In my youth, I was not an isolationist.
I was not a real big "interventionist" either, but I thought perhaps there were times when we would have to act even in a situation that might be "questionable" with respect to our "national interests".
I am now almost totally isolationist. I say that without apology.
After watching for the last 30 years the national and international response to US efforts to intervene in affairs that are clearly NOT a matter of our "national interest" and even some matters that were in our "national interest", I no longer see the need to have ANY US troops abroad.
The threats that justified world wide troop deployments to protect US security/sovereignity/mutual assistance treaties just no longer exist.
Your Swiss example, Rip, is clearly not a matter of our "national interest". If every person of color in Switzerland were executed, it would not threaten the soveignity/security or citizens of the US (well, unless they were of color and happened to be in Switzerland at the time
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Now it may be a matter that we would choose to involve ourselves in with respect to the area of "human rights". It isn't national security however.
After seeing the reception we've gotten when we have chosen to become involved in Human Rights issues, I'd still be willing to sit it out. Cold? Harsh? Yep; but we've become the "Great Satan" around the world for getting involved in exactly these sort of situations. Time to let the world do it without us for a while. Call it a reality check for them.
In your Germany conquers all scenario, there still would have been the factor of the two oceans. Long supply lines alone have spelled the end of many a military adventure and those supply lines would have been incredibly long and incredibly difficult for a non-naval power.
Had we never become involved in Europe, Japan would have been rolled up in the Pacific like a $2 carpet and tossed on the ash heap of history in very short order. War against Japan would have fit Washington's outline as it began with us totally in a defensive posture.
As it was, the Pacific Theatre got the least and worst of everything and got that last. Still only took us about 4 years.
Allies needing assistance? Where's the threat? To what ally and from whom? Taiwan? LOL. We're not going to fight for them and only a fool would think otherwise. As for the rest, if you read their opinions now, the never needed our help and they don't now. So be it.
Look around. There is no DIRECT threat to the US in which any ally could tip the balance in our favor. Our fights are now and will be "our" fights. Actually, there really aren't any DIRECT threats to the US that we can't handle alone. It's been that way for a long time. They say they don't need OUR help, we don't need THEIR help. So be it.
Nash, there isn't anything we can't get by trade alone that we truly need. I think that is Washington's message. The US is indeed blessed with huge natural resources. We have more food than we can possibly eat and a respectable amount of energy resources.
Should we lose out on things we import be it oil or BMW's, we would still survive. We'd adapt.
That I think is Washington's message. We don't need entangling alliances. Just free trade. If you can't get it that way, you don't need it. We'd still survive.
We're a soft, spoiled people now. Doesn't mean that we can't once again become as tough as the people that built this country with axes, shovels and plows.
It's been my very great pleasure to know several families that are the sons and daughters of men that were the first to break the Kansas sod with plows. Their fathers were incredibly tough. The sons of those men were cold rolled blue steel... and they proved it in battle. We, their sons, are mere shadows of our progenitors. Doesn't mean the capability has been lost however. It just isn't needed right now.
Foreign trade is beneficial to both sides. Foreign trade has created improving lifestyles on both sides. But to think that life would suddenly end without it is a bit overdrawn I think.
Besides, it wouldn't totally end. Some would still be interested in trading with the what is perhaps the most lucrative market in the international arena.
Foreign trade is only a necessity if you think this social structure and lifestyle must be maintained "status quo".
I'm of the opinion that we were perhaps better off when things were a bit less overdone. There's "too much" in our society now. Just about "too much" of everything.
How many TV's does one house need?
Long enough.
Yes, I'm isolationist. There's no threat to US security that can't be handled from inside our own borders. Bring ALL the troops home. Now.
Thank you and good day!
