In last week’s short, I discussed the differences between a democracy and a republic, arguing that the United States of America is not a democracy but a republic while also giving indications why the US could not have survived as a nation if she had been founded as a democracy rather than as a republic.
Re US foreign policy: have you come across the Powell Doctrine? Gen. Colin Powell served in the debacle that was the Vietnam War and was an advisor to POTUS Bush in 1990, when the Gulf War was being considered. With Vietnam in mind, Powell formulated a series of questions that must answered affirmatively before the US commits to military intervention. The questions are summarized at
1. Is a vital national-security interest threatened?
2. Do we have a clear and attainable objective?
3. Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed?
4. Have all other nonviolent policy means been fully exhausted?
5. Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement?
6. Have the consequences of US action been fully considered?
7. Is the action supported by the American people?
8. Do we have genuine broad international support?
There's a lot of room for debate about what a national-security interest is, and I don't agree that we necessarily need broad international support, but I wish our involvements abroad were consistently based on these!
I came across the Powell Doctrine while researching my Timeline 1900-2021. Unfortunately, I'm not sure anyone except POTUS Bush ever applied it.
Re US foreign policy: have you come across the Powell Doctrine? Gen. Colin Powell served in the debacle that was the Vietnam War and was an advisor to POTUS Bush in 1990, when the Gulf War was being considered. With Vietnam in mind, Powell formulated a series of questions that must answered affirmatively before the US commits to military intervention. The questions are summarized at
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/the-powell-doctrines-wisdom-must-live-on/
Here they are:
1. Is a vital national-security interest threatened?
2. Do we have a clear and attainable objective?
3. Have the risks and costs been fully and frankly analyzed?
4. Have all other nonviolent policy means been fully exhausted?
5. Is there a plausible exit strategy to avoid endless entanglement?
6. Have the consequences of US action been fully considered?
7. Is the action supported by the American people?
8. Do we have genuine broad international support?
There's a lot of room for debate about what a national-security interest is, and I don't agree that we necessarily need broad international support, but I wish our involvements abroad were consistently based on these!
I came across the Powell Doctrine while researching my Timeline 1900-2021. Unfortunately, I'm not sure anyone except POTUS Bush ever applied it.