Out in Right Field

Out in Right Field
by Julius Ponds

One of the recurring topics of this presidential election cycle is American foreign policy. What is the United States’ proper role in Iraq? What is the United States’ proper role towards other dictatorships around the globe? And this is not just an issue between Republicans and Democrats, but even an issue of contention among Republicans. You have some presidential aspirants who definitely question our role in the world. What direction should our Republican Party advocate in the field of foreign policy?

Let me give a little guiding quote…

“We declare, in the name of the people, that we will accord fraternity and assistance to all people who wish to recover their liberty, and we charge the executive power to give to the generals the necessary orders to protect these peoples and to defend our citizens who may have been or who may be harassed for the cause of liberty. The present decree shall be translated and distributed in all languages.”

Is this a quote from some neoconservative submission to the Weekly Standard? Or a resolution drafted by a hawkish portion of the current congressional Republican minority? No, instead it was a decree by the French National Convention on November 19, 1792. Yeah, yeah, all chuckles aside due to the French authorship, there is merit to prevailing attitude behind it.

The Girondist theory of foreign policy, which is exemplified in this decree, is one that speaks loudly to the current position of the United States. The Girondists recognized the important role of revolutionary France in Europe at that time, a position of hope and encouragement to others across the continent desiring to throw off the repressive shackles of absolute tyranny. They paid special attention to the effect and impact of their experiment in human freedom on foreign peoples. Likewise, we need to acknowledge the effect and impact of our even greater American experiment in human freedom on foreign peoples. We should neither turn our back on the world, nor coddle repressive regimes out of fear of appearing arrogant.

Few times in human history do both MIGHT and RIGHT reside in the same global power. The United States should not betray our duty and responsibility, but remain actively engaged in the world as a strong and powerful force for freedom and liberty. We should make sure that as Republicans, our party’s presidential candidate shares that view.