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US Foreign Policy is Questionable-But Not the Worst

Reader comment on item: The Ninth 9/11
in response to reader comment: How many have courage to criticize US foreign policy

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Sep 15, 2010 at 19:00

It has been said that September 11, 2001 and the events that transpired that day were a result of American Foreign policy, or actually, the Islamists expression of opinion against such. This was heard up close and personal, as well as being broadcast worldwide by al-Jazeera and other such outlets friendly to the Islamist cause. Even today, we hear that American foreign policy is a take it or leave it proposition, not to be trusted except under certain circumstances, many times garnished with 'incentives.' Is there any wonder?

We read of the rusting hulk of the former USS Olympia, a long forgotten relic of the time when American foreign policy was given greater world status, preceding the 1905 world tour of the American Navy, the quintessential arm of American foreign policy. Were it not for the ability to put 'ambassadors' of enforcement to the sea and air and on the ground in any given place in the world in less than twenty four hours, would anyone even listen to what the American foreign policy experts have to say? The defiance of the forces true to the Taliban and of al-Qaeda and others would beg to differ, and do so with their lives.

So what can be said of American foreign policy, and of what value can be taken from it that would alter the impressions of the many who hate America? One might suggest to say; "it depends upon the opinion of the beholder." But even this is simplistic, and does not address the several and complicated issues facing America and the relationships held around the world. What would drive a program of foreign policy that would address the poverty in so many countries in which more than half of the world population starves, others face oppressions of diverse proportions, and the elitist rich seem to want more than enough, if not all control to make the world their personal oyster. How does one manage foreign policy in the face of that? Simple…..you can't.

The current American Administrations' foreign policy is different these last 18 months or so from the previous administrations, that it has been in the business of redirecting policies to meet a different agenda than that which emerged from September 11, 2001. It is ironic though, that the 'pro-Arabist' leanings of the current administration have mixed results in the Arab world, and one wonders about that too. The reason is that no one has yet determined the real reason for the ineffectiveness of such diplomacy that has no power behind it. No power? Does that mean the most powerful armed presence in the world today has no power to enforce its foreign policy unilaterally?

Look around, what has actually been achieved, say, in the last year? How about the last nine years-let alone how many years since the Arab oil crisis emerged to put its stranglehold on industrialized nations? Therein lies the power of one of the foreign diplomatic problems……how many barrels of product can we secure?

But there is a situation that cannot be solved by 'greasing the skids'; that of the ideological differences that seemingly cannot be resolved. In an example, there is the Christian mindset, currently under assault as an epithet to the Islamist's perspective, and others for that matter. A foreign policy formed from a democratic society operating from a history of Christian ethics has poor audience after years and years of operating in the absence of the morality that should be governing a civilization that professes to follow Christ, but does not.

Even as the witness of the goodness of Christ is expressed, those that do not wish to follow that find some way to circumvent the influences and what is left is used to oppress and offend in the name of an altered religious perspective. Were it not for the true witness of the missionary efforts around the world that truly seek to do the good required of a true Christian, like those missionaries killed in Afghanistan, then the true message of Christ would never be heard over the roar of bad foreign policy.

So what conclusion then, that if foreign policy cannot be enforced by military efforts, or by fiduciary means, then how? A good example is coming up-deciding how to resolve the 'Palestinian' issue, which is at the core and nucleus of the angst between the Islamist's world and the rest of the world. This is another attempt after the policies of the current American Administration are being put to the final test. If there is no intifada after Abbas and Netanyahu come to terms, then maybe something can come from that. Yet it does not look so promising.

Peripheral to that is the Islamist's headquarter building project at 'Ground Zero,' which though is decidedly an 'internal' issue, does have worldwide implications. If the United States, and New York in its capacity as a face to the world for the United States, concedes to allow the project to go ahead, what chance is there for effective foreign policy then? Anyone?

September 11, 2001 gave America a chance, brief if ever it was, to reestablish a foreign policy dialogue that could help to distinguish a more sensitive relationship with the world, and it was squandered for the lack of courage of convictions. There is even less of that today.

Do we squabble about 60 billion dollar American arms sales to the Saud kingdom, all the while Israel is left begging for the scraps? That underscores the inadequate methodology of military and fiduciary support of foreign policy. It also raises the question about who is entitled to the policy of most-favored nation status. In the next war, shortly to be upon us, how many American servicemen/women will be harmed by products labeled 'Made in the USA?'Now that's a foreign policy most of our enemies are willing to embrace, isn't it.

What will American foreign policy need to dictate then?

Submitting....

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Reader comments (61) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
DANIEL PIPES, GUARDIAN OF OUR LIBERTIES [11 words]JERRY BORISApr 17, 2011 00:10184342
Not-true muslims strike again [48 words]RajeevDec 9, 2010 17:00180821
Christmas Gift from those-who-cannot-be-true-muslims [19 words]RajeevDec 26, 2010 23:06180821
Muslim comedy on Ground Zero?? [55 words]skepticalNov 30, 2010 15:40180589
Shameless insult to injury [9 words]RajeevNov 23, 2010 01:07180401
7Liberal blindness [134 words]HomefrontSep 20, 2010 06:53178470
1Playing with words [18 words]Ravi Ranjan Singh BharatPanthiOct 1, 2010 11:19178470
1Less Clausewitz, More Sun Tzu [254 words]John in Michigan, USASep 19, 2010 15:23178435
That Day [241 words]Arlinda DeAngelisSep 18, 2010 15:06178384
Center for Security Policy's report on the threat of Shariah [42 words]William BellSep 16, 2010 16:50178336
The need for Clarity [137 words]attaturkSep 16, 2010 13:12178333
9Advice to Imam Rauf [42 words]VijaySep 14, 2010 11:18178244
1Ha Ha Ha you expect fish to ride bicycle chanting UN Charter, [147 words]Ravi Ranjan Singh BharatPanthiSep 15, 2010 06:55178244
1vijay [29 words]RaheelSep 16, 2010 15:44178244
1You are still doing [89 words]Ravi Ranjan Singh BharatPanthiOct 1, 2010 11:11178244
5What is Problem between You and Dogs [20 words]Ravi Ranjan Singh BharatPanthiOct 1, 2010 11:14178244
2what it looks like from Germany [257 words]mythSep 14, 2010 06:25178235
2How many have courage to criticize US foreign policy [174 words]AsadSep 14, 2010 03:56178230
4Asad makes a lot of sense [242 words]RajeevSep 15, 2010 02:01178230
US Foreign Policy is Questionable-But Not the Worst [988 words]M. ToveySep 15, 2010 19:00178230
In a way you are grateful to the United States. [58 words]LynnSep 16, 2010 11:11178230
1Scapegoating [112 words]Kepha HorSep 17, 2010 06:03178230
1Stop playing victim. [204 words]RaymondSep 22, 2010 13:01178230
The word is . . . [197 words]Doug CorriganSep 13, 2010 19:36178223
1WWII [76 words]aspaciaSep 13, 2010 19:10178221
3the beat goes on and on [354 words]Jules PostenSep 13, 2010 14:52178212
3What I Learned From 9/11 [245 words]KanaanSep 13, 2010 14:08178209
The Left is civilization's death wish [338 words]Kepha HorSep 18, 2010 22:01178209
7Quwwat-al-Islam [152 words]VijaySep 13, 2010 13:30178205
1You nailed it! [25 words]Tom AndrewsSep 13, 2010 06:41178188
Can't Resist Asking This Controversial Question ... [91 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
AlexSep 12, 2010 23:08178160
2The curse of political correctness!!! [147 words]JaladhiSep 12, 2010 18:17178142
Very eloquently and well spoken, "Jaladhi", but ... [69 words]kmanSep 13, 2010 00:06178142
42Humilating Grand Surrender of Pastor Terry Jones speaks of terror; Learn from Sikhs [175 words]Ravi Ranjan Singh BharatPanthiSep 13, 2010 02:45178142
1Agreed, we need to spread the truth far and wide!! [126 words]JaladhiSep 14, 2010 18:22178142
Slow Is Not Good [461 words]GeoffSep 12, 2010 18:06178139
2Neville Chamberlain reborn [211 words]Janusz KowalikSep 12, 2010 16:26178133
3Islamophobia??? [67 words]Kim BruceSep 12, 2010 16:23178132
2Have we learned anything? [132 words]Kim BruceSep 12, 2010 16:19178131
I think Obama has too much momentum and no care at all for law ... [119 words]kmanSep 12, 2010 23:54178131
-.- [9 words]sfdaNov 16, 2010 16:18178131
Boy is that incomplete... [95 words]JacobSep 12, 2010 14:16178127
1Sorry, "Jacob", you have no education at all ... [165 words]kmanSep 12, 2010 23:46178127
Specifics? [160 words]KanaanSep 13, 2010 14:51178127
Why am I even bothering? [44 words]JacobSep 14, 2010 12:06178127
Actually... [220 words]JacobSep 14, 2010 12:22178127
1we need some comparative theology here [189 words]Peter HerzSep 12, 2010 13:08178125
1Great article!!! [33 words]SanderSep 12, 2010 12:31178124
What version of Koran in English? [53 words]Tom GreySep 12, 2010 11:36178118
9Power to the People [196 words]Arn HatfieldSep 12, 2010 11:34178116
19/11 Lessons [145 words]SoloviewSep 12, 2010 09:32178108
3Exactly right, but consider, now, Israel [102 words]Dean M.Sep 12, 2010 09:26178107
2Response to Ground Zero Press Release [717 words]Stephen PushSep 12, 2010 08:43178105
American blood is cheap [41 words]Ravi Ranjan Singh BharatPanthiSep 13, 2010 04:32178105
1"REV" or true TERRORIST ? [322 words]ALESSANDRO ALBORESep 12, 2010 06:53178101
1He Who Has The Bigger Stick Is Boss [403 words]GeoffSep 12, 2010 18:42178101
7learn from SARAGARHI [31 words]Ravi Ranjan Singh BharatPanthiSep 13, 2010 04:21178101
1to Ravi Ranjan [21 words]A SinghSep 16, 2010 02:47178101
Tales from topographic oceans or when the truth is masqued ? [329 words]Alessandro AlboreSep 16, 2010 08:45178101
Keep Saragarhi Alive [61 words]Ravi Ranjan Singh BharatPanthiOct 1, 2010 11:35178101
5it speaks for itself [54 words]solemnmanSep 12, 2010 06:36178097

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