Show Explaining Americas America's Foreign Policy By Cory Molloy Staff Writer V With th the current media coverage US U.S. citizens citizen's are not likely to form rational opinions about the continued Iraqi crisis or about American foreign policy If you have been lost as to why we are constantly on the brink of war you may appreciate reading a few of the principles behind our military deci deci- s In 1776 it was our foreign policy to tobe tobe tobe be free from political and economic entanglements with other countries This policy was formed because the founding fathers discussed the danger of following traditional European poli poli- cies They did not wish to burden American citizens with enormous enormous taxes to support a state of continual warfare James Madison wrote Of all the enemies enemies enemies ene ene- mies to public liberty war is perhaps the most to be dreaded War is the parent parent parent par par- ent of armies and armies bring with them debt and taxes Debt and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the f few w. w We have allowed our foreign policy to change as we have grown from neutrality neutrality neutrality neu neu- to political intrigue Foreign Affairs a magazine written by top military military military mili mili- tary officials wrote about Clinton's emerging trade policy The President is pushing for a vigorous trade policy that will help American firms get into foreign foreign foreign for for- eign markets He promised that trade would be placed at the center of foreign policy Becoming at least as important as political and security questions He committed to bring government and industry together by using the powers of government and military to protect the interests of the American consumer and businessman This traditional European policy was declared to ensure a competitive economy at home essential essential essential essen essen- for growth with low inflation Several professors from the University University University sity of California at Berkeley claim that the national security threat no longer refers to tanks and missiles but also to the control of markets investments and technology With the global economy becoming more and more of a reality economic control is fast becoming US U.S. foreign policy George Kennan the head of the State Department Policy Planning Staff Staffin in the late said we have about 50 of the worlds world's wealth but only 63 percent of its population In this situation situation situation situa situa- tion we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment Our real task Inthe in inthe inthe the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity The objective is to preserve and control and control the earths resources at all cost This quote was recently unclassified and supports our current policies of world sion SIon The world is watching the of America with great skepticism regarding its foreign policies Though Hussein has been called the number one violator of human rights in Iraq US U.S. sanctions caused more death and suffering suffering suffering suffer suffer- ing than the political regime itself In business psychology win situ sit- sit u ons generally come from the abundance abundance abundance dance principle The abundance principle principle pie is about everyone having enough resources to win Win lose situations generally come from the scarcity principle principle principle of there not being enough resources for all to win Our foreign policy is based upon the scarcity mind set Technologically we have the most prepared troops in the world but that has not come without great cost to our citizens Mortimer an advocate of the classic liberal arts education said in 1952 The United States is now the most powerful country in the world It has been a world power for a very short time It has not had centuries of experience ence in which to learn leam how to discharge the responsibilities of a position into which it was catapulted against its will Nor has it had the th kind of education in inthe inthe inthe the last fifty years that is conducive to understanding its position or to maintaining maintaining maintaining main main- it with balance dignity and charity A country that is powerful inexperienced and uneducated can be a great danger to world peace Though it itis itis t is now policy t to cont control oil pil and o other her economic interests we e. e could avoid such entanglements using our strength to deter conflicts rather than to fight them |