The Trouble With The United States Foreign Policy
Tim Williams
July 26, 2010
For over 20 years now the foreign policy of the United States is still the antithesis of what it really should have been and what it should be doing. Consequently we are now poised to be involved in major issues with the North Koreans. Our involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq have yet to produce significant breakthroughs in eliminating the threats of terrorism and violence that continue to saturate both countries. In other parts of the world, like in Sudan where the constant threat of pirates have made the eastern cost of Africa a major area of conflict and uncertainty to the constant turmoil of the drug cartels of South America and Mexico have all rendered the United States almost incapable of successfully dealing with any one. This leaves the United States venerable for our national security and stability.
Are allies like Russia, France, Great Britain and the rest of the G 8 countries have so far not really stepped up to the plate in offering more assistance in the conflicts around the world. The go it alone approach by the past Bush Administration proved most ineffectual and may have actually exasperated some of the problems we are faced with today. The United Nations meanwhile is almost helpless because countries have really not actually supported the UN with the necessary resources that the United Nations needs to be effective in reducing the efforts of certain countries and organizations that are bent on violence to carry our their misguided agendas.
One of the areas that is very disturbing today is in Korea where the tensions are already escalating. To understand further on how this is all unfolding we have to go back to 1953. This is when the Armistice Agreement that was signed on July 27, 1953 following the Korean War actually started the ongoing conflict that we are faced with today. Details of this Armistice have only compounded the friction between North Korea, the United States and South Korea, Instead of rendering a peaceful and Harmonious cohabitation between those countries that are so linked together conditions there have only continued to detoriate. In reference to Article I the military line of demarcation and demilitarized zone. This in itself signals that tensions between North and South Korea could erupt at any time. Since that time the United States has kept armed forces stationed right along this zone. And at no time has there been any effort to decrease or eliminate our forces and let the South Koreas monitor this zone themselves. No wonder the North Koreas are very skeptical about the intentions of the United States. At any time or anywhere there is a line of demarcation and a demilitarized zone this does not equate to bringing about a lasting peace. It is only when they are abolished can nations really resolve their disputes peacefully. The Berlin Wall was such an example of what happens when these types of barriers are torn down.
To further understand the animosity between North Korea and the United States when item D of paragraph 13 in the Armistice Agreement of 1953 it was the United States that failed to keep the agreement of munitions and military hardware at a constant level as outlined. This in itself signaled to North Korea that the United States did in fact create undue tensions that have continued through today.
When the South Korean navel vessel was sunk and 45 sailors perished all fingers pointed to North Korea. It could have been a another faction that hoped to capitalize on the ongoing tensions in the region. With North Korea denying any involvement in the sinking of the South Korea ship even with the North Koreans blatant disregard for generating a massive military buildup the United States must use restraint in the relationship between our two countries. We should make our presence known but don't flaunt our intentions and our military in their front yard.
A major shift of intentions would generate more support than animosity for our presence in that part of Asia. With so many crisis occurring concurrently around the globe many countries are so overwhelmed within their own set of circumstances that their seems to be very little effort from nations to rally together and contribute to the United Nations so that this organization can be instrumental is solving the major issues of today. The very reason why the United Nations was formed in the first place. In the best interest of all it is vital that the United States acknowledges that at some point we will have to eat humble pie even though it may be very tough to swallow in our foreign policy decisions.
Are allies like Russia, France, Great Britain and the rest of the G 8 countries have so far not really stepped up to the plate in offering more assistance in the conflicts around the world. The go it alone approach by the past Bush Administration proved most ineffectual and may have actually exasperated some of the problems we are faced with today. The United Nations meanwhile is almost helpless because countries have really not actually supported the UN with the necessary resources that the United Nations needs to be effective in reducing the efforts of certain countries and organizations that are bent on violence to carry our their misguided agendas.
One of the areas that is very disturbing today is in Korea where the tensions are already escalating. To understand further on how this is all unfolding we have to go back to 1953. This is when the Armistice Agreement that was signed on July 27, 1953 following the Korean War actually started the ongoing conflict that we are faced with today. Details of this Armistice have only compounded the friction between North Korea, the United States and South Korea, Instead of rendering a peaceful and Harmonious cohabitation between those countries that are so linked together conditions there have only continued to detoriate. In reference to Article I the military line of demarcation and demilitarized zone. This in itself signals that tensions between North and South Korea could erupt at any time. Since that time the United States has kept armed forces stationed right along this zone. And at no time has there been any effort to decrease or eliminate our forces and let the South Koreas monitor this zone themselves. No wonder the North Koreas are very skeptical about the intentions of the United States. At any time or anywhere there is a line of demarcation and a demilitarized zone this does not equate to bringing about a lasting peace. It is only when they are abolished can nations really resolve their disputes peacefully. The Berlin Wall was such an example of what happens when these types of barriers are torn down.
To further understand the animosity between North Korea and the United States when item D of paragraph 13 in the Armistice Agreement of 1953 it was the United States that failed to keep the agreement of munitions and military hardware at a constant level as outlined. This in itself signaled to North Korea that the United States did in fact create undue tensions that have continued through today.
When the South Korean navel vessel was sunk and 45 sailors perished all fingers pointed to North Korea. It could have been a another faction that hoped to capitalize on the ongoing tensions in the region. With North Korea denying any involvement in the sinking of the South Korea ship even with the North Koreans blatant disregard for generating a massive military buildup the United States must use restraint in the relationship between our two countries. We should make our presence known but don't flaunt our intentions and our military in their front yard.
A major shift of intentions would generate more support than animosity for our presence in that part of Asia. With so many crisis occurring concurrently around the globe many countries are so overwhelmed within their own set of circumstances that their seems to be very little effort from nations to rally together and contribute to the United Nations so that this organization can be instrumental is solving the major issues of today. The very reason why the United Nations was formed in the first place. In the best interest of all it is vital that the United States acknowledges that at some point we will have to eat humble pie even though it may be very tough to swallow in our foreign policy decisions.
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