Common Objections to Non-Interventionism, Vol. 1: Introduction

The libertarian foreign policy can be described in a single word, namely, non-interventionism. This theory states that military, economic and humanitarian intervention in the internal affairs of other nations is improper, immoral and dangerous.

It is based in the more fundamental theory of non-aggression, which, as outlined in a previous essay, is the bedrock principle of libertarianism. This is the belief that, as stated by libertarian scholar Walter Block, "It shall be legal for anyone to do anything he wants, provided only that he not initiate (or threaten) violence against the person or legitimately owned property of another."

At very few times in our nation's history have any of our leaders espoused or practiced this doctrine, especially when applied to foreign policy.  As military historian Laurence Vance put it,

 "U.S. foreign policy has resulted in the destabilization and overthrow of governments, the assassination of leaders, the destruction of industry and infrastructure, the backing of military coups, death squads, and drug traffickers, imperialism under the guise of humanitarianism, support for corrupt and tyrannical governments, interference in the elections of other countries, taking sides or intervening in civil wars, engaging in provocative naval actions under the guise of protecting freedom of navigation, thousands of dubious covert actions, the dismissal of civilian casualties as collateral damage, the United States being the arms dealer to the world, and the United States bribing and bullying itself around the world as the world’s policeman, fireman, social worker, and busybody."

History agrees with this statement. Below is a list of a small percentage of the military actions the U.S. has undertaken since the 1970s, and some examples of what we did.

·      Cuba, the U.S. has been blockading them since 1963, more than forty years.

·      Australia, in 1973, the CIA interferes to manipulate the free election process.

·      Chile, in 1973, a CIA financed coup ousts the elected President.

·      Portugal, in 1974.

·      Angola, in 1976.

·      Afghanistan, in 1979 the U.S. began to secretly finance, train and arm mujahedeen rebels including rebel leader Osama Bin Laden. These mujahedeen eventually formed what we now call Al Qaeda.

·      El Salvador, in 1980 the U.S. funded a government found to have committed gross human rights violations.

·      Nicaragua, in 1981.

·      Chad, in 1982.

·      Libya, in 1982.

·      Honduras, in 1982.

·      Lebanon, in 1982.

·      Grenada, in 1983.

·      Iraq, in 1987 the U.S. supported and armed Sadaam Hussein’s Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war.

·      Iran, in 1988, the U.S. shoots down a civilian passenger airline, almost 300 dead.

·      Libya, in 1989.

·      Philippines, in 1989.

·      Panama, in 1989, U.S. forces invade and kill the President, and an estimated 2,000 innocent civilians, including some American tourists.

·      Kuwait, in 1990.

·      Iraq, in 1990, the U.S. blockade kills 10,000 Iraqis monthly.

·      Bulgaria, in 1991.

·      Somalia, in 1992.

·      Peru, in 1992.

·      Colombia, in 1992.

·      Bosnia, in 1994.

·      Haiti, in 1994.

·      Sudan, in 1998.

·      Afghanistan, in 1998, U.S. lobs missiles into some factories.

·      Yugoslavia, in 1999.

·      Yemen, in 2000.

·      Afghanistan, in 2001.

·      Iraq, in 2003.

·      Pakistan, in 2004, U.S. begins drone attacks, continue to this day.

In addition, we currently have American troops in nearly 150  countries worldwide and we have almost 800 military bases worldwide. The U.S. has also attempted to assassinate elected presidents in Iraq, Haiti, The Congo, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam and Cuba, to name but a few.

 The facts positively mock any reasonable person who believes that the U.S. government hasn't practiced a foreign policy of expansionism and militarism. Nevertheless, the forces supporting war and interventionism have a death-grip on our policy-making, and their propaganda resonates in the uneducated ears of many in this country. As a believer in the non-interventionist norm, I've have been confronted on my beliefs by many of these ignorant naysayers, some even resorting to calling me a terrorist, or my beliefs a sin against God. The funny part about their perfunctory, half-baked critiques is that they are incredibly predictable. Those in power who support war have been feeding the American public the same lines for years, to the point where I can predict with absolute certainty which will be clumsily hurled in my direction. In the following series of essays, I will demonstrate how each of these oft-rehashed arguments fall flat on their faces when compared to reality. Stay tuned.