Us Foreign Affairs Essay, Research Paper

U.S. Military Aid to Foreign Nations

The United States military aid given to Kosovo raises many questions about the foreign affairs policy of the United States of America. Now the U.S. is sending its troops to Timor, a small island off the northern coast of Australia. The U.S. has sent marines to Australia to set up a command post for the troops that the United States will be sending to help with logistics, communications, and intelligence. Many critics believe that the U.S. should not get involved in matters that have no direct impact on the United States. But do not American?s believe that all men are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? If this is true then it should be the United States duty to help those who are oppressed and suffering. The U.S. needs to be a global policeman to watch out for the humanitarian needs of ethnic groups and peoples and make sure that they are protected against oppression. The U.S. must do what is morally and ethically right, the U.S. is one of the only countries large enough to give many forms of help and intervene when interests other than that of national security or interest are at steak.

Any person who values their human dignity cannot stand by while innocent people are being killed. President Clinton believes that if we have the power to stop genocide and ethnic cleansing then we must make every effort to do so. In an article in The Washington Times, it says that this ?policy would lead to a vastly expanded policing role for the United States that the American public would never support?(Sands 4). In view that the U.S. has troops stationed in Korea, Senegal, Uganda, Ghana, Mali, and Malawi, just to name a few countries, suggests that the American people are supportive of the humanitarian rights of other countries and will support the United States involvement to protect these rights.

Some critics believe that the U.S. should have no part in protecting these rights. The critics would like to see Americas interests protected first. If the U.S. involves herself, she must come to the aid of all because ?no one else has the reach and resources to do the job?(Sands 3). At the same time Sands says that the U.S. ?may not impose its will?(2) on other countries and erase centuries of hate and feuding, but it must do what it can to help the feuding ethnic groups to reconcile their differences. Experts on foreign affairs from both parties say ?the United States must be engaged in hot spots around the world?(Sands 2). We have the power and the capability to help many of the nations that are suffering and being oppressed, therefore we must use it to help.

The U.S. cannot however supply the massive amounts of help that it gave to Kosovo in every situation. The United States does have many resources, but they are not unlimited. The Australians showed signs of resentment at the ?small size and non-combative status of the U.S. contingent?(Landler 26A). Their resentment may seem reasonable when comparing the support that was given to Kosovo, with the support that the U.S. is giving to Timor. The U.S., unfortunately, cannot be expected to give complete military support to every mission it undertakes; this would only exhaust its military and its seemingly unlimited resources. However, the U.S. can offer other kinds of support, as is being done in Timor with the logistics, intelligence, and communication.

The United States will give help in any way that it can, although the U.S. may not be able to give the help other countries expect from her. It is not possible for the U.S. to settle every situation through military strength, but it is possible to provide some type of support in every situation. No other country has the experience or the ability to help any country on earth. Therefore it is our duty to help those countries that are suffering and aide other nations that are doing the same.

Work Cited

Landler, Mark. ?U.N. peacekeepers set sail for E. Timor.? The Houston Chronicle.

Sunday, September 19, 1999: 26A.

Sands, David R. ?Again, U.S. called on to be ?global sheriff.?? The Washington Times

17 September 1999. <http://www.washingtontimes.com>.