In a speech delivered in 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt announced a foreign policy that, in effect, proclaimed that America would speak softly and carry a big stick.
President Barack Obama has essentially reintroduced this policy as a way to extricate the U.S. from two wars. He wants us to maintain our world-wide military superiority, unleashing it only after peaceful negotiations have failed.
I embrace this idea and would like to see the President make ten specific pronouncements regarding its implementation.
These are:
First, the U.S. maintains its strong military assets solely to protect U.S. citizens, territory, territorial waters, or other assets located around the world. To accomplish this the United States shall patrol the world's airwaves, as well as sea and air lanes.
Understanding that the nature of terror in the world has changed, the U.S. shall consider the nationality of any individual or group of individuals in determining which government is responsible for any attack on the United States or its citizens.
Unless broken by others, we shall honor all alliances previously made with any nation or group of nations. Our ships and aircraft shall call upon any nation requesting such a visit. If requested, the U.S. shall provide humanitarian aid to any nation in need after a natural disaster.
Second, America shall reduce its funding to NATO by 10% a year for five years. If after 5 years other NATO members have not replaced this reduction in funding, the U.S. will continue reducing contributions yearly by an additional 10%.
At no point, however, shall the U.S. commitment be less than 5% of NATO's then current annual need. [FYI: The U.S. currently funds 22% of the operational and military needs of this 27-nation alliance ]
Third, U.S. embargoes in place around the world shall be lifted, including those affecting North Korea, Iran, and Cuba. Trade and travel between nations is open to all U.S. citizens.
Fourth, the United States unilaterally declares peace with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Fifth, the "War on Drugs" is over. A minimum of 50% of the funding for this effort over the last 25 years shall be reallocated to drug education and to treat drug addiction in the U.S. These funds shall be divided evenly over the next 2.5 decades.
"Funding" shall be defined as the total monies spent over the last quarter century for drug interdiction in the U.S. and elsewhere, as well as the total amount spent on prosecution, incarceration, and/or subsidies paid directly to foreign governments to help fund this effort.
The U.S. Justice Department shall declare an end to drug prosecutions, as well as order all its state governments to do the same. All prior drug possession convictions not involving violence shall be overturned and prisoners released for time served.
Sixth, the U.S. shall no longer participate in any attempt to negotiate peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis. If any U.N. member nation attempts to untie this Gordian Knot, the U.S. shall stand ready to support and host this effort.
Seventh, since it is a mere 90 miles from the U.S. coast the Naval Base located in Guantanamo is deemed logistically unnecessary to our defense. The U.S. shall cede control of the land, prisoners, and facilities to the Cuban government.
Eighth, as a commitment to Africa the U.S. shall negotiate with any Indian Ocean-based nation willing to develop a long-term lease to build and operate a U.S. naval and air base on this continent.
Ninth, negotiations shall begin regarding reparations to be paid by Saudi Arabia for its role in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and elsewhere on September 11, 2001. These reparations may include direct money payments or oil delivered to the U.S., as well as construction of a direct pipeline between Saudi Arabia and Europe.
Tenth, any nation not recognized as a "nuclear-weapon state" under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [FYI: U.S., China, Russia, United Kingdom, France] shall not own, build, sell, or attempt to sell or test a nuclear device anywhere in the world. Doing so shall be considered a declaration of nuclear war on the U.S. and shall be answered in kind.
The U.S. shall also aid any nation in the dismantling of any nuclear or chemical devices already manufactured and existing within its borders without cost to that nation, as well as sign a treaty with that government protecting its interests in the event of attack.
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