Issue I | April 2010
“When you want to fool the world, tell the truth”
YALIBERTY.ORG/FPH
The Young Americans for Liberty Foreign Policy Handbook
YOUNG AMERICANS for LIBERTY
Foreign Policy Handbook: The Young Americans for Liberty Foreign Policy Handbook
April 2010
Executive Director Jeff Frazee
Contents 3
How to Solve the Middle East Problem
By Roy Antoun 4
Editor in Chief Roy Antoun
Is Russia an Economic Powerhouse?
By Daniel Suraci 5
POINT/ COUNTERPOINT: Where the Tea Parties and the Liberty Movement Diverge
Layout Editor Bonnie Kristian
By Nelson Chase & Roy Antoun 7
Afghanistan: The Graveyard of Empires
By Jeremy Davis 8
Is Iran Really a “Threat”?
By Brandon Cestrone 9
Art Director Nicholas Leavens
Obama’s Nuclear Policy is Just More Hyped Up “Change”
By Wesley Messamore
Contributors Wesley Messamore Nelson Chase Brandon Cestrone
10
What Can America Learn From European Imperialism in the Middle East?
By Brandon Cestrone
Jeremy Davis Daniel Suraci
11
OPINION: Speak Their Own Language if You Want to Change Their Minds
By Brendon DeMeo
Brandon DeMeo
YAL MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) is to train, educate, and mobilize youth activists committed to "winning on principle." Our goal is to cast the leaders of tomorrow and reclaim the policies, candidates, and direction of our government. YAL STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES We are the Young Americans for Liberty (YAL). As Americans we recognize the God-given natural rights of life, liberty, and property set forth by our Founding Fathers. Our country was created to protect the freedoms of the individual and directed by we the people. We recognize that freedom deserves responsibility and therefore we hold ourselves to a high moral character and conduct. Integrity emphasizes our stance towards action. Principle defines our outlook towards government. Peace and prosperity drives our ambitions towards our countrymen. We inherit a corrupt, coercive world that has lost respect for voluntary action. Our government has failed and dragged our country into moral decay. The political class dominates the agenda with a violent, callous, controlling grip. And, for this we do not stand.
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
1
Letter From the Editor Dear Reader, As the United States continues its prolonged foreign policy of intervention and wasteful “humanitarian” spending, it is safe to say that whatever diplomatic actions the U.S. has taken through the past century were, for the most part, flawed and basic violations of how a Realist leadership should act. Niccolo Machiavelli once wrote in The Prince that “putting on one side imaginary things concerning a prince, and discussing those which are real… are remarkable for some of those qualities which bring them either blame or praise.” It seems to be that American foreign policy has taken the imaginary thoughts of empire and applied it to an impossible and improbable global scale. Neoconservatives often believe “that history can be pushed along with the right application of power and will,” to quote exneoconservative Francis Fukuyama. Mr. Fukuyama’s distaste for the Leninist and interventionist structure of neoconservatism can be matched over a century prior to his aversion. Otto von Bismarck, once stated that, “the river of history flows as it will, and if I put my hand in it, this is because I regard it as my duty, not because I think I can change its course.” Alas, neoconservatism serves as the antithesis to Bismarck’s wisdom and American foreign policy serves as the antithesis to common sense and reason. House Members, Senators, and State Department staff from both isles of the American political spectrum have twisted the Republic into a hegemonic Western Democracy. Socialism and excess taxes have funded and fueled a “compassionate” government to transform agencies such as USAID into nation-building schemes that have crafted the American economy into an artificial wave of Keynesian illusory markets. As Realists continue to say that our foreign policy is driven by “national interest”, we must reevaluate what the national interest is and for once place a costbenefit analysis on our foreign policy that includes taxation and, most importantly, human lives . “Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations--entangling alliances with none, I deem [one of] the essential principles of our government, and consequently [one of] those which ought to shape its administration." – Thomas Jefferson
Roy M. Antoun
About the Foreign Policy Handbook The objective of the Foreign Policy Handbook is to rationally discuss the faults in American foreign policy and offer practical, liberty-minded solutions. Over the past century, our elected leaders have collectively corrupted U.S. foreign relations into a hotbed of backfiring interventionism. It is the job of the youth to mobilize and inform ,because it is we who will be paying the price in blood and gold . While views expressed in the articles do not represent all the members of YAL, they do express the views of the respective authors. Young Americans for Liberty does not support or oppose any candidate for office.
Want to write for Foreign Policy 101? Contact roy.antoun@yaliberty.org http://www.yaliberty.org/FPH Find us on the web: http://yaliberty.org Find us on Facebook http://facebook.com/yaliberty Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/yaliberty
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
2
Commentary | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010 threat of a rising American power through Cuba and the Philippines brought an aggressive atmosphere that smothered Europe in 1914. The mistakes of the past, however, have been forgotten. American induced nation building in the Philippines led to a drastic loss of American troops to guerrilla style warfare after occupation. The propped up Weimar government by the victors
How to Solve the Middle East Problem
of World War I brought high grades of inflation and radical civil society in Germany, one of which went by the acronym of
By Roy Antoun
“NSDAP”. The sovereignty of colonized territories in the Middle East was not sovereign at all, but was instead propped up by
“How fortunate for governments that the people they administer
European crafted mandates during the 1920’s. In other words,
don't think.” – Adolf Hitler
natives to the land did not style their own governments or boundaries, but rather, bureaucrats from Europe did instead.
For the United States, the Middle East has become a hotbed
The times of the early 1900s are no different from the times
of misconstrued politics and regional power struggles that have
we live in today. Just as the turn of the 20th century shifted a
created an undesired status quo in contemporary foreign af-
unipolar world (England being the sole power) to a multipolar
fairs. The colloquial quagmire that we (the United States) have
world (Germany, the US, and France as emerging powers), the
gotten ourselves into is not new and nor does it require a new
turn of the 21st century did the same. We have shifted from the
theory on foreign policy to solve. What neoconservatives and
unipolar era of American world policing to Fareed Zakaria’s
many think tanks such as the Project for a New American Cen-
“Rise of the Rest”.
tury have established was the continuation of status quo in
In regards to Congressional Hearings dealing with civil so-
which the United States would remain to be the forerunner of
cieties in ‘failing’ states such as Yemen, the U.S. or Western so-
democracy. The theory of ‘perpetual peace’ has long been dis-
lution to the problem hasn’t changed. Assistant Secretary
proven and now American foreign policy must find its way out
Feltman’s solution to Yemen emerging from its economic insta-
of entangling alliances and back to an era of peace and prosper-
bility was for the United States to “throw money” into develop-
ity.
ing the emergence of civil societies in Yemen. The common misconception of civil societies equating to successful democra-
“We make war that we may live in peace.” – Aristotle
cies has never been clarified to the State Department. The
Basic international relations theories dictate that the objec-
NSDAP, or Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, was
tive of war is to find peace and the objective of peace is to main-
in fact, at one point, a ‘civil society’ that gained electoral votes
tain peace by preparing for war. States will always act upon
in Weimar parliament, essentially dismantling its political in-
their best interests, regardless of domestic popular opinion.
frastructure from within. This was the birth of the Nazi Party; a
What I am arguing, however, is that the course of action that
civil society, grassroots movement. Simply verifying whether
the United States has been taking in regards to Middle East pol-
Yemen has civil societies emerging is not enough, but rather,
icy is not in the national interest and has actually devalued
the types of civil societies should be of most importance. Then
American global power as a result.
again, is this truly the business of the United States, especially if
What policymakers in Washington must first come to realize is that the meddling in internal state affairs, or nation build-
the State Department will be funding the growth of said civil societies?
ing, always results in a large deficit and aggressive nature that
Barbara Tuchman, author of The Guns of August, argued
an international arena views as a threat. It was the threat of
that the entirety of World War I could have been avoided if
empires expanding that helped toss Europe into war in World
Kaiser Wilhelm had reversed Moltke’s decision to mobilize
War I. French colonies in North Africa, German colonies in
troops into Belgium. The same can be said about an aggressive
South Africa, British colonies in India and Egypt, as well as the
United States. American politicians need to realize that continuously placing sanctions on an angered Iran can lead to dis-
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
3
Commentary | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010 aster. The Iranian government’s actions have all been responses to flawed American foreign policy. With thirty years of silence from the US Department of State and an influx of sanctions on behalf of the US, in addition to the placement of an American war fleet in the Persian Gulf overlooking Iran’s Abadan oil field, it is no wonder why Iran has been acting defensively against the United States. Iran, with both Eastern and Western borders threatened by a US military presence, is only acting in its own best interest and the American people need to accept that. Regarding the Green Revolution, Congressmen on the Foreign Affairs Committee came to the conclusion that it was imperative for American funds be sent to aid the Green Movement. Academics such as Dr. Geneive Abdo from the Century
Is Russia an Economic Powerhouse?
Foundation testified that keeping the Green Movement alive By Daniel Suraci
meant sending financial aid to ensuring that anti-government websites stay up as well as maintaining Twitter and YouTube accessibility on behalf of the protesters. Although this ‘solution’
An aphorism attributed to Sun Tzu states, “Appear weak
may provide for temporary fixes, the sheer thought of interven-
when you are strong, and strong when you are weak”. Today, as
ing in the domestic affairs of Iran is flawed within itself.
Russia postures itself as an economic giant, one must question
Looking at history we can conclude that every moment
if this saying is in play. As a country steeped in nationalism and
America arbitrated the domestic affairs of another country, any-
imperial history, many Russians, including many high ranking
thing but progress was the result. The United States choosing
officials, view Russia as incomplete without an empire.
human rights issues in Cuba as an excuse to go to war with
Since the financial collapse of 1998, the Russian economy
Spain in 1898 resulted in the creation of protectorates in Cuba
has been lost in the limbo of free markets and socialism. While
and the Philippines. Today, Cuba remains communist and we
in theory, many government-run services became private, in
have ceased any trade with the little island country. The pres-
fact, they were and still are subject to heavy government inter-
ence of US troops occupying the Philippines caused the Philip-
ference. This interference with the private sector has left Russia
pine-American War and continuous guerilla warfare for almost
with a stagnant economy. Out of 133 countries, Russia came in
13 years after the war had ‘ended’. Today, the southern Philip-
51st in their innovation score from last year as measured by the
pines contains several anti-West, Muslim radical groups.
World Economic Forum. This problem is well acknowledged in
Our vehement desire to assure Immanuel Kant’s theory of
Russia, as Mr. Medvedev himself recently wrote, “Should we
‘Perpetual Peace’ only led to our meddling in Korean affairs in
drag a primitive economy based on raw materials and endemic
the 1950’s. However, the conflict has deeper roots leading back
corruption into the future?” As Mr. Medvedev states, Russia's
to 1945 when the Allies split Korea in half (North & South)
corrupt bureaucracy has plagued any economic growth in the
without the consent of the Korean people. In doing this, the
country. Transparency International ranked Russia has being
Soviet Union and the United States both had influence over the
the 146th most corrupt nation in the world. In comparison, the
Korean territories thus leading to the Korean War and an esca-
United States was ranked 19th.
lation in the Cold War conflict. Today, North Korea is a US en-
Not surprisingly for a country still seeped in socialist tradi-
emy and has continuously threatened the United States with its
tion, Russia does not protect its citizens’ property rights, a criti-
nuclear capabilities.
cism which has been the topic of great political debate. On the
The same can be said about Vietnam, the removal of the
property rights index, Russia scored a 30 of a possible 100. Only
Shah in Iran, the divide of Germany (in both World Wars), na-
Bosnia ranks lower on the European continent. Russia's poor
tion-building in Iraq, and now the third attempt at changing
score comes not only from a lack of laws protecting property
the Iranian government.
rights, but an inability to enforce the laws that do exist due to
The clear solution to this problem is to end the meddling of internal state affairs in other countries.
corruption, geographic, and struggling with central planning. While Russia has many problems preventing economic
When will our leaders learn? Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
4
Point/ Counterpoint | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010 POINT/ COUNTERPOINT
growth, the country also possesses a great amount of natural resources. Russia is the third largest exporter of steel in the world, and the largest exporter of oil and natural gas. These commodities give Russia not only wealth, but bargaining power throughout much of the world. Furthermore, steel and oil are the key ingredients to create a war machine. Russia, like the United States, had a bail-out of its big businesses in reaction to the most recent financial meltdown. Also, arguably like the United States, Russia has a state owned “bailout bank” named Vnesheconombank (roughly translated, “Outward Development Bank”). Since 1997, Russia's M2 money supply has increased from 295.2 billion rubles to 15,565.9 billion
Where the Tea Parties and the Liberty Movement Diverge:
Ending Economic Insanity and the Unconstitutional War in Afghanistan
rubles, a 52 fold increase. Since the crisis took hold, Russia has
By Nelson Chase
been inflating its money supply like many other Western countries.
Since 2007, Russia's money has been inflated from
POINT:
8,995.8 billion rubles to 15,565.9 billion rubles, nearly doubling.
There is a rising movement within the United States to re-
An Austrian analysis would obviously state that any economic
turn to a limited constitutional based government. They cry for
growth with this much monetary inflation over such a short
a return to the founding principles of our great Republic and
period of time is not sustainable.
that only this can save us from big government. This is of
In 1992, Russians experienced hyperinflation after increas-
course the Tea Party movement and it has brought together
ing its money supply dramatically over a short period of time, a
various outraged citizens and has gained high power endorse-
typical result of large government. Perhaps fearful of facing
ments from established neoconservative Republican leadership,
hyperinflation again, Russia has been demanding a return to an
while claiming to be separate from the Republican Party. The
international gold standard. Russia is rich in gold, and claims
Tea Party is a movement with tremendous potential but I find
to have large stores of bullion. With the United States dollar
in it one glaring contradiction. This glaring contradiction is in
possibly losing its reserve status as result of the latest financial
regards to foreign policy. How many times have you heard a
crisis, Russia is in a good position with its commodities and
major Tea Party leader, besides Congressman Ron Paul, come
gold to take advantage of the failings of other countries. More-
out and speak against the unconstitutional war in Afghanistan?
over, the return to a gold standard would stabilize Russia's own
If we are to return to constitutional principles we need to stop
money supply, allowing for a revival of business. One has to
unconstitutional wars. You can’t pick and choose to support
wonder if Russia sees this advantage in light of their own infla-
one part of the constitution and then disregard another. This is
tion or as posturing against a United States based reserve for
what people in the Tea Party are doing. Health care is unconsti-
political reasons.
tutional they say but so is not declaring war since World War II.
Russia's symbol, the bear, has expressed two different at-
Somehow these neoconservatives justify fighting wars without
tributes throughout history: ferocity and lethargy. The dichot-
following the clear process set forth in the constitution and
omy of the bear between the vicious predator, and the sleeping
claim to be for the constitution. How “Realistic” is that? The
hibernator is applicable here as well. Russia's economy cur-
Liberty Movement is in danger if the neoconservatives take over
rently struggles with government corruption, and massive infla-
the Tea Party movement and the GOP establishment wants to
tion of its money supply, but is propped up by its rich wealth of
do just that.
commodities. Russia is currently a sleeping bear with great potential, but a bear nonetheless.
Any movement towards a Constitutional based limited government must include a movement towards a foreign policy that returns to the principles of America’s founding fathers. This is where the neoconservative Tea Party activists, supported by established Republican leadership, and true Liberty groups like Young Americans for Liberty & Campaign for Liberty diverge. We are told that we should agree to disagree on this
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
5
Point/ Counterpoint | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010 topic since it is not as important as other challenges facing lib-
trade, and diplomacy not nation-building and war. Thus far, the
erty- healthcare reform, out of control spending, and expansion
war in Afghanistan does not follow this ideal.
of government. Yet true supporters of Liberty must disagree. If
In Article I Section VIII of the constitution the Founders
Americans realistically want to return to fiscal sanity and a lim-
gave the power to declare war to the United States Congress as
ited constitutional government then our interventionist foreign
part of the checks and balance system that helped curve indi-
policy has to change since it is unconstitutional. Economic re-
vidual presidents from having too much power and entangling
sponsibility and Afghanistan are interwoven and this message
America in foreign ventures without the consent of the people.
must be put forth. When you examine the constitutionality of
The elected officials in the Congress represent the people. Not
the war in Afghanistan and the economic cost of the war it be-
since the Second World War has the United States declared
comes clear how interwoven these issues are to freedom and a
war. All of the conflicts since have not followed the constitution
limited government.
and both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of this. On this
Many people will argue that the war in Afghanistan and
basis alone the “war” in Afghanistan is unconstitutional since a
fiscal responsibility are not related. We should cut spending
declaration of war, as required by the constitution, has not been
else were and that Afghanistan is one small issues in a larger sea
issued. It will save lives, money and start us on the path to lib-
of issues. In reality this is not the case. In October 2009 the De-
erty. We can finally start to confidently say that the Constitu-
partment of Defense reported to the House of Representatives
tion means something and that we follow the rule of law. We
that it would require an additional $33 Billion to escalate com-
can also help our prestige in the world by saying it is not our
bat operations in Afghanistan. This is on top of the $65 billion
job to say “We do it this way; so should you.”
Congress authorized for 2010. That’s $98 billion for this year
To be truly a liberty movement the Tea Parties must advo-
alone for just the war in Afghanistan. Malou Innocent of the
cate for an end to unconstitutional wars and curb national
Cato Institute reported that since 2001 the U.S. Agency for In-
spending and debt. These two issues can’t be separated. All un-
ternational Development has spent more than $7.8 billion on
constitutional policies must be suspended and liberty restored;
Afghanistan reconstruction. This year alone USAID will spend
that’s the true Tea Party message. The GOP establishment
$6 to $7 billion on Afghanistan. Add the $98 Billion and this $7
doesn’t want this because it supports the unconstitutional war
billion and we get over $100 billion spent this fiscal year alone.
in Afghanistan. True sons and daughters of Liberty realize that
Our national deficit was $1.4 Trillion in 2009. Imagine if we
by ending the war in Afghanistan our nation will cut spending
would have taken the funds for our “war” in Afghanistan and
and debt by billions each year and return to a sound constitu-
used it to pay down the deficit? Would that not help return us
tional platform for government without hypocrisy. A movement
to fiscal responsibility? Or what if we used it to pay down the
for limited constitutional government means no support for
$12 trillion national debt? It would instantly reduce our national
policies and actions that are unconstitutional, which the war in
debt this year alone by $105 billion. The reality of the situation
Afghanistan is. Tea Party advocates need to tell the GOP to fol-
is that the war in Afghanistan and fiscal responsibility are inter-
low this or get out of our movement.
related and can’t be separated. A return to a government that obeys and follows the Con-
COUNTERPOINT:
stitution must require following all the provisions. The Founders had a noninterventionist foreign policy- one radically different than the past century of American foreign relations. For the Tea Party to be truly based on Liberty it must return to the Founders’ original foreign policy. Their foreign policy was simple, eloquent and above all else, peaceful. Thomas Jefferson said in his first inaugural address that America wanted “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.” George Washington said “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.” The founding fathers were for peace, free
By Roy Antoun
While ending unconstitutional wars should be a priority for any elected official who promises to uphold the bearings of the Constitution, we cannot ignore the fact that the United States still has enemies abroad that show discontent to our foreign
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
6
Commentary | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010 policy structure. Consequently, we must establish what the
wars and bases cost at the expense of the American taxpayer. If
threat is, where it has come from, and how to deal with it in a
Congress doesn’t want to buy into the argument that “Empire”
Constitutional, legal, and pragmatic manner.
is bad, then perhaps they will realize that our foreign policy is
If the threat is Al-Qaeda, then the Taliban is not. The De-
driving us to bankruptcy.
partment of State often forgets that the friends of our past usu-
The second solution would be to utilize Special Operations
ally turn into our enemies of today for a particular reason that I
forces that do not require hefty military bases or a large occupa-
will delve into later in this counter-point. The Taliban operates
tion of U.S. troops. Intelligence Operations and clean “get-in-
as a type of national defense. Those who consist of the Taliban
get-out” operations are much more viable and cost-effective.
are individuals who are protecting their homes and are not des-
They will target those responsible rather than interfering in
tined to destroy the West as many neoconservatives believe.
civilian populations via nation building.
Nevertheless, Al-Qaeda, separate from the Taliban, must still be dealt with and punished for the crimes committed on September 11, 2001. The threat of Al-Qaeda has erected from a flawed foreign policy. The 9-11 Commission Report officially stated that “there was no confirmed reporting on Saddam cooperating with Bin Laden on unconventional weapons.” Being that there were no ties between Iraq and Al-Qaeda, the war waged in Iraq was a blunder, only angering more locals to reacting on an enlarged American presence in the Middle East. Hence, not only was American foreign policy mission creeping, but it offered no viable solution to finding those responsible for the criminal acts of September 11th.
Afghanistan: The Graveyard of Empires
Since Al-Qaeda is more of an international organization By Jeremy Davis
rather than a militant group operating through national borders and boundaries, it’s somewhat difficult to declare war on an organization or group of people versus a country. If we allow the Federal Government to declare wars on organizations, this only expands the role of government, giving Congress and the Executive a legally infinite venue to spread Americans troops around the world (and what stops Government from then declaring war on the Young Americans for Liberty?). Therefore, when our Presidents warn us of the “War in Afghanistan,” we must establish that a war on a country is illegal unless declared. Perhaps the “War on Al-Qaeda” would be more appropriate. A solution to dealing with the threat Al-Qaeda poses is twofold. Primarily, we must begin to lessen the amount of military bases we have around the world. The thought of an American Empire only incites more intervention in more countries. It isn’t by coincidence that for every country we choose to “aid” domestically, those same people grow hatred and dissent to us in the future. Thus is the case with Afghanistan, Iraq, Cuba, and Korea. As a result, retracting American troops from our global empire will show the world that we are willing to trade and do business, not divide and conquer. There are many advantages to lessening the amount of military bases around the world. Lest we forget how much money
“Afghanistan has not been and never will be conquered, and will never surrender to anyone.” – Czar Babur As the United States’ eight year war in Afghanistan continues on, America seems to be chiseling its own headstone in the so-called “graveyard of empires.” From Alexander the Great and Genghis Kahn to the British and Soviet Empires, numerous great powers have fought to conquer the lands of Afghanistan only to be equally repelled by a resistance put forth by the Afghan people. And now the American Empire is on the fast track in joining the ranks of the fallen empires who strived to impose their imperialistic will on a quite resilient nation. Although the sun may never have set on the British Empire during its height in power, the sun never truly rose for the British’s aspirations for an occupied Afghanistan. Three times the British invaded Afghanistan and three times they were forced to withdrawal during what is known as the Anglo-Afghan wars. From 1838 to 1842, the British Empire first tried to secure Afghanistan under British influence when it invaded with the intent of installing a ruler who would act favorably toward Brit-
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
7
Commentary | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010 ish interests. But before the British could really get comfortable, resistance was mounting in response to the rule of the proBritish king Shah Shuja al-Mulk and eventually developed into a full fledged uprising. The British forces were devastated as they withdrew from Kabul and eventually all of Afghanistan. The second Anglo-Afghan war that took place from 1878 to 1880 ultimately resulted in the same outcome as in the first excursion.
Is Iran Really a “Threat”?
In their third go around in 1919, the British Empire’s even-
By Brandon Cestrone
tual withdrawal allowed for Afghani leaders to finally secure the country’s independence from Great Britain.
Most Americans can recall the day the U.S. first launched
Of course more recently, it was the Soviet Empire’s mis-
its war against Saddam Hussein with the intent of finding
guided invasion of Afghanistan that lead to its eventual col-
“weapons of mass destruction”. Today, evidence reveals that
lapse.
there were no WMDs, and Iraq posed no threat to America’s
In 1979, the Soviet Empire began what would turn out to be
national security. Yet, our soldiers are still stationed in Iraq,
an utterly ruinous campaign when it invaded the Afghani capi-
uncertain why America invaded a sovereign country.
tol of Kabul. The Russians battled the U.S. backed Mujahideen
dence allows many to view oil as a leading factor in the decision
with a number of heavy handed tactics, although they were not
to go to war with Iraq. Others view Iraq as a developing democ-
enough to combat the ambitious dedication of the Afghan in-
ratic state, with the U.S. nurturing it into a mature, future ally.
surgents or the rugged terrain of which the Afghans knew so
Democratic Peace Theory, of course, has not worked and only
well.
compounded the Middle East problem. The theory fragmented
After a decade of battling a losing war against the Afghani insurgents, the Soviets were forced to withdrawal from the bor-
Dissi-
the Iraqi state and served as a catalyst of Pan-Arabism working against American imperialism.
ders of Afghanistan in a disastrous and bloody defeat. As the
Did we learn anything from Iraq? Nation building costs
world’s second most powerful military at the time, the Russians
both money and precious human lives. Entangling a state in
could not outlast the Afghani people fighting on their own turf.
foreign wars can lead to bankruptcy, we have seen with the for-
This conflict contributed to the bankruptcy of the Soviet Union
mer Soviet Union. Occupation on foreign land fuels disdain and
and the soon after collapse of their empire.
animosity. Although there has been talk and chatter of an inva-
And now the American Empire is bogged down in what has
sion of Iran, the thought is unrealistic and impractical. A med-
become its longest war since the invasion in 2001. The death
dling in Iran’s affairs will only perplex and expand our current
count for both U.S. soldiers and Afghani civilians climbs as
hegemonic problems.
President Obama commits 30,000 more troops to continue an
The Middle East has a complex history compiled with Euro-
unwarranted occupation. The United States currently finds it-
pean and American intervention. In 1951 the Iranian govern-
self in an almost mirror position as many of the past empires
ment nationalized the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company [AIOC] only,
who stepped foot inside the Afghani borders.
after the company was nationalized by the British. In 1950, the
But perhaps the most underlying key element in all of these
AIOC earned annual profits of about 200 million pounds, but
examples is the ability of a small guerilla style fighting force to
Iran only received about eight percent in royalties. So small an
give some of the world’s greatest powers ever known a run for
amount, it did not balance the taxes and dues paid to Britain.
their money. The facts just stand that this region simply cannot
Britain, along with the United States, overthrew the democrati-
be conquered militarily. Just by the mere act of being there, in
cally elected leader Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953 as a strate-
their lands, provokes a fervent spirit of resistance in the Afghani
gic move to protect their interests in the region. These Western
people that apparently cannot be broken despite the military
states then installed the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi to rule
might forced upon them.
Iran in absolute power. The Shah of Iran would repress his own
The American Empire is destined to meet a similar fate to those of past empires whom thought to expand their imperialistic clutches over the seemingly unconquerable lands of Af-
people, and later hold 53 Americans hostage for 444 days in 1973. Recently, we have seen a defensive Iran test missiles in
ghanistan. Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
8
Commentary | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010 hopes to gain regional legitimacy. Now, propaganda has galva-
the president for making bold changes in the direction of nu-
nized public support against Iran for supposed nuclear weap-
clear non-proliferation and disarmament.
ons, but again without any evidence. Iran has exaggerated its
What critics and supporters have in common, is that they
enriched supply of uranium; it has yet to reach a fully capable
are both blowing these changes way out of proportion, giving
enrichment of 20% uranium stock, let alone the 90% it needs to
Obama either more credit or more blame than he is due. Take
create a nuclear weapon.
Matt Drudge for instance, who dramatically overstated the ad-
The U.S. has threatened to place additional sanctions on
ministration’s changes with a bright red, all-caps headline at
Iran, cutting off the oil supply into the country. Sanctions are
The Drudge Report that said: “NO NUKES – EVEN IN SELF-
an act of aggression and have the potential of uniting the Ira-
DEFENSE!”
nian people against U.S. Rather, diplomatic relations should be
Obama's nuclear policy does not completely restrict the use
conducted through free trade and negotiations, not provocative
of nuclear weapons, no matter what, even in self defense. What
naval maneuvers along the Persian Gulf, threatening Iran’s
it does is modestly narrow potential U.S. nuclear targets. The
Abadan oil fields.
Wall Street Journal wrote a more accurate summary: “The
It is easy to see that Iran poses an exaggerated threat to
Obama administration will release a new national nuclear-
America. Although Iran is an oppressive state that obstructs
weapons strategy Tuesday that makes only modest changes to
liberty, its revolution must come from within – and it has. This
U.S. nuclear forces, leaving intact the longstanding U.S. threat
is a chance for America to avoid past mistakes. Invading foreign
to use nuclear weapons first, even against non-nuclear nations.”
countries does not pacify regimes; it creates them. Imperialism
So critics can relax, and die-hard opponents of nuclear
is no stranger to the Middle East.
weapons don’t have much to thank the president for. The new policy hardly leaves America vulnerable, causes us to look weak, or even makes a truly substantial change to American nuclear policy at all. It’s just like seemingly everything else this administration has done from renaming the Global War on Terror (officially changing it to “Overseas Contingency Operation”) to closing Guantanamo (while reserving the right to outsource torture to other countries and detain “suspected terrorists” without charges indefinitely)- it’s just more window-dressing for the same old Bush-Era, Cold War-Era, imperialist policies of the
Obama’s Nuclear Policy Is Just More Hyped Up “Change”
status quo. Not to mention, that this new policy does nary a thing about our conventional foreign policy problems, which survive intact from previous administrations. If America is committed
By Wesley Messamore
There was a lot of fanfare on both sides of the partisan divide when President Obama announced a “substantially” revamped American nuclear strategy earlier this month. According to The New York Times, “Mr. Obama described his policy as part of a broader effort to edge the world toward making nuclear weapons obsolete, and to create incentives for countries to give up any nuclear ambitions.” Critics are unhappy with a policy that they believe makes America less safe and perfectly exemplifies their image of Barack Obama as a weak head of state, hell-bent on apologizing for American greatness and making unnecessary concessions to the world. Meanwhile supporters are predictably fawning over
to a more peaceful world free of nuclear weapons, why does it continue to provoke other nations with the long arm of its military-industrial complex? Why does Obama’s Secretary of State threaten sanctions against Iran (when the cutting of economic ties is theoretically and empirically proven to increase the likelihood of armed hostilities)? Why does Obama garrison troops in over a hundred countries? Why does it pick sides in ethnic civil wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Why does Obama continue all of these policies if he is for peace and non-proliferation? Any true peace monger who’s paying attention should call on the President to take bold action toward truly disarming our nuclear arsenal and dismantling our bankrupt overseas empire. If Bush’s doctrine of preemption by conventional warfare was
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
9
Commentary | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010 morally indefensible, how much worse is Obama’s willingness to use nuclear preemption at his discretion against the people of another country?
from the new world market exploitation by the Great Powers. The declining Ottoman Empire sought western style reform, often from rising European pressure. A dislocated econ-
Nuclear weapons have no legitimate military purpose. They
omy, diminished power and influence, and loss of territory con-
are inherently weapons of mass murder. Because of their power
tributed to a burst of violent movements against the invading
and blast radius, nuclear weapons can exist for no other pur-
occupiers. The Ottomans experienced drastic change as in-
pose than to indiscriminately wipe out large swaths of civilian
creasing external reform pressure led to the Ottoman Land Law
population. This is never, ever justified under any circum-
of 1858, resulting in the displacement of peasant land. The poli-
stances.
cies of the world powers also influenced relationships between
Indeed, deliberately targeting civilians for political or mili-
the Ottoman Empire and their minorities, mainly the Armeni-
tary purposes is terrorism. America has no right to be a terrorist
ans. The external influence of the Great Powers, along with in-
nation. It’s morally embarrassing enough that our country
ternal conflict, led to a horrific Armenian massacre from 1914-
claims the right to police the world for nuclear weapons, when
1916, resulting in upwards of one million deaths.
ours is the only country that’s ever actually used, not just one, but two.
By 1914 the error of choosing the Central Powers brought an end to Ottoman sovereignty. The League of Nations in 1922 sealed the political fate of the countries. For Britain and France, control of the Arab countries was important because of interests in the region, mainly political power.
The British
Mandate facilitated the creation of a Jewish national homeland, which led to the Palestinian revolt of 1936 -1939. The establishment of Israel by Britain would lead to violence and instability still occurring today. By the 1950’s, anti-imperialism was at an apex as Gamal Abdel Nasser attempted to unite the Arab world against the foreign invaders. Eventually, the Arab nationalism movement faded but kept anti-imperialism alive in the memory of Arabs. What can America learn from Europe’s foreign policy in the
What America Can Learn from
European Imperialism
in the Middle East?
Middle East? Since their first contact in the 18th century, the Great Powers have forced western reform onto a culture and people they did not understand. Anti-imperialism would later unite the Arab world to clash against foreign occupation. This was not about religion. This was about foreign powers occupying Arab land. When interpreting history, it is important to em-
By Brandon Cestrone
Up until the middle of the 18th century, the relationship between Europe and the Ottoman Empire was of identical strength. By the last quarter of the century this began to shift, and a fissure formed between Europe and The Ottoman Empire’s technological skills. By the 19th century, Europe domi-
pathize with the subject and look through the eyes of the people affected. How would Americans feel if foreign invaders occupied their land and established rule over their people? There are lessons to be learned from interpreting the history of imperialism. It causes violence, suffering, and hatred, not prosperity and peace.
nated the world through their unmatched military, communication, and economic systems. The Napoleonic Wars brought Europe into the heart of the Muslim world. Once the Napole-
OPINION
onic wars ended, European influence and power spread throughout the Ottoman world. Britain, Russia, and France would slowly begin their imperial expansion, starting from the outskirts of the Ottoman Empire inwards. Peasant life suffered
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
10
Opinion | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010 ravaged nation, indefinitely (Ditz 2009). That is clearly not a pullout. As Obama breaks more and more promises, and the health care bill is exposed as a corporatist sham, expect them to grow more receptive to Libertarian arguments. All in all, you want to keep in mind people and language
Speak Their Own Language
if You Want to Change
Their Minds
that will appeal to those on the left. The term “antiwar” is safe to use with most Liberals, but it’s better to be positive, so consider the term “pro-peace.” Using quotes from people Liberals traditionally admire, such as Mahatma Gandhi, also works. One of my favorites is “what difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of
By Brendon DeMeo
liberty or democracy (Goodman 2008)?” With the Left, focusing on the peace and humanitarian aspects of noninterventionism
When trying to explain a noninterventionist foreign policy
is key.
to Liberals or Conservatives, it is usually most effective to en-
Neoconservatives are much different. They may be at-
gage them with their political angle in mind. If you recruit for
tracted to your Gadsden flags and pocket Constitutions, but
Young Americans for Liberty, or any other liberty-oriented
when they find out you’re a noninterventionist, well, their dis-
group, on a college campus, you are likely to come across peo-
position can change. They view a noninterventionist stance as
ple who want to know your foreign policy. For neoconserva-
weak, naïve and “isolationist.” You will probably hear the term
tives, this is usually their number one issue, which is why
“isolationist” a lot, so learn how to refute it. We noninterven-
they’re willing to vote for candidates like John McCain, Rudy
tionists are not isolationists. Isolationists want to isolate their
Giuliani, or Mitt Romney, who promulgate a foreign policy they
country from the outside world; we are in favor of free and
agree with, as well as Big Government on the home front, and
open trade. We agree with John Quincy Adams who said that
not for small government Republicans such as Ron Paul or Gary
America should not go around the world, searching for mon-
Johnson. For Liberals, well, love for President Obama and the
sters to destroy.
Democratic Party runs deeper than love of principle for many of
Focus on quotes from the Founding Fathers, as neoconser-
them; so as Obama and the Democrats embrace intervention-
vatives still respect these men. George Washington once said,
ism, many are going along with them.
“peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; en-
Liberals are generally easy to debate foreign policy with.
tangling alliances with none.” That perfectly summarizes the
Sometimes, when they see you around Gadsden flags, handing
noninterventionist position in one quote. Emphasize that non-
out pocket Constitutions, they will assume you have a neocon-
interventionism is conservative, and that no matter what the
servative foreign policy. This is one reason you should be very
reasons were for entering Iraq and Afghanistan, they have be-
upfront about your foreign policy when recruiting, it may draw
come nation building exercises. Remember that our alliance
many liberals and others in because they like what they hear
with Israel is rather entangling. However, many libertarians,
about foreign policy, but it’s often not readily apparent. Regret-
such as I, greatly respect Israel. As a Christian, I also trust God
tably, as I mentioned, many are more dedicated to President
to protect Israel – the United States does not have to do it.
Obama than their principles, just as many Republicans were
Americans enlisted in the military to defend the United States,
more dedicated to George W. Bush and the Republican Party
not Israel, the United Kingdom or nations like Georgia. If they
than their principles.
want to die for those countries, or others, they are free to join
These Liberals, while they support interventionism now
their military. I would not recommend the use of the term
that the Democrats are in charge, are swayable. Their main
“antiwar” to describe yourself to a neoconservative. Always use
counterargument to assertions that the President is breaking
the term noninterventionist, or say that you share the Founders
campaign promises on Iraq is that Obama is getting the US out
views on foreign policy.
of Iraq, but is doing it responsibly. However, few know that
There’s a lot more to debating foreign policy than that, of
Obama actually plans on leaving 50,000 troops in the war-
course. Naturally, the more you study foreign policy, the easier debating it becomes. But remember to approach people with
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
11
Opinion | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010 their political perspective in mind – speak their language. That is your best hope for changing their minds. Ron Paul spoke my language. I was once a neoconservative, and became a libertarian because men like Paul were able to convey the fact that libertarianism is true conservatism, and a noninterventionist foreign policy is a truly conservative, and more sensible, foreign policy.
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
12
Article Sources | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010
Article Sources: Roy Antoun Tuchman, Barbara. The Guns of August. Random House Publishing. New York, NY (1962) Eland, Ivan. The Empire Has No Clothes. The Independent Institute. Oakland, CA (2008)
Daniel Suraci The Economist: Another Great Leap Forward? (March 2010) http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15661865 The Economist: Another Great Leap Forward? (March 2010) http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15661865 http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2009/cpi_2009_table http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/Europe/Russia/property-rights-index http://www.cbr.ru/eng/statistics/credit_statistics/MS.asp?Year=2010 Hyperinflation, Money Demand, and the Crack-Up Boom, Thorsten Polleit, Mises.org, http://mises.org/daily/4016 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/g20-summit/5072484/Russia-backs-return-to-Gold-Standard-to-solve-financial-crisis.html
Nelson Chase Samples, John. "Tea Partiers Shouldn't Date the GOP." February 4, 2010. http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11198 (accessed April 8, 2010). Innocent, Malou. “Leaving Afghanistan Moves Beyond Left vs. Right.” March 10,2010. http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11437 (accessed April 8, 2010). Jefferson and Washington are quotes from Ron Paul, The Revolution (Grand Central Publishing) 2009, p. 9 I am paraphrasing George W. Bush from a speech in 2000. I find this quote to be very ironic. The Full quote is, “I am not so sure the role of the United States is to go around the world and say, „This is the way it‟s got to be.‟…I think one way one way for us to end up being viewed as „the ugly American‟ is for us to go around the world saying, „We do it this way; so should you.” President Bush said this in a debate with Al Gore in 2000. It is quoted in Ron Paul‟s, The Revolution (Grand Central Publishing) 2009, p. 11
Brandon Cestrone Hourani, Albert. A History Of The Arab People ( New York: Warner, 1991) Bloxham, Donald. The Great Game Of Genocide (New York: Oxford, 2005) Dawisha, Adeed. Arab Nationalism In The Twentieth Century (New Jersey: Princeton, 2003) Dowty, Alan. Israel/Palestine (Cambridge: Polity, 2008)
Brendon DeMeo Ditz, Jason. Antiwar.com. February 26, 2009. http://news.antiwar.com/2009/02/26/obama-to-leave-50000-troops-in-iraq-indefinitely/ (accessed April 15, 2010). Goodman, Amy. Democracy Now. January 30, 2008. http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2008/1/30/ western_civilization_an_idea_whose_time_has_come (accessed April 15, 2010).
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
13
About the Writers | Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010 About the Writers Roy Antoun | Editor in Chief Roy is an active Rutgers University undergraduate double majoring in History and Political Science. In his hometown of Brooklyn, NY he ran for County Committee in his district and won in Sept. 2009. Active with YAL both on and off campus for the past two years, he has advocated classic liberal ideals by writing for several different media outlets, including The Centurion. Concentrating his studies on international relations, Roy hopes to one day make international politics his career after law school. You can learn more about Roy on his website at http://www.royantoun.com. Brandon Cestrone | Contributor Brandon Cestrone is a writer, entrepreneur, and historian. Brandon is currently enrolled in Slippery Rock University for his Master of Arts in History degree. He is working his way through college as a salesman in hopes of one day becoming a writer for a political magazine. Brandon supports eating a raw organic diet and homeopathic treatment for many illnesses. He believes in free market principles, limited government, and above all else, individual liberty. Nelson Chase | Contributor Nelson Chase is a native of San Diego, California. He did his undergraduate at the University of San Diego (USD) receiving a B.A in History and was an active member of the Zeta Omega chapter of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and a member of the Men’s Rowing Team. Currently he is finishing a Masters Degree in History form USD. Nelson is a veteran of the Iraqi war having served in the United States Army from 2001-2004. He first heard of Congressman Ron Paul from a friend and read The Revolution soon after. Ever since Nelson has become a believer in freedom and liberty as espoused by the Constitution, Dr. Paul, Campaign for Liberty, and Young Adults for Liberty. Limited government, ending the unconstitutional wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, restoring fiscal sanity, and pro-life activism are among Nelson’s political interests. Nelson works for the San Diego Air and Space Museum as a research assistant in the Library & Archives. In his free time Nelson enjoys running, photography, and reading.
Jeremy Davis | Contributor Jeremy is a writer and college student from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a student at the University of Cincinnati where he is majoring in political science and is an active member of the university’s Young Americans for Liberty chapter. Jeremy writes his own weekly column for his college newspaper The News Record where he typically writes about various political issues and is a frequent contributor to the official Young Americans for Liberty blog. He is an alumnus of The Leadership Institute’s Youth Leadership School and is currently enrolled at the Mises Academy. He also participated in the 2008 Revolution March in Washington, D.C. and in 2010, he was present at a live taping of Freedom Watch with Andrew Napolitano in Columbus, Ohio. Aside from politics, Jeremy’s interests include studying history, libertarianism, and Austrian economics.
Brandon DeMeo | Contributor Brendon DeMeo is a student of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Lowell where he is the President of a Young Americans for Liberty chapter he helped create in the fall of 2009. In addition, he is a Campaign for Liberty coordinator for the Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District and campaigns for liberty-oriented candidates in Massachusetts. He enjoys studying Austrian economics, history and politics, in addition to philosophy and the teachings of the Bible. He also likes baseball, camping, writing, helping Keynesians see the light, drinking too much coffee, debating, and recently took up bodybuilding.
Daniel Suraci | Contributor Daniel Suraci is a first year student at Boston University School of Law. He graduated from New York University with a degree in Philosophy. At Boston University, he started a libertarian group entitled Liberty. He has worked in website design and the real estate industry. His blog and more information can be found at http://danielsuraci.com.
Wesley Messamore | Contributor Wesley Messamore, a recent graduate of Belmont University with a degree in Entrepreneurship, is the founder, owner, and editor of http://HumbleLibertarian.com, where he advocates tirelessly for peace, love, and liberty. He is currently accepting submissions and even looking for regular contributors, so if you write well or have a sharp eye for good news, stop by and drop him an e-mail (wemessamore@gmail.com). Wes also loves philosophy (with a particular interest in Aristotelian metaphysics and virtue ethics), religion (while he only adheres to one, he more or less loves them all), and the exquisite rush of being alive and human. He's an intransigent libertarian, not merely because liberty is moral and enlightened; not only because liberty produces explosive material prosperity; but mainly because it's just so unbelievably cool!
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
14
Young Americans for Liberty | The Foreign Policy Handbook | Issue I | April 2010
Young Americans for Liberty | P.O. Box 2751 Arlington, VA 22202 | http://www.yaliberty.org | roy.antoun@yaliberty.org | April 2010
12