: How Much Longer Will The US Be The Policeman
Of The World ? Essay, Research Paper
The United States As A World Power: How Much Longer Will The US Be The Policeman
of the World ?
Juan Valdez
The United States has been a super power for decades, and since America
has always involved themselves in other countries’ problems. Instead of
isolationism, the country has practiced getting involved. Since the Monroe
Presidency, America has been named the World’s police force. Dispelling
anarchists, and stopping coos, the united states portrays itself as the world
protector. Since Monroe, some Americans have felt that isolation is the way to
go, and most feel that it is our right to offer assistance. Two recent incidents,
Operation Desert Storm and The War in Bosnia have allowed the United States to
show off it’s strength, both on the military and political level. It has also
given the chance for America to evaluate it’s foreign policy, but can the World
Super-Power continue to police other countries in light of earlier battles, or
should the stationed troops pack up and home for good.
Americans have always been overseas, protecting or overseeing the peace
of another country. During the Monroe administration many US Policies were
established, some of which are still in effect today. The Monroe Doctrine,
passed into law by Congress under Monroe, has forced the United States to get
into so many conflicts with neighboring Latin American countries. Sometimes even
European countries declared war on America because of this doctrine.
The Monroe Doctrine was delivered by James Monroe to the United States
Congress in 1823. Since that time, this document has been the cornerstone of the
United States foreign policy. This document was established for two major
reasons, both involving European countries on United States soil. The first was
Russia, who at the time was planning to establish a colony on the pacific
northwest coast, the United States felt that it was a strategic military
position, and if ever at war with Russia, it would pose as a threat. The second
was that several European nations were planing to help Spain recover some of
it’s ?New World’ colonies which had declared independence. The United States saw
this as a threat as well. For these reasons, Monroe made an statements to
various nations.
“One statement warned Russia that the American continents were ?not to be
considered as subjects for future colonization by any European power.” A second
warned France, Russia, Prussia, and Austria that any attempt to extend their ?
system to any portion of this hemisphere’ would be considered ?dangerous to our
peace and safety’ and any attempt to control independent American governments an
unfriendly act toward the United States.”1
With these and other statements, John Quincy Adams drew up the Monroe Doctrine,
and Congress voted and passed it.
The Monroe Doctrine was stressed during the time of Roosevelt’s
Presidency. During this era many foreign policies were given up, such as the
Platt Amendment. Roosevelt decided that instead of the “Old single-handed
enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine,”2 that they should rely only on the other
American nations for the enforcement of their laws. Along with this Roosevelt
showed very little signs of strength towards foreign countries. When Cuba was
full of riots under the leadership of Machado, Roosevelt did nothing. In 1934
America gave up the Platt Amendment, and removed the marines from Haiti.
The Vietnam War was one of the most influential wars in American History.
The United States did not actually lose, but ending with a cease fire was
considered a loss. When all of the troops returned they were looked upon by the
American public scornfully. This caused both the troops and the American
citizens to dislike the government. Many riots took place and many public
displays happened.
“in response to a drive by the North Vietnamese forces into the South, President
Richard M. Nixon ordered the mining of harbors off North Vietnam. Both the
bombing ant the mining provoked sustained antiwar protests within the United
States.”3
For many years the United States government was very uneasy about getting into
any heavy conflicts with other nations, for fear that it may turn into another
Vietnam. Resent towards the governments decision is still around, but it is
dissipating fast, mostly because of all of the good things that the United
States has done.
All of this has changed since that time. United States foreign policy is
one of the most complicated problems that has arisen. With the two World Wars,
United States foreign policy was used greatly to secure a peace for Europe. With
the first World War, America’s entrance was a decision of President Wilson’s
when he asked congress if they could declare war, stating:
“The World must be made safe for democracy.”4
The entry of the United States into World War II was an event that will
be remembered for some time. America entered the war when Pearl Harbor in Hawaii
was bombed from the air by Japanese air planes, thus destroying America’s state
of neutrality.
In each of these wars America has played a huge role, being one of the
biggest and strongest Super-Power. At that time the United States established
everything. The United States also kept troops over on foreign soil, despite
reports that they were coming home.
Proceeding to the end of the 20th century, a look at the Bush
administrations during the Gulf War shows how big of a part the United States
actually played in the war. The United States contributed over forty thousand
troops to the Persian Gulf, and much more was given in finances to fund the war.
The six weeks that the war took place during was all handled by General Colin
Powell and a team of military experts. Without Secretary of State James Baker
foreign relations with Russia and Iraq would have been impossible. Other
European countries sent in military personnel, but the bulk of the military
force was taken care of by the United States. The attacks were all coordinated
through the United States. Most air bombings and sea launches were done by
American aircraft. When victory was achieved, the world portrayed it as
America’s Win.
Television allowed the Persian Gulf War to be seen in television sets
throughout the country. With the introduction of this new technology, American
citizens were filled with a burst of patriotism for the country that they had
forgotten. With this a lot of attitudes shifted or were enforced into believing
that America was a good policeman. It got the bad guy, and at the same time
saved the girl. American opinions of peace-keeping in other countries changed
when they viewed desert storm. It was a very popular war, people were getting
all excited over the troops over there. Yellow ribbons were popping up
everywhere, it was the topic everyone knew about. I think that this is a main
reason why Americans won’t be able to stop helping out other countries.
Basically put, helping is in an American’s nature. Americans have been through
hell all of there life, that they don’t want it too happen to another people. So,
they help in their little part, and exclaim that it was their country that did
it.
With the addition of Bosnia-Herzegovina, many Americans are beginning to
remember the Cold War and Vietnam. The war in Bosnia has been ongoing
continuously since the breakaway of Yugoslavia from the former Soviet Union. In
an effort to gain themselves an independent country, 3 ethnic-diverse groups are
fighting over their rights to Bosnia. In an effort to save the peace, President
Clinton stated:
“We can’t be everywhere. We can’t do everything. But where our interests and
values are at stake – and where we can make a difference – America must lead.
We stood up for peace in Bosnia.”5
With help from the UN and other countries, the United States has sent in peace-
keepers and troops in an effort to stop the bloodshed.
It is obvious that humankind perceives the United States as the
policeman of the World. There are many with diverse opinions on the subject of
United States foreign policy. Some say that the United States should just hole
themselves up and not come out to help out another country. Others insist that
it is our duty as Americans, being tied to other countries because of ancestry,
that we must help any country in need, even if they don’t know they’re in need.
In President Clinton’s State of the Union Address he states that:
“All over the world,” he declared, “people still look to us? We must not be an
isolationist or the world’s policeman. But we can be its best peacemaker.”6
The most recent peace-keeping mission is that of Haiti, where more than
twenty thousand United States troops have been sent there to keep the peace of
it’s local inhabitants. When he was before the United Nations, in concern to the
ten thousand troops in Haiti the president said:
“America is a reluctant Super-power with no desire to be the world’s policeman.
The United States will use ?diplomacy when we can, but force is we must’ because
America has a ?special responsibility’ to lead a generation with a ?sacred
mission’ to spread diplomacy around the globe.”7
So it appears that the president is showing that although the United States does
not want to police the world, we can just make sure it’s peaceful.
The majority of Americans feel that what the United States us doing is
good, and that we should help out less-peaceful countries to become more like
ours. In concern to Bosnia and why the United States shouldn’t intervene:
“Once again the United States is about to plunge into another Vietnam. Before we
make the same mistake twice it is important to make several things clear. First
of all, our national interest is not involved in Bosnia. Bosnia is isolated, has
no strategic resources, and it does not straddle or control international trade
routes. Second, we are getting involved in a foreign civil war, as in Vietnam;
we are not stemming any kind of international aggression. Third, America cannot
afford to become the world’s policeman.”8
“I have felt for a long time now that the United States should be involved
militarily in Bosnia. Once we created ?safe havens’, we were morally obligated
to make them both safe and havens. To our shame, we did neither. Now we are
finally deploying to Bosnia, but for all the wrong reasons.”9
The idea of the United States losing a battle seems impossible to most
American citizens today. Being the only remaining Super-Power has most Americans
feeling that they’re better than others. The undying truth is, in some cases
they’re not. Currently a Japanese child’s education is about one hundred extra
days than an American child. Statistics also show that among American children,
a major percentage is lazy. The Voting Public has become less aware in Political
Events, and some don’t keep up with World Events either. The average American
citizen goes home everyday and spends no time thinking about Bosnia, Haiti or
any other country where United States troops are stationed. Most Americans only
become aware of troops in a foreign country when one dies, or a big catastrophe
occurs. China’s economy is growing a mile a minute, they have the fastest child
birth rate, and are expected to reach the level of a Super-Power within the next
couple years.
The foreign policy that President Clinton stated in his latest State of
the Union address can be interpreted in various ways. Instead of referring to
America as a policeman, he used the phrase “best peacemaker.” He stated what a
difference America made with it’s troops, such as Bosnia, Haiti, North Korea,
the Middle East, and Northern Ireland. President Clinton forgot to mention to
the beating the Chechen rebels received from Russia or any other significant
event which appears to be a loss for the United Nations.
The United Nations was formed on January 1, 1942 when twenty six nations
created the United Nations Declaration in Washington DC It can be easily
perceived that the United States heads the United Nations. Being the strongest
of the four remaining Super-Powers the United States has always been placed
above other countries when thinking of status. The United Nations has hundreds
of peace-keeping missions a year, and in the course of these missions, troops
are needed to keep the peace. Though the United States doesn’t generally respond
to little United Nations requests, the United States does give full support when
a international law is broken. A good example of this would be the Persian Gulf
War when neighboring Iraq invaded Kuwait without warning and took over the
country, establishing martial law. This goes against treaties established by the
United Nations and thus actions needed to be taken.
America cannot continue to police the whole world, It is obvious that
the troops are dispersed throughout it. If a catastrophe, uprising, war, etc..
were to break out what would the United States do. The troops would be out there
and not in the country where they should be. A suggestion to President Clinton
from one of his cabinet members was to convince the United Nations to form a UN
Army. The whole project was to be volunteer, the soldiers were to be recruited
from various countries, trying not to discriminate. United Nations Officers
would go through a series of tests to make sure that no Sadaam Husseins came
into control. The idea for a United Nations army is an honorable idea, yet
questions arise such as where will the army be located, funding for equipment,
and barracks would be needed. Weapons would have to be supplied, an array of
ships, both land and air, up to date, new technology. This is going to cost a
lot. Even now the United States is behind in our United Nations’ payments. So
where will all this money come from, China is currently trying to conform to
it’s increasing population, Japan is struggling though the economy is prospering.
The answer is plainly private investors, but the purpose of the United Nations
was to bring all of the world’s countries together. This question will remain
unsolved until either President Clinton, or United Nations’ General Secretary
Boutros-Boutros Ghali find an answer.
Another topic involving the United States and how to limit our policing
is NATO. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is no longer because of the
break up of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. When NATO was in
effect the United States had a weapon in it’s arsenal that could have been used.
The problem with NATO is not that it’s too old, the problem is that it is need
of repair. President Clinton should go over it with the adjoining countries and
they should revise the foundations of NATO to fit the new world. Back when NATO
was first beginning the thought of a global communications network called the
Internet was unheard of. NATO could be a vital resource of the United Nations as
well, with NATO the United Nations would be able to organize countries better,
especially the militaries. The whole purpose behind NATO was to gather together
the armies of the countries against the Soviet Union in the case of an attack.
The problem with the United Nations is that they need to organize an army.
“that will ideally mean the creation of a specially trained force of soldiers
put at the United Nations’ disposal. The structure of their command would have
to be clear?as clear as that of NATO, the only multinational outfit capable of
packing the punch that any intervention force needs. That in turn would require
big changes at the United Nations, but they are not impossible ones. If made,
President Clinton would then have no good reason to withhold American units from
future United Nations’ operations commanded by non-Americans?”10
Another problem, which President Clinton is solving with a budget cut,
is military spending. With the cut, the already low defense budget will have to
squander just to keep it’s troops in foreign countries. Even in times of peace
the government takes a big chunk out of the tax bin to pay for the military. If
we had less troops in active duty throughout the world, the less we would have
to pay for shipments to them. These shipments include food, weapons, ammo, armor,
vehicles, aircraft, etc. These things can range from prices of four dollars up