A Farewell to the Cowboy

by Keith Cooper

From Broader View Weekly, April 10, 2009

It is interesting to read my fellow columnist’s opinion. He seems to be walking a fine line between imperialism and isolationism.

The push to globalize economics where U.S. interests are served has been part of American policy for decades. Suddenly, when failure on Wall Street launched global repercussions, some would have us deny all responsibility. Previous administrations have promised a culture of accountability. Now a president who accounts for the reality of the global market is criticized for his candor.

The Bush Administration sought the cooperation of a coalition of nations to pursue his war of choice in Iraq (though it ended up with a fairly unilateral endeavor propped up by a handful of countries manipulated into limited participation). Now, when Obama is seeking to gather international support for policy in Afghanistan, North Korea and elsewhere, he is being criticized for weakening our standing in the world.

It was all well and good when George W. Bush sought to throw more troops at the quagmire of Iraq. Now, when Obama tries to increase troop levels in Afghanistan he is drawing the ire of those who lent support the Iraq surge.

Some claim it is a reversal of strategy for the Obama team who campaigned on troop withdrawal. Actually, the effort in Afghanistan is in keeping with the president’s philosophy that that was the war we should have been fighting when we decided to pursue Iraq (where the threat was inconsequential at the time).

I, for one, oppose the surge of troops in Afghanistan, no matter what name it is given. I think we too often apply military action as a first resort. The Soviet defeat in the country as well as the resurgence of the Taliban make it clear that military might alone is not the solution.

I am no expert, but many who are say that the surge is the wrong recipe for success. Some say the region is ripe for diplomatic measures, with warring factions open to the idea of negotiations. Others believe the focus of the mission is somewhat blurry. Recent speeches by Obama and administration officials have mentioned al Qaeda more frequently than the Taliban. Critics think the influence of al Qaeda in Afghanistan is marginalized and that the threat should be addressed in Pakistan and elsewhere.

Like my brother, I feel that renaming the war on terror as “overseas contingency operation” (or whatever it is now called) is silly. Especially if it means that the policies will remain pretty much the same. The Bush administration introduced the term after 9/11 and has used it to imply that we were engaged in a conventional war. The problem with this is that it has led to an arrogance of policy. Strategies, methods and operations which are deemed necessary and appropriate when in the midst of a conventional war against a nation state are inappropriate, unethical and dangerous when employed within the context of this struggle against an extremist ideology. I support throwing out the phrases “Long War” and “Global War on Terror” only if it means we adopt a realistic approach to a real threat.

I disagree, however, with my brother’s isolationist view. The world was a far different place when Thomas Jefferson penned the words to which Gordon referred. Part of that change has resulted in the superpower dominance that he has celebrated. The United States has intervened in world affairs when it has suited its interests. When it has been expeditious America has sought international support and worked to form alliances. To insist that now that our interests are threatened along with our supremacy, we should place independence above accountability seems absurd.

The world is ensnared in global struggle. It is not the time for the “cowboy” foreign policy of the past, or for unilateral aggression. As a member of the global community the U.S. must recognize the common bonds that join it to its neighbors. Of course we must remember that we are a superpower. But we should bear in mind that with great power comes great responsibility. As Obama reaches out to our partners and allies, I trust he will do so responsibly.