council is undemocratic, constantly hampered by threats of vetoes, and still reflects the balance of power in 1945. Perhaps the United States should push for the creation of a Concert of Democracies, as an IGO to balance (but not replace) the United Nations.

 

[WI Crippler]

Thanks for responding in kind guys. These are the kind of responses I was hoping for in regards to this thread....I want this to be an exchange of ideas, like you have both shown...

 

[Hatuey]

Recently I have read some posts criticizing the US for not intervening with Hitler prior to WWII starting. And ever since the US has taken on a more agressive role in world affairs, and been heavily criticized for it.

The question here is, What do you think the United States involvment in world affairs should be?? And what do you think the benefits of the policy you would support would be??

I think we should leave the world alone for like a month. Cut all links to the outside world for a month. Check back on them after that month is up and see how they like some of our policies then. It's that old better the devil you know then that which you don't.

 

[RightOfCenter]

As far as IGOs like the United Nations...I do support their existence, but I recognize that it's difficult-to-impossible to get the body to take any real action on security issues. The Security Council is undemocratic, constantly hampered by threats of vetoes, and still reflects the balance of power in 1945. Perhaps the United States should push for the creation of a Concert of Democracies, as an IGO to balance (but not replace) the United Nations.

I think the bolded part is a very good idea.

 

[jamesrage]

Recently I have read some posts criticizing the US for not intervening with Hitler prior to WWII starting. And ever since the US has taken on a more agressive role in world affairs, and been heavily criticized for it.

The question here is, What do you think the United States involvment in world affairs should be?? And what do you think the benefits of the policy you would support would be??

I have mixed feelings about this.Leaving the rest of the world alone and cutting them off sounds like a awesome idea,because either we are accused of not doing enough or we are accused of being imperialist.On the other hand not getting involved could allow some other Hitler-like dictator bent on world domination to go on a conquest spree and bite us in the *** years later.

 

[Billo_Really]

US foreign policy should not be done as the muscle arm of the WTO.

 

[Kandahar]

US foreign policy should not be done as the muscle arm of the WTO.

Being in the WTO is optional and by invitation only; lots of countries aren't members. The WTO doesn't need a muscle arm. It relies on economic coercion, as it should.

 

[RightOfCenter]

I have mixed feelings about this.Leaving the rest of the world alone and cutting them off sounds like a awesome idea,because either we are accused of not doing enough or we are accused of being imperialist.On the other hand not getting involved could allow some other Hitler-like dictator bent on world domination to go on a conquest spree and bite us in the *** years later.

The USSR went on an invasion spree in the 50's and we did nothing. Looks like it turned out alright for the US.

 

[Maximus Zeebra]

I would like a multivote on this one. I would vote the two last options.

Decrease involment - You are ruining the world, start focusing on America, BUT dont become isolationist.

 

[EAGLE1]

Id love to see America and the West in general take its dirty mits out of world affairs and leave everything alone.

I can guarantee everyone here though that this is absolutely impossible. Not because the worldneeds you/ us so. No its because the real power in our two countries, the investors, business elite etc etc, have a vested interest in making sure that the Western gov use their power to force conditions across the world into making prime investment opportunities for them. Sometimes of course, this may be a virtuous circle, i.e foreign investment is desired by the population, but often as not it isnt. Particularly when the plans of investors and their native lackeys dont coincide with the needs/ wishes of the locals.

Thats the irony here though, and its something the right doesnt quite grasp - as long as the right wing agenda for the primacy of the interests of US Capital holds sway in the US, the US will never, ever leave or withdraw from the world. But then if they ever understood this, then theyd all of a sudden become terrorist loving tree higging liberals god forbid.

 

[Hatuey]

Id love to see America and the West in general take its dirty mits out of world affairs and leave everything alone.

I can guarantee everyone here though that this is absolutely impossible. Not because the worldneeds you/ us so. No its because the real power in our two countries, the investors, business elite etc etc, have a vested interest in making sure that the Western gov use their power to force conditions across the world into making prime investment opportunities for them. Sometimes of course, this may be a virtuous circle, i.e foreign investment is desired by the population, but often as not it isnt. Particularly when the plans of investors and their native lackeys dont coincide with the needs/ wishes of the locals.

Thats the irony here though, and its something the right doesnt quite grasp - as long as the right wing agenda for the primacy of the interests of US Capital holds sway in the US, the US will never, ever leave or withdraw from the world. But then if they ever understood this, then theyd all of a sudden become terrorist loving tree higging liberals god forbid.

The world does need us though. How many nations depend on U.S. foreign aid? How many countries depend on our support so that they can run their military? How many "sovereign" nations are in desperate need of U.S. help? It seems funny how the world hardly takes into consideration that we've helped Colombia fight those dirty militias or that we've helped countries like Liberia and Senegal. It almost seems funny how the world is so quick to judge us and tell us we don't do more then our share of helping when less then 24 hours after the tsunami happened we were already sending help packages and blankets and aid to Sri Lanka. But then. It's easier to judge then to give compliments so I don't see it as much of a surprise.

 

[Cephus]

We certainly don't need to stop being involved in the world, we are part of it, therefore we need to be involved. What we need to do is stop acting like we RUN the world. If we took a more responsible role and behaved ourselves as a member of the world stage instead of the leader, I think everyone would be a lot better off.

 

[imprtnrd]

The United States needs to quit thinking they can save the world. It's not going to happen. If we are in Iran 10 yrs or 20 yrs that part of the world has been fighting for ever! Its a religous war among them countries for centuries. We are NOT going to change them or anyone else. There is only one reason why I believe we are still there. OIL! Saddam is gone. Need to concentrate on local issues concerning our OWN country!

 

[WI Crippler]

The United States needs to quit thinking they can save the world. It's not going to happen. If we are in Iran 10 yrs or 20 yrs that part of the world has been fighting for ever! Its a religous war among them countries for centuries. We are NOT going to change them or anyone else. There is only one reason why I believe we are still there. OIL! Saddam is gone. Need to concentrate on local issues concerning our OWN country!

Then why aren't the gas prices dropping......Just food for thought. Otherwise I respect your opinion to my question....

 

[ARealConservative]

Then why aren't the gas prices dropping......Just food for thought. Otherwise I respect your opinion to my question....

If any truth exists with the peak oil conspiracy - then aquiring oil supplies for control purposes wouldn't mean lower prices - just access to oil that we might not have otherwise.


Isolationist tendencies have historically been quite strong in the conservative movement and for good reason. At the hear of this movement is distrust for government. So it is only natural to also distrust government in handling foreign affairs.

What makes no sense is the neo-con movement that claims to want limited government but also wants a giant central government for military reasons. They seem to have no idea why limited goverment is more favorable in the first place so they have no place in the conservative movement.

 

[Navy Pride]

As the worlds only true super power we have to stay involved.......

 

[Cephus]

As the worlds only true super power we have to stay involved.......

Superpower? More like superego.

 

[Cephus]

If any truth exists with the peak oil conspiracy - then aquiring oil supplies for control purposes wouldn't mean lower prices - just access to oil that we might not have otherwise.

Mostly so that big business can make an obscene profit, of course.

What makes no sense is the neo-con movement that claims to want limited government but also wants a giant central government for military reasons. They seem to have no idea why limited goverment is more favorable in the first place so they have no place in the conservative movement.

But the neocons don't want limited government, the government has grown tremendously under Bush, government spending is through the roof, all of the things that conservatives have traditionally been for, neocons are seemingly against. If anything, neocons are theocrats with an open credit card.

 

[Navy Pride]

Superpower? More like superego.

You don't think the U.S. is a superpwer?

Why do liberals hate this country?

 

[Cephus]

You don't think the U.S. is a superpwer?

Just having power and nukes does not make one super, it just makes one dangerous. So far, at least in the current administration, we have neither responsibly or respectfully used our power.

Why do liberals hate this country?

I don't know, if I ever find one, I'll ask.

Why do you neocons blindly kiss the *** of this country? That's a better question.

 

[Maximus Zeebra]

As the worlds only true super power we have to stay involved.......

There are several superpowers in the world.

US, Europe, China at least. Russia could still be considered one.

There is one MILITARY power in the world, that is the US. Russia could be considered one, China is certainly a coming one.


Many nations could be considered "powers" in the way they could change events hugely. Such nations would be.

The US
China
Europe(The UK, France, Germany)
Iran(only because of oil)
Russia
Nigeria(only because of oil)
Japan
Saudi Arabia(if they blew up their oilfields as response to threat - huge impact)

Those are the ones I can think of that can change the fate of the world at any moment.

 

[Navy Pride]

Just having power and nukes does not make one super, it just makes one dangerous. So far, at least in the current administration, we have neither responsibly or respectfully used our power.

I think it has been acknowledged that we are a super power by everyone except some people on the left...

I don't know, if I ever find one, I'll ask.

Look in the mirror you will see one.

Why do you neocons blindly kiss the *** of this country? That's a better question.

I guess because we love this country..........

 

[Kandahar]

I think it has been acknowledged that we are a super power by everyone except some people on the left...

Way to hijack the thread and make it a partisan bitchfest. God forbid we actually have an intelligent discussion about foreign policy. Good job NP.