The Secretary of State John Kerry has made a big pitch that America needs to reject "isolationism". The target of that pitch is, of course, Donald Trump. Kerry, who holds the traditionally non-political office as America's chief diplomat, is busy campaigning for Hillary Clinton. But it's not just the break with tradition by Kerry that's offensive; Kerry also is pushing a lie. Somehow it's appropriate that the argument for Hillary Clinton is dishonest like so much of what she has to say. The simple truth is that Trump is not pushing for isolationism.
Isolationism was a doctrine with strong roots in the American past that called for the USA to avoid all foreign "entanglements". The idea originated with the birth of this country and was strongly supported by George Washington and other early leaders. Since the USA had oceans to separate it from the other world powers who might threaten America, we were supposed to stay away from alliances or other involvements that might get us tangled up in the ongoing wars that periodically shook Europe or Asia. America was separate; it was isolated. Isolation was a plan to keep it that way. We would only care about events in the Western Hemisphere. That was what the Monroe Doctrine was about.
Isolationism took its first major blow with World War I. America got involved in that conflict towards the end, but it was a major involvement. As soon as that conflict ended, however, isolationism took over again. The USA did not even join the League of Nations despite that organization being, in part, the brainchild of president Wilson. The USA would not get entangled with Europe; at least that was the plan.
World War II brought an end to the power of isolationism. During the 1930s the isolationists wanted to ignore Nazism and Fascism and the imperial designs of Japan. As a result, America stayed out of the war until Japan struck the first blow at Pearl Harbor. From that point on, isolationism became a discarded philosophy. America led the allies during World War II. Then the USA led the fight against the Communists by forming all sorts of foreign alliances. There was NATO and many others. The UN was given a home in New York City. The USA was a full member of the integrated world community. No one responsible called for isolationism.
That's why Kerry is now pushing a fight against isolationism and pointing to Trump. It's a straw man. No one supports isolationism in a nuclear armed world. And guess what? Trump doesn't call for that. Trump, however, has had the temerity to push American nationalism. Trump, unlike president Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry says that there needs to be a fair sharing of the burdens of the defense of our allies and ourselves. Trump says that either the NATO allies have to meet their obligations under the NATO treaty or else there is no reason for America to stay in that treaty. Take a moment to consider that argument. Under the NATO treaty, each member state is supposed to spend at least 2% of its GDP on defense. Other than the USA, only four of the 27 other NATO members meet that requirement. Many of the NATO countries have smaller military forces than the New York City Police Department. Some don't even spend 1% of GDP on defense. In essence, these allies rely on the USA to provide their defense. It's more a parasitic relationship than an alliance. Trump is giving them warning that they will have to contribute to the common defense if we are to continue in that arrangement. It's a call to strengthen the alliance, not a call for isolationism.
It's bad enough that Kerry feels he can insert politics into the State Department. It's unforgiveable that Kerry thinks he can use blatant lies in that effort.
Isolationism was a doctrine with strong roots in the American past that called for the USA to avoid all foreign "entanglements". The idea originated with the birth of this country and was strongly supported by George Washington and other early leaders. Since the USA had oceans to separate it from the other world powers who might threaten America, we were supposed to stay away from alliances or other involvements that might get us tangled up in the ongoing wars that periodically shook Europe or Asia. America was separate; it was isolated. Isolation was a plan to keep it that way. We would only care about events in the Western Hemisphere. That was what the Monroe Doctrine was about.
Isolationism took its first major blow with World War I. America got involved in that conflict towards the end, but it was a major involvement. As soon as that conflict ended, however, isolationism took over again. The USA did not even join the League of Nations despite that organization being, in part, the brainchild of president Wilson. The USA would not get entangled with Europe; at least that was the plan.
World War II brought an end to the power of isolationism. During the 1930s the isolationists wanted to ignore Nazism and Fascism and the imperial designs of Japan. As a result, America stayed out of the war until Japan struck the first blow at Pearl Harbor. From that point on, isolationism became a discarded philosophy. America led the allies during World War II. Then the USA led the fight against the Communists by forming all sorts of foreign alliances. There was NATO and many others. The UN was given a home in New York City. The USA was a full member of the integrated world community. No one responsible called for isolationism.
That's why Kerry is now pushing a fight against isolationism and pointing to Trump. It's a straw man. No one supports isolationism in a nuclear armed world. And guess what? Trump doesn't call for that. Trump, however, has had the temerity to push American nationalism. Trump, unlike president Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry says that there needs to be a fair sharing of the burdens of the defense of our allies and ourselves. Trump says that either the NATO allies have to meet their obligations under the NATO treaty or else there is no reason for America to stay in that treaty. Take a moment to consider that argument. Under the NATO treaty, each member state is supposed to spend at least 2% of its GDP on defense. Other than the USA, only four of the 27 other NATO members meet that requirement. Many of the NATO countries have smaller military forces than the New York City Police Department. Some don't even spend 1% of GDP on defense. In essence, these allies rely on the USA to provide their defense. It's more a parasitic relationship than an alliance. Trump is giving them warning that they will have to contribute to the common defense if we are to continue in that arrangement. It's a call to strengthen the alliance, not a call for isolationism.
It's bad enough that Kerry feels he can insert politics into the State Department. It's unforgiveable that Kerry thinks he can use blatant lies in that effort.
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