The United States of America is one of the most influential powers in the world. Its extremely active foreign policy affects every country around it, for better or for worse. The U.S. must stop playing global cop and instead adopt isolationism. If it continues to interfere, then the countries will become dependent on the U.S for security, which will only lead to more disaster and hatred towards the U.S.
It has become clear that many countries that are facing constant conflicts have become dependent on hitchhiking under the United State’s security and patronage. Some might argue that the U.S. has a moral obligation to interfere when a country’s safety is threatened. Since the U.S. is one of the superpowers of the world, it must do everything in its power to help those who can’t defend themselves.
Post WWII, there was a necessity for the U.S. to take control and help restore Europe to its previous state, and wrestle with the Soviet Union’s attempt to export communism during the Cold War. The present day situation, on the other hand, is very different. The constant need for the United States to “police” the world has dwindled, and each country should learn to bear responsibility for its own security instead of being dependent on the U.S. to save the day.
We’ve all heard of the U.S.’s failed attempts at getting involved with other countries- Syria, Iran, Iraq, Greece, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc. It’s often said that “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Well, it seems the U.S. got an F in history class, because it seems to make the same mistakes in regards to foreign affairs.
You may be asking yourself, why does the U.S. keep getting involved in foreign affairs that doesn’t concern it.? Well, because in a sense the U.S. does get affected by them. The U.S. has justified its involvement using the spread of true democracy or the finding and stopping of terrorist groups as an excuse. Some may argue that it is in the U.S.’s national interest to preserve the liberal economic and political order that has been built since 1945.
The United States should remain in a global leadership role to prevent emerging threats, especially terrorists such as ISIS, from challenging it. However, if the U.S. continues to follow false leads (like in Afghanistan) and it gets involved in everyone else’s problems, the different wars may end up escalating into one huge world war.
The U.S. actually had a very isolationist outlook until after World War II, having been dragged into foreign affairs very reluctantly before 1947. Unfortunately, the U.S. took a much more active role in global politics and has continued to interfere up to the present day. America is currently over $19.3 trillion in debt, and yet its global military efforts are still the country’s third largest budget item. Poverty is still high, social issues such as racism are ever present, and terrorist groups are running anti-American campaigns daily.
The United States government needs to prioritize the well-being of its citizens before that of other countries. Whatever others may say about ethical or moral responsibilities for those suffering around the world, we need to realize that a government’s first priority should always be its own people, and there is no shortage of problems within our borders to be fixed. America should turn its attention to its own issues and its own citizens.
It’s time for America to be consistent with its engagement in international conflicts. If the U.S. continues to attempt to intervene in foreign affairs, it will not only result in dependence on the U.S., but it is also highly probable that it will end in a catastrophe and deprivation of its own resources. The international community no longer possesses the need for the United States to act as the world’s policeman.