Brian M Downing
The war in Iraq and almost all foreign policy issues are usually seen in partisan terms. Accordingly, the GOP is now the party of reckless wars, the Democrats the party of thoughtful diplomacy. A look at our foreign policy over the last several decades, however, will reveal that both parties have engaged in foolhardy foreign policy and blundered into costly wars.
The wellspring of US internationalism perhaps came with Woodrow Wilson, whose belief in democracy was so powerful (or weak) that he tried to spread democracy to other parts of the world. We had dipped our toe in world affairs before him; he tossed us in the deep end. Upon suffering a hundred thousand dead in a year, the public became disenchanted with the murderousness of the world – at least for a while.
War came again in 1941 and the exhilarating victory four years later detached the public from long-standing isolationist sensibilities. Americans became enthralled by involvement in the world, even though they had little understanding of the complexities and consequences. John Kennedy built a reputation in Congress as a hardline anticommunist, ran for president on a supposed missile gap, and upped the stakes in Vietnam such that his successor had little choice but to escalate.
Ancient history? The Democrats have learned from their mistakes? Well, the GOP has held the White House for most of the last forty years and flailed about in the world, but so have the Democratic presidents in their twelve years. Clinton expanded his predecessor’s food program in Somalia into a nation-building effort that entailed taking on the militias. It seemed to be going well until a Black Hawk went down. Then we left. Clinton’s humanitarian efforts in the Balkans and extension of NATO into Eastern Europe (continued by his successor) seemed like good ideas at the time, but we now see they figured in the development of Russian resentment and in the events in Georgia last month. The Cold War may be back.
Democrats have been closer to militarism and warmaking than they like to admit. For decades after World War Two they dominated armed services and budgetary committees that lavished money on the military. They are subject to the influences of campaign funding and lobbying efforts as much as their political rivals. Look at the vote to invade Iraq almost six years ago. Kerry – yes . . . Clinton – yes . . . Biden – yes . . . Dodd – yes. . . .
Our two principal parties disagree on many things but internationalism isn’t one of them – unless a venture goes badly awry and some political hay can be made for a while. We may be witnessing another blunder, one with bipartisan provenance, in our war on terror. Recently, the US has increased the number of air and missile strikes on Taliban and al Qaeda targets inside Pakistan. And reports indicate that ground troops attacked a similar position. Though ordered by the Bush administration, the idea was brandished by the Democratic presidential nominee. The effects of these attacks on tribal militants along the Afghani frontier and on Pakistani politics remain to be seen, but are not likely to be helpful to our efforts there.
So in world affairs the Dems and Republicans have both bungled badly and repeatedly. The problem is deeper than our parties and institutions and lobbies; it is embedded in our culture – our political culture and larger popular culture as well. The public oohs and aahs at absurd war movies, sonorous WW2 documentaries, and dazzling presentations of the latest hi-tech weaponry that assure quick, easy wars.
Show Americans a solemn martial ceremony and they will get all misty-eyed, but they will rarely question the premises and forces that led to the poor kid buying the farm. That would be like questioning a divine law. In any case, most Americans don’t know anyone in the military today – a disturbing situation that all but assures continued internationalism. Soldiers are abstractions, stats, objects of short-lived sentimentality that gives the illusion of concern with public affairs and execution of civic duty.
Presidents and congressmen from both parties are enamored by war, as is a disturbingly large portion of the public. The conclusion, one that many parts of the world came to forty years ago, is unpleasant, often overstated, but inescapable – we are a warlike people. And our two main political parties ably reflect that.
~ ©2008 Brian M. Downing