The Arrogance of America: A look at US foreign policy

History has chronicled the gross arrogance, disingenuity and hypocrisy of America in both its internal and external policies from the moment of its inception as a nation state. Europeans in reaching the New World claimed the land of America as their own, massacring the indigenous people and eventually herding what was left of them into tiny oppressive reserves. After fighting the colonial motherland of England and winning independence, they drafted the Declaration of Independence, declaring "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Yet it took America until 1865 to free its African captives from the bondage of chattel slavery. This gross internal hypocrisy and ruthlessness, which characterized the genesis of the U.S. nation state and was cemented in its foundation, was soon reflected in its foreign policy. Ignoring the lessons of history (as many tend to do nowadays), it moved quickly from being a colonial subject to being a colonial power, riding on the backs of the brutal subjugation, forced labor and oppression of African and Native American people.

U.S. domination and influence quickly spread, primarily through two main foreign policies. Through ‘dollar diplomacy' the U.S. cynically traded money for political and economic clout in other countries; swaying countries and colonies towards policies beneficial to itself. In cases where this policy failed, the U.S. resorted to bullying and open threats of military force known as ‘the Big Stick' policy to get its way. In 1823, in an address to the U.S. Congress referred to as the Monroe Doctrine, Pres James Monroe outlined the U.S. 's 'Manifest Destiny' to be the guardian of the Hemisphere, setting forth a zero-tolerance policy towards any involvement of foreign powers in the region. In 1904, Pres Theodore Roosevelt, in an address to Congress, indicated that the U.S would be prepared to play the role of an international police power in order to protect its vital interests overseas. The Roosevelt Corollary amended the Monroe Doctrine to include the possibility of U.S. intervention anywhere in the world if the U.S. saw it fit to do so. The Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary proved to be the guiding principles of U.S foreign policy in its relentless drive for global hegemony. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the United States pursued an aggressive policy of expansionism and imperialism, extending its political, military and economic influence around the globe.

The end of the Cold War in 1991, which saw the collapse of the Soviet Union and the demise of Socialism, provided the U.S with the opportunity to assume the title of the world's only superpower. Forward on to the 21st century, where Americanization, American-styled 'democracy', and capitalism (replete with arrogance, materialism and individualism) disguised as 'Globalisation' is being exported to far reaches of the globe. The U.S plays an influential role in the decisions and policies of the UN, the World Bank, the WTO and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Armed with its veto power in the UN, it has managed to stop and weaken any UN action on or condemnation of the atrocities committed by the nuclear state of Israel, whose actions are sanctioned and supported by the US. With such direct influence on international institutions, the US has been able to impose its values and dictates on financially poor countries, especially[b] those heavily dependent on the handouts of the World Bank and the IMF. [b]So-called Third World countries who bear the brunt of this manipulation are often in debt to these organizations, leaving them vulnerable to whatever structural and political 'adjustments' are imposed on them. For example, under the guise of Globalisation poorer countries are being pressured to open up their markets to foreign competition ('free trade') even as economists warn that this could have a disastrous impact on financially poorer economies that are not structured and strong enough to compete globally. Exploitation of cheap labour by powerful (usually American), monopolistically inclined multi-national corporations, the growing economic and digital divide, and the US pressure that caused the dissolution of preferential agriculture exports by ‘poor' Caribbean countries to Europe should be strong signs to the world of the intentions and consequences of unbridled American hegemony.

Extremes of US foreign policy

Look at you in war-what muttons you are, and how ridiculous! There has never been a just one, never an honourable one -on the part of the instigator of the war. The loud little handful as usual will shout for the war. The pulpit will, warily and cautiously, object at first; the great, big, dull bulk of the nation will rub its sleepy eyes and try to make out why there should be a war, and will say earnestly and indignantly, "it is unjust and dishonourable, and there is no necessity for it." Then the handful will shout louder. And now the whole nation-pulpit and all-will take up the war cry and shout itself hoarse and mob any honest man who ventures to open his mouth; and presently, such mouths will cease to open. Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and everyman will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus, he will by and by convince himself that the war is just and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception.

Mark Twain (1835-1910)
The Mysterious Stranger

The U.S. led invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, which it labeled as part of the ‘axis of evil' threatening the world marked a new chapter in US foreign policy. The sympathy surrounding 9-11, exploited by Western media provided the US with the opportunity to be very overt and ruthless in the ‘war on terrorism'. This so-called ‘war on terrorism' has been a hoax used to mask the real reasons for going to war and to justify the long planned expansion of US military presence in the volatile Middle East region. In spite of the media distortions, demagogic anti-terrorist rhetoric, and the manipulation of intelligence, it has been clear to many that Iraq's oil resources and the declining US economy were two vital reasons for going to war. A 'regime change' in Iraq would facilitate more US access to Iraqi oil and since the US economy is propped up by the huge arms industry there is the added incentive of war as an economic booster. In addition, hypocrisy is shown by the documentation held by the UN Security Council that details the sale of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and technology, prior to the bogus 'war on terrorism', by more than 150 American and European arms companies.

The new Bush Doctrine proposes explicitly to maintain overwhelming military and economic supremacy around the globe and puts forth that it is the will of God that guides its actions. It asserts the right of the US to intervene, preemptively attack, and implement the American way wherever it decides that a threat of terrorism or weapons of mass destruction exists. Implicit in all of this is the assumption of the superiority of American (un)civilization. The US has shown blatant disregard for the role of the United Nations, and the war against terrorism has become an excuse to trample upon international law, the rights of nations and individuals, and the rights of anyone whosoever who raises their voice to protest American atrocities. It is painfully clear who the real terrorists are that threaten the world. It is none other than the ones that possess high tech weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons, it is none other that the ones responsible for the only atomic attack in history that decimated Hiroshima and Nagasaki and caused so carnage. It is none other than those responsible for the corporate greed, interventions and economic sanctions that have caused millions of people to die and suffer. It is because of its history of crimes against humanity that the US wants to exempt itself from the International Criminal Court (ICC) knowing that its exploits in Africa, Venezuela, Panama, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Palestine and Iraq among other places would make it a prime target for those who seek legal remedy for the injustices imposed on them by this runaway Superpower.

Loud lies and whispered truth

As the dust of the Iraq invasion settled, several facts that emerged and were admitted quietly by the US proved that the key reasons given by the US and Britain were lies and distortions. Firstly no weapons of mass destruction has been found, despite the much publicized capturing of key members of the former Iraqi regime including Saddam himself. Secondly, it has emerged that there is no connection between Saddam's regime and the much touted Al Qaeda group.

The importance of alternative forms of media has been highlighted by the brazen lies, propaganda and distortions of Western media such as BBC, CNN and MSNBC. This blitz of misinformation has emphasized the need for persons to become more informed, especially about history, and take responsibility for educating themselves in order to have a better understanding of the structure of White/Male/Western American Supremacy and their own complicity in it. The success of this will determine if in say 50/100/200 years, people will read the distorted view of CNN/BBC as history or whether they will be able to access a more balanced view of present occurrences which will include the excesses, atrocities and outright arrogance of the US.

*Weapons of Mass Destruction

by Tyehimba