The Current State of the U.S. in the Diplomacy Arena and the Issues of Terrorism, Essay Example

Abstract

The paper aims to answer three questions related to the current state of the U.S. in the diplomacy arena and the issues of terrorism. The U.S. involvement in the war on terrorism is evaluated and discussed. The paper investigates the basic ethical issues of preemptive wars. The topic of democracy and Islamic fundamentalist governments is included.

Question 1. The “War on Terrorism” and the U.S. Involvement

Since the tragic attacks of 9/11, the “war on terrorism” has become one of the basic foreign policy targets in the U.S. The current state of budget spending in the U.S. reflects the growing political and military fears of the American political electorate and proves that the U.S. is in the very midst of its war against terrorism (War Resisters League, 2010). The question is in whether the U.S. involvement in the war on terrorism can reduce numerous terrorist threats. Obviously, it cannot; on the contrary, it may fuel the rage and disagreement between the Islamic and American leaders and result in new attacks. The more the U.S. spends on anti-terrorist campaigns the less attentive it grows toward other domestic issues, including economics, unemployment, real estate crisis, and healthcare insurance. “The greed of banks and corporations has caused many, many times more death and misery than any so-called threat from al-Qaida” (Chediac, 2010). It is high time the U.S. reconsidered its attitudes toward terrorism and its foreign and domestic policy priorities.

Question 2. Preemptive Wars, Law, and Ethics

For the United States, preemptive wars have already become a routine reality. Preemptive wars similar to those in Iraq pose two serious problems: (1) they happen before the other side uses military force to strike the aggressor; and (2) they happen before the war is formally declared (BBC, 2010). Preemptive wars are necessary, only when (a) an intention to injure is obvious; (b) active preparations for a military attack take place; and (c) it any delay will significantly increase the risks of defeat (BBC, 2010). For all these conditions to work and justify a preemptive attack, the world must operate a set of standard and generally accepted concepts of preemptive war, the risks of injury, and preparations for a military attack. As of today, preemptive wars are still a serious social, legal, and ethical problem, because the biggest powers like the U.S. are not willing to act within the boundaries of international law.

Question 3. International Governments and Democracy

The U.S. is becoming particularly cautious in regard to Islamic fundamentalist and socialist governments. Rejection and isolation have become a common way for democratic societies to react to these political changes. However, that the U.S. seeds democracy around the globe does not necessarily imply that democracy is suitable and fits in all political environments. At times, the socialist and Islamic fundamentalist governments are the best choice people make to improve their well being. Instead of isolation, the U.S. and other countries must take an advantage of those countries’ need for diplomatic acceptance and economic investment (Hadar, 1992). In this way, the U.S. will reduce the aggression and hostility, which the Middle East and other radical governments display in response to the American isolation and its striving to establish the democratic rule against other nations’ will.

References

BBC. (2010). Pre-emptive strikes. BBC. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/war/just/preemptive.shtml

Chediac, J. (2010). The Pentagon’s war on terror – does it make people in the U.S. safer? Workers World. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.workers.org/2010/world/yemen_0211/

Hadar, L.T. (1992). The ‘green peril’: Creating the Islamic fundamentalist threat. Cato Institute. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-177.html

War Resistance League. (2010). Where your income tax money really goes. War Resistance League. Retrieved October 12, 2010 from http://www.warresisters.org/pages/piechart.htm