The Iraq War is hardly immoral, nor foolish. Abuses in the war, such as Abu Gharib, is not an example of the US Government..
Rummsfeld's war plan wasn't foolish?
No, not quite. The role of the federal government is meant to serve the country, as a whole, with state government's involved in states issues. Pork projects that fund inner state projects do not fulfill this requirement.
While the minority of Americans are lack the knowledge to make qualified decisions in international relations, domestic issues are different. The average American can identify with taxes, with the consequences of spending, etc.
And yet foreign policy has way higher stakes then some botched public policy plan, why should foreign policy have less oversight?
While the war was entirely justified, it was not perfectly executed. Donald Rumsfeld's war plan was incredibly flawed. We completely dismissed the Powell Doctrine which I disagree with.
So in theory the war was good idea, just not in practice. If the practice of the war is mishandled, it taints the whole thing.
We also throw out just war doctorine, A very foolish move in my opinion. I only support wars that conform with just war doctorine.
Actually the problem with LBJ and the Vietnam War is that he rarely fulfilled the request of his military commanders. Neither did JFK. The military would ask for 200,000 troops, LBJ would send 100,000 - and so on.
So group think played no role in Veitnam or Iraq? I disagree with that.
The track record of America, when evaluated fairly, is good - not perfect.
Tell that to people in Chile.
When did I say that war and foreign policy is the only legitimate function of government?
Well as a libertarian don't you believe that the government's functions should be limited to defense, of which foreign policy is a massive factor?
The soldiers at Abu Gharib were reprimanded. Donald Rumsfeld lost his position. Often, however, the consequences of foreign policy decisions are not seen until years after. For example, the consequences of Operation Ajax were not really seen until the late 70's - 20 years after.
Rummsfeld only lost his job 3 years later, after a massive public outcry, that's a pathetic excuse for accountability. Bush wouldn't have fired him if not for the massive out cry.
Did anyone get punished for arming Saddam in the 80s? Did anyone get punished for organizing the military coup in Chile in 1972?
There is very much an area with little accountibility.
Again, you have a skewed (biased?) view of US foreign policy.
What and you don't? I'm just not whitewashing things.
Let me ask you this how are following foreign policy decisions not either immoral or foolish or both: supporting the Shah, organizing the military coup of 1972 in Chile, arming Saddam, the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia, Iran Contra. That's just off the top of my head, with little research I can come up with tons more examples.
With such glaring errors that have made the world less safe, there should clearly be more oversight.
Those are just most base and glaring examples, there tons of examples of things just being mishandled at certain point that had an overall negative effect: the Bay of Pigs, supporting the Islamic fighters agaisnt the Soviets, Rummsfeld war plan, many policy decisions during the Vietnam war.
Now clearly the US isn't the only country that makes these kind of errors, but this just proves that every reasonable country should have some oversight regarding foreign affairs.
Oil wasn't the only reason for war in either case, but the oil supplies of Iraq did increase the value of the country, strategically, and rightfully so. International Politics is changing, the importance of military strength is giving way to the importance of self reliance and economics. When America relies on other countries to power the country, especially when many of those countries don't love us, our country is at risk. If rogue nations turn off the taps, our economic will be destroyed and the country in chaos - in danger.
But are we interested in the freedom of nations that have no such resources? Why doesn't anyone talk about going into one of those screwed up African countries, filled with insane rebel groups that go around killing people?
That seems....hmmm....what's the word, oh yes, elitist!
