To achieve these goals, it is first necessary to recognize that successful foreign policy is inseparable from domestic prosperity. Our ability to affect events abroad is directly related to our ability to meet the needs of our own people. Only by being strong at home can we hope to remain influential abroad.
Americans must also recognize that we now live in an international environment and that events abroad directly affect us at home. Therefore, we must stay engaged abroad. We can no longer be the "world's policeman," however, we cannot shrink from our global responsibilities. We have an obligation to lead - no other nation has the power we possess and, more importantly, no other nation has the trusted power that we possess.
This responsibility means that we must prudently use all the economic, political, diplomatic and military tools in our possession. Our actions should be pursued multilaterally - through the United Nations, NATO, GATT, etc - when possible; unilaterally when necessary. We cannot be reluctant to use power when vital interests are at stake.
Regarding the use of military force, it is imperative that we have clear objectives. This does not mean, however, that there exists a fixed set of rules for the use of military force; for there is no "one way" to deal with the world's many headaches - famine, regional tensions, ethnic brutality, terrorism and the proliferation of weapons.
Rather, the following relevant questions must be asked and answered before we commit U.S. troops and prestige abroad:
Is the political objective we seek to achieve important and clearly defined? Is it a strategic interest?
Have all other nonviolent (economic, political and diplomatic) policy means failed?
Will military force achieve the objective? At what cost?
Have the costs and benefits been properly analyzed?
How might the situation we seek to alter develop further and what might the consequences be?
Successful U.S. foreign policy cannot guarantee peace, prosperity, or justice for all; what it does guarantee is that these ideals will be given a chance of succeeding.
Prepared by the Joanell Dyrstad fof U.S. Senator Campaign Committee, 8100 Penn Avenue South, Bloomington, MN Telephone/Fax: (612)884-4552/884-4620