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Trump’s Foreign
Policy: An Unwise Inconsistency?
By Ron Paul
January 24,
2017 "Information
Clearing House"
- Throughout the presidential campaign, Donald Trump’s
foreign policy positions have been anything but
consistent. One day we heard that NATO was obsolete and
the US needs to pursue better relations with Russia. But
the next time he spoke, these sensible positions were
abandoned or an opposite position was taken. Trump’s
inconsistent rhetoric left us wondering exactly what
kind of foreign policy he would pursue if elected.
The President’s
inaugural speech was no different. On the one hand it
was very encouraging when he said that under his
Administration the US would “seek friendship and
goodwill with the nations of the world,” and that he
understands the “right of all nations to put their own
interests first.” He sounded even better when he said
that under Trump the US would “not seek to impose our
way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an
example. We will shine for everyone to follow.” That
truly would be a first step toward peace and prosperity.
However in the
very next line he promised a worldwide war against not a
country, but an ideology, when he said he would, “unite
the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism,
which we will eradicate from the face of the Earth.”
This inconsistent and dangerous hawkishess will not
defeat “radical Islamic terrorism,” but rather it will
increase it. Terrorism is not a place, it is a tactic in
reaction to invasion and occupation by outsiders, as
Professor Robert Pape explained in his important book,
Dying to Win.
The neocons
repeat the lie that ISIS was formed because the US
military pulled out of Iraq instead of continuing its
occupation. But where was ISIS before the US attack on
Iraq? Nowhere. ISIS was a reaction to the US invasion
and occupation of Iraq. The same phenomenon has been
repeated wherever US interventionist actions have
destabilized countries and societies.
Radical Islamic
terrorism is for the most part a reaction to foreign
interventionism. It will never be defeated until this
simple truth is understood.
We also heard
reassuring reports that President Trump was planning a
major shake-up of the US intelligence community. With a
budget probably approaching $100 billion, the
intelligence community is the secret arm of the US
empire. The CIA and other US agencies subvert elections
and overthrow governments overseas, while billions are
spent spying on American citizens at home. Neither of
these make us safer or more prosperous.
But all the
talk about a major shake up at the CIA under Trump was
quickly dispelled when the President visited the CIA on
his first full working day in office. Did he tell them a
new sheriff was in town and that they would face a major
and long-overdue reform? No. He merely said he was with
them “1000 percent.”
One reason
Trump sounds so inconsistent in his policy positions is
that he does not have a governing philosophy. He is not
philosophically opposed to a US military empire so
sometimes he sounds in favor of more war and sometimes
he sounds like he opposes it. Will President Trump in
this case be more influenced by those he has chosen to
serve him in senior positions? We can hope not, judging
from their hawkishness in recent Senate hearings. Trump
cannot be for war and against war simultaneously. Let us
hope that once the weight of the office settles on him
he will understand that the prosperity he is promising
can only come about through a consistently peaceful
foreign policy.
Ronald
Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American author, physician, and
former politician. He was formerly the U.S.
Representative for Texas' 14th and 22nd congressional
districts.
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