Intervention is Taxing

Blog Post #2

GVPT 200

Prof. Shirk           

Intervention Is Taxing

            The United States has a incredible track record of intervention.  This record can be seen with how many military bases permanently established all over the world.  I do not agree with the U.S  international intervention strategy.  Intervention in the long run deters possible threats, uplifts a states public to have established rights, and the U.S. has the capability to intervene, so why not.  The intervention that the U.S. conducts may have benefits, but the long term effects causes more damage to the home front.  The U.S. has many problems that need to be addressed.  I understand that U.S. intervention  of the numerous failed states does have a deep interest for needed resources to consume. 

            Why has the U.S. intervened in the many failed states over the many years.  They have the resources and military capability to help other states..  The U.S. becomes interested when a failed state is inhabited by a possible terrorist threat.  As one of the super powers of the world, the U.S. feels obligated to intervene.  But are these enough reasons to intervene.  Is it worth taking the  offense  by attacking a threat in another state rather than defending your country securities.  The what if factor of a possible threat is not enough to intervene in a failed state.  At this point, our asset of military efficiency, economic stability (only as our dollar is the reserve currency), and international rank have come, the U.S. should not intervene solely on possible threats in another country.  To do so makes the U.S. seem like they are looking for a fight rather then preventing one.   The war in Iraq started with George Bush Sr. and was meant to disarm the threat of having nuclear weapons in the Middle East.  Although, there are some positive aspects of U.S. intervention in failed states.  The spread of democracy influences other countries to develop their own democracy.

            According to previous lectures, democratic states do not go to war with each other.  The benefit of U.S. intervention has shown that the U.S. only intervenes once.  After the mission is complete in that specific country, the country becomes self sustainable and any possible threats are extinguished.  The saved country now can develop a dependable government and economy.  U.S intervention easily relates to therapy, you work out all the problems and come out feeling better and relieved.  The joy of sovereignty back in the citizen’s hands is the end all goal.  The saved country or state benefits greatly from U.S. intervention.  But what does the U.S gain?  What is our end goal to intervention?

            Our resources in the U.S. become more depleted after each intervention.  It is actually cheaper to trade with other countries, like China to sustain our needs.  As a result of our intervention, our economy may be better than most countries, yet behind the curtains you can see that our international intervention has caused our national debt and military spending to sky rocket to the point of no return.  To the return of a sound economy.  I believe intervention weakens us more than it helps in the long run for the country.  Not quite as serious as our economy, our military personal sacrifice there lives for an intervention that could have been avoided.  Could you imagine the U.S. without impact of the Vietnam or Iraq war?  There is always a boogie man or threat that has to be stopped.  It seems that are chasing the threat has cause to much damage to our own country.  How can we recover as the super power of the world if we vulnerable at the core. 

            U.S intervention has many benefits for the country being saved.  In addition, there may be a small benefit for the U.S as well, but what is the benefit of the long term goal?  Is it safe to assume a threat is a threat.  Is it the right to broadly justify intervention?  We should take a break from intervention and maintain our home front.  We are not the only country in the world that can take charge.