Re: Iraq class discussion

["Chris O'Connor" <sithasdbane@hotmail.com>]

In response to Liz Hanks post:
"To continue our dialogue from class today, I would like to pose a few 
questions or concerns relating to American foreign policy.  Certianly most 
Americans view our nation as a moral authority when it comes to government 
and ruling.  However, have Americans always followed the path of this moral 
high ground?  Setting aside national propaganda and general societal 
sentiment, has the U.S. actually gained the trust of other nations through 
real world interactions?  Essentially, does the United States seem to follow 
the mantra of "Do as I say, not as I do?"  "

There is very little room for morality in the high stakes arena of 
international relations. However, whereas most nations give no thought to 
the concerns of other, the US is one of the few countries that does actually 
participate in global events in order to help others, and not just further 
its own ends. These activities run the gambit from helping rebuild central 
american countries battered by hurricanes, to sending food to poverty 
stricken African nations. Some people are always ready to blame the US for 
every wrong in the world simply because it it currently the most powerful 
nation, but in foreign policy you have to first look out for your countries 
interests, and then if you can help out where needed. The US often cant win 
when it comes to helping or not helping: when it sent in troops to guard the 
UN food shipments in Somalia it was criticised for risking US lives and 
sticking its nose in other countries' business, but when it didnt get 
involved in Rwanda it was criticised for letting the genocide occur (If we 
had moved in and replaced the governement to stop it Im sure we would have 
been accused of Imperialism and neocolonialism). the real test of a 
countries foreign policy is "does it protect the interests of its citizens 
abroad" and to that I would have to say yes.



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