INTERSECTIONS: Is it time to take a different road?

The past few days I have had a chance to think about where we find ourselves in the world today, whether we need to change directions and how we can do so if desired. This article will be the first in a series, I hope, looking at where we are and where we might want to go as a Country.

There are obviously many topics or issues within this broader subject. But today I want to start with some thoughts, and questions, on our foreign policy. This seems timely as it appears we are blindly stumbling into war in Ukraine. Many people have commented on the “reason” for Russia’s actions as well as those of others. It seems to me that many of these “reasons” are really just excuses used by Russia propaganda to justify their actions. While there are some grains of truth in these “reasons” the fact is Mr. Putin knows how to exploit them to achieve other objectives. You see some of the same rhetoric/action links with China as well.

So here we are on this road to where we don’t know. But if it is a road to a very bad place how do we change directions? How will we know when it is time, or how to make it happen? Let’s take a look at an example of a change and how it happened. And how that change helped lead us to our current location.

Prior to Sept. 11, 2001 there was an uneasy, and yes sometimes violent, “stability” in the world. This “road” had existed for decades. We wound up on that path following a deliberate change in our approach to international affairs following WWII. It took a long time for the bureaucrats and diplomats to achieve that status. While the fall of Soviet Russia resulted in some changes in power structures, it did not really change general US foreign policy. “Stability” and “Balance of Power” remained the primary buzzwords of diplomats and politicians of all major Nations.

In response to 9/11 Mr. Bush and other leaders effectively changed the path we were on to the one we find ourselves now. Unfortunately, I think this was done without considering the long range consequences. Or if they were considered, they certainly did not share their assumptions or conclusion with the rest of us. Other than the notion that “Stability” was now somehow linked with “Spreading Democracy” to places where the concept is completely foreign. One of the unforeseen affects of that action was that Mr. Putin, and other tyrants, changed their behavior, after we invaded Iraq. In essence, we gave all tyrants and despots the excuse they needed to invade whomever they wanted. We, the USA, changed direction after 9/11. This new road has had all kinds of intended and unintended consequences. So changing course may or may not work out in the long run. But if the new path is not desirable how to we pick the next path?

Since the Bush II years we have had three Presidents tell us they wanted to put us on a “new” road. To change directions. The first two failed and the third seems to have decided increasing speed is better than taking a different road. So if the American People elected three Presidents who promised a course correction then why do we seem to be on the same path? Remember, this is not the road we were on twenty some years ago. So why can’t we change? Claiming it is all the fault of the Military Industrial Complex is simplistic thinking as far as I am concerned. There have to be many other factors at play or we would be able to easily draw a line between the MIC and the current path. Remember, the MIC existed on the old path and many blamed it for that one as well. It is easy to claim money is the problem because money is always part of anything. But just because money is spent to achieve goals does not mean the goal is chosen only because of the money. Correlation does not mean causation.

There is no shortage of people claiming we need to just stop intervening on conflicts elsewhere. What happens if we pull back to our shores and stop intervening in conflicts between other States, or Tyrants. Are the lessons of WWII to be ignored? Or do they still apply? We see how easy it was to stumble onto a new road following 9/11, and how the consequences were probably not considered. Wouldn’t the reactionary “America First” strategy not suffer the same flaws?

The point of my article today is to primarily raise questions and point out how unforeseen pitfalls can occur, even when you think you are absolutely right. I don’t think anyone can have 100% accurate foresight. But I do think we can avoid many disasters if we pay attention to history and the reality in the world today.

I also do not see how we can decide on a new path today when we don’t seem to even agree on the general principles which should guide policies. If this were not bad enough, we are living with a partisan driven hypocrisy in our political leadership. Who cannot see that those who supported the Iraq and Afghanistan operations now oppose helping Ukraine. And those who viciously attacked Mr. Bush II over these wars are now in full support of fighting with Russia IN Ukraine. It is one thing to have divergent principles within the country, it is another when people change principles depending on who is in the White House or control of Congress.

As our discussions move forward I want everyone to keep in mind that foreign policy is but one issue. When considering this one issue we need to keep in mind all the others. Because they are all integrally linked. And they should all be consistent with a core set of principles and values shared by most, if not all, Americans.