Principles of Liberty, Principle 25: “Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations: entangling alliances with none.”
This quote, from Thomas Jefferson’s first inaugural address, is the product of a careful study of scripture and history. The founding fathers recognized that many strong and brave nations had been brought to ruin by forming unhealthy alliances.
The modern history of the United States is riddled with examples of our own failed alliances, and failed foreign policy. Many people do not realize that the United States was instrumental in bringing both the Shah of Iran and Saddam Hussein to power – only to end up, in the former case, abandoning a faithful ally, and in the latter case finding ourselves in the unsavory position of removing the one we had helped to install. There are many other examples of failed attempts on our part to manipulate the politics and history of the world.
The United States, as a nation, is in a unique position among the world powers. We are blessed with geography and resources that would allow us to be entirely self-sufficient. Yet our own political shenanigans have left us unable to leverage these blessings to our own advantage. Often the wall that blocks our progress is the wall of “foreign policy.”
How peaceful might our sovereignty be if it were not for the constant “wheeling and dealing” we insist on pursuing with other nations? This is not to say that military action is never necessary. Certainly, however, the way we utilize our military strength, and the places and situations for which we are willing to expend the blood and lives of our young men and women, could be more carefully and thoughtfully chosen. And When we choose to “engage”, the objective should be clear and achievable, and we should “play to win.”
What if the United States conducted itself according to Thomas Jefferson’s quote? What if we had never allowed ourselves to become so dependent on foreign oil? What if we had not chosen to intervene in Iraq, or if national security demanded such action, what if we had truly made it our objective to WIN THE WAR? What if we returned to a time when national interests took precedence over political correctness? Israel actively engages in racial and political profiling at every point of entry to their country; and although they are surrounded by enemies who want to see their nation destroyed, they are very effective at “keeping the wolves at bay” while still enjoying relative freedom for their citizens.
The citizens of the United States should pause and take stock of our situation, our resources, and our national ideals; and then we should actively press our government to pursue policies that are consistent with those ideals. We should always be willing to be friends with those who are willing. We should be willing to pursue commerce with other nations where fair trade is possible and supported. We should avoid “entangling alliances” that place our national sovereignty, and the lives of our military, at unnecessary risk, or threaten national embarrassment. We should at all times pursue and attempt to maintain peace with all nations. And when we find it necessary to pursue a military solution, we should let our military experts determine what is necessary, and the world should know that we will “play to win” and that our national interests will come before “entangling alliances.”
“Principles of Liberty” adapted from The 5,000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen © 1991, 2007