PAUL: 'Fight them over there vs. over here' a false choice
By Ron Paul | July 1, 2009 | From the Washington Times:
There is no area in which Republicans have further strayed from our traditions than in foreign affairs.
Generations of conservatives followed the great advice of our Founding Fathers and pursued a restrained foreign policy that rebuffed entangling alliances and advised America, in the words of John Quincy Adams, not to "go abroad looking for dragons to slay."
Sen. Robert Taft, the stalwart of the Old Right, urged America to stay out of NATO. Dwight Eisenhower was elected on a platform promising to get us out of the conflict in Korea. Richard Nixon promised to end the war in Vietnam.
Republicans were highly critical of Bill Clinton for his adventurism in Somalia and Kosovo. As recently as 2000, George W. Bush campaigned on a "humbler" foreign policy and decried nation-building.
But our foreign policy today looks starkly different.
Neoconservatives who have come to power in both the Democratic and Republican parties argue that the U.S. must ether confront every evil in every corner of the globe or risk danger at home. We need to "fight them over there" they say, so we don't have to "fight them over here." This argument presents a false choice. We do not have to pick between interventionism and vulnerability. The complexity of our world is exactly why the lessons of our past should ring true and demand a return to a traditional, pro-American foreign policy: one of nonintervention.
output
bump...
Some great insight.
Interesting comment
Here's a comment I believe reflects mainstream opinion.
"As a conservative and as a member of the U.S. military, I like much of what Mr. Paul is saying. However, in the 21st century, pursuing the bests interests of the American people is all a matter of perspective. A policy of near-complete non-intervention could have dire and unforeseen consequences. The responsibility of our government is not solely to defend against any military threat. It never has been. It's responsibility is to provide American's with the highest quality of life. Our expansive presence abroad affords us a distinct advantage is pursuing trade, diplomacy, and in maintaining a security situation favorable to ourselves and our allies (who are also important in making sure that America gets what America needs). All of this translates into higher paychecks for Americans, more Americans owning cars, softer toilet paper in American bathrooms... the list goes on. As a result, many nations without this international advantage perceive America as a bully. American doesn't always help them, or seems to help only when it benefits America. Well, this is simply true! We look out for ourselves first, and that takes a significant world presence. Without this presence, we would have to rely upon economic influence alone to achieve our domestic goals, and we all know that this is not a long-term certainty. I believe that what Mr. Paul is actually concerned about is what our government fails to foresee, the times when our intervention has helped us in the short-run and hurt us overall (such as the case with Iran and North Korea). This is a very valid point, and the international-diplomacy balancing act is only going to become more complicated with time. My hope is that we reach the proper equilibrium between appeasement and national prosperity."
The author of this comment, and those who share the same opinion, are ignoring the fact that the US government constantly makes promises it cannot honor. Ron Paul believes in appeasing Americans, not foreigners. That many foreigners believe they would be better off is merely a side effect.
What the US govnerment has been doing is robbing Peter to pay Paul. Then it robs someone else to pay back Peter. And on and on. Even American citizens aren't safe. Because its dealings are cloaked in secrecy, very few know who will be victimized next.
All US government allies are running their own variations of the same. Collectively they project an air of legitimacy, helping each other perpetuate the system as a whole. The complexity of this system determines the cost of maintaining it. Unfortunately, the complexity now increases exponentially over time.
Another home run,
and people are noticing.
Awesome
as always...
the philosophy that cures apathy.....
Non - Intervention
Everything begins with Non - Intervention.
Robert Taft was right -
Ron Paul was and is right -
How will the GOP learn to adopt this philosophy so real change can come about?
This might quite possibly
be his best article on foreign policy, to date. Very clear, very hard to argue against, and laid out in clear numbered points. Great!!!
"Government spending cannot create additional jobs. If the government provides the funds required by taxing the citizens or by borrowing from the public, it abolishes on the one hand as many jobs as it creates on the other.", www.mises.org
Another great statement by the good doctor...
Ron Paul has an amazing ability to cut to the core of issues that effect our nation's course. Even though his ideas continue to be labeled as "radical", he has a knack for stating the case for constitutional government in very simple and persuasive terms. He also seems to find the proper level at which to argue our case, does not get bogged down in discussing extraneous topics, and avoids unnecessary controversy.
We DailyPaulites would do well to emulate him in more of our forum discussions.
******************************
An idea is not responsible for the people who believe in it.
Natural Law and Natural Rights
http://jim.com/rights.htm...
One sentence...
We do not have to pick between interventionism and vulnerability.
Exactly! Unfortunately the vast majority of people refuse to think or reason - it requires too much time and effort in our fast-food culture and the recent generations are not taught to think for themselves and evaluate the facts. Even those who are being paid to think and reason (ie. Congress) have no time for it...apparently.
I would love to read some precedent where this country did not intervene in another country's affairs and was subsequently attacked because of it. Or that our intervention prevented an attack.
Korea, Vietnam, Bosnea, Iraq? I think not...
If I hear one more person tell me, regarding the Iraq invasion; "Well, at least it kept us safe for 8 years," I may throw-up.
Two days in a row for Dr.
Two days in a row for Dr. Paul to have appeared in MSM outlets? Whtever the reason, I'm all for it!
Ron Paul for President 2012...and beyond
If we build it, they will come.
Great article.
grant
AWESOME!
I'm emailing this one out! Awesome,,, truely!
Goody, goody
makes me giddy for positive news.
Excellent Article, But
The best thing we as Americans can do is offer friendship while setting a good example of what a free and prosperous society looks like. Ronald Reagan wanted America to be a "shining city on the hill." We should make that our goal. (Ron Paul Quote)
This is an excellent article, but if I may just disagree with Ronald Reagan and Ron Paul on one point.
The "shining city on the hill" is New England Puritan religious nonsense. They had the idea that their way was THE way. They thought they were superior to all others. This idea led to "Manifest Destiny", a further declaration of that attitude of superiority, an attitude which led to the idea of an American Empire.
The desire to remake the world in the image of America comes straight from the Puritans. This attitude leads to the use of force to change others for their own good.
Secular America inherited these attitudes from the Puritans, minus God of course.
I think what Reagan/Paul meant...
by shining city on the hill was to be the example. Be the example of showing freedom and liberty and how prosperity follows.
Dr. Paul believes that we should always set a good example to encourage others nations to pursue a similar philosophy, never through the barrel of a gun.
-------------------------------------------------------
Peace, Freedom and Prosperity should be our motto as Americans. Keep the American dream alive no matter how dark or difficult our circumstances seem.
Ron Paul is my President.
------------
So, let's see... by that reasoning all lighthouses
So, let's see... by that reasoning all lighthouses are "...New England Puritan religious nonsense..."?!?
Why always bring 'God' abstractly into the picture, or 'anti-God' for that matter? The Puritans never spoke of 'their' way, but of God's way! From them came non-interventionism, clearly a Biblical norm, rather than existential interventionism, British manifest destiny, globalism, and preemptive war... all elements of, not Biblical, but chaotic, anarchistic, existential, and atheistic tyranny.
Best stick to the analogy that we are hereby called to live and vote a life of good national morals, ethics, and sound principles, and that by so doing we as individuals, as well as several states of free and sovereign citizens, simply and logically become a beacon of light to an otherwise rapidly darkening world.
The 'light' of which the good doctor speaks, is the same need of which the founders spoke, though clothed in different robes.
Today, as of old, the world remains darkened by bands of tyranny so calculated as to bring us also under subjugation. Under this iron hand of financial as well as literal tyranny, the same masters as would enslave us, most other nations of the world have already been laboring for many years. Those documents illustrative of the foundational principles, which have thus far sustained freedom and liberty for America's children, still stand firmly planted in the path of that tyranny, in the path of those who would supplant it... The Declaration of Independence, the Constitutions of the several states as well the nation, along with the common law and it's supporting documents.
There is no lack of clarity in the message many of our immigrant ancestors read so longingly into all that spoke of liberty, be it literal or figurative as in the Statue of Liberty, notwithstanding it's particular origin.
What is yet lacking? Only by sufficient animation and vigilance of her children, of you the staunch electorate, can the required checks and balances sustain the light of liberty so needed as the world nears the rocky shores of tyranny!
Will you be that generation which becomes animated enough to keep that light burning for the next?
-------------------------------------------------------------
"Suspicion is a Virtue, if in the interests of the good of the people." Patrick Henry
"We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power... the battle, sir, is not to the strong alone - it is to the
Most common sense I've read in ten years.
Sums it up without many words.
Fantastic and Crystal Clear
This stuff is all old news to us but it's exciting to think of the new people everyday encountering these ideas thanks to all of our hard work (and Dr. Paul's!)
Musician, Blimpographer...Hear my music: www.myspace.com/americanp...
my videos: www.youtube.com/conservat...
Excellent!
That awesome article is on the front page of the Washington Times!
Yeah - that is fantastic!
Front page baby!