Reflection 11.27

In Tuesday's class Agata proposed a question that failed to be addressed by my classmates due to our many tangents about terrorism, drunk driving, and the like. She asked if it was feasible for the US to stop being the world police power.

In short order, no. Even if (my limited government friend) Ron Paul was elected President, there would be no way for the US to dramatically change its role in global affairs as the protectorate and revert to an isolationist path reminiscent of specific periods in American history. Besides our commitment in Iraq (which seems to be the most favored example IR students like to use next to 9.11), the US has troops in Afghanistan, South Korea, Japan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Djibouti, Egypt and nearly sixty other nations. These troops provide a variety of roles. They are involved with humanitarian endeavors, relief operations, development projects in addition to typical military efforts. If we were able to remove tens of thousands involved in "the police force" which protects people, territory, energy routes and American interests, our nation would play a dramatically different role in the international system. Its important to note that there would also be a feeling in some locations that the US was backing off their agreement to protect protect a region.