Foreign policy in this country has been debated since the beginning. The majority of our founding fathers recommended a policy of isolationism. As a newly freed country, we could not trust international aid. The French just wanted to destroy the British and the British just wanted to hassle the Spanish. Our only concern then was the defense of our country. Little did the world know that the country that was formed had more resources than the European nations. We chose to follow our isolationist foreign policy until the beginning of the industrial age. By this time our country was large enough to be considered a key player in the globalization of the world. Although we were important in the business world, it took a world war to really push us into the forefront of the political landscape. Now we are the most powerful country in the world.
As the most powerful country what we do on an every day basis is of international importance. The U.S. policy on governments can make or break the leadership of those governments. This is actually being witnessed right now. Our support of other country's populations to rebel against their leaders is giving many countries the idea that they can rebel as well. We are watching history change. We are becoming global leaders and it has everything to do with our politics and business. People around the world want what we have.
With this in mind, we as a country need to remember that we are being watched. President Obama's decision to support NATO bombing of Libya is causing an uproar in Congress. People across the country are complaining that we are not the world's police force, but should we allow human rights to be violated. In the past these same politicians complained that we were allowing these violations. It seems like our politicians (from both parties) only support other politicians from the same party. Our foreign policy changes with each change of power. It is time for our country to settle on an idea of foreign policy. Do we continue to be the world leader or do we allow someone else to take our place? Do we focus on our own problems or continue to be a global leader? Only time will tell.
As the most powerful country what we do on an every day basis is of international importance. The U.S. policy on governments can make or break the leadership of those governments. This is actually being witnessed right now. Our support of other country's populations to rebel against their leaders is giving many countries the idea that they can rebel as well. We are watching history change. We are becoming global leaders and it has everything to do with our politics and business. People around the world want what we have.
With this in mind, we as a country need to remember that we are being watched. President Obama's decision to support NATO bombing of Libya is causing an uproar in Congress. People across the country are complaining that we are not the world's police force, but should we allow human rights to be violated. In the past these same politicians complained that we were allowing these violations. It seems like our politicians (from both parties) only support other politicians from the same party. Our foreign policy changes with each change of power. It is time for our country to settle on an idea of foreign policy. Do we continue to be the world leader or do we allow someone else to take our place? Do we focus on our own problems or continue to be a global leader? Only time will tell.
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