May 11, 2009 - By True Patriot and
Congressman
Ron
Paul
While much of the country’s attention is on other issues,
a serious situation is developing in Pakistan that threatens
to plunge us into another fruitless and bloody war. It is very
frustrating to see that many who were so vehemently against
the wars of the last administration have suddenly lost interest
in foreign policy simply because we were promised change.
Those still paying attention know that nothing could be further
from the truth. Very little has changed, except perhaps rhetoric,
but what does that matter when the bombing missions are only
getting deadlier? Rather than drawing down violent military
interventions into the affairs of other countries, the new
administration is escalating the foreign policy of the previous
administration.
In Pakistan that entails the continuation and even escalation
of military interventionism just across the border with Afghanistan.
The targets are believed to be enclaves of Taliban militants,
however, many innocent civilians have been caught in the deadly
crossfire, severely damaging our image in the region. Many
ordinary Afghanis and Pakistanis that never had cause to take
up arms against us are being provided with motivation as family
and friends are killed and maimed by our clumsy and indiscriminate
bombs. Is it worth it for us to be involved in this way at
such a high cost of blood, treasure and goodwill? Is there
anything to be gained by this policy?
We are helping the Taliban and other enemies to actually gain
numbers and strength, while driving them down from the mountains
in the border regions deeper into Pakistan, where they have
been making a menace of themselves. As our bombings follow
them, beleaguered villagers have little choice but to leave
their homes and join the swelling numbers of refugees or take
up arms and join the fight against us.
Nonetheless, instead of recognizing the cascading unintended
consequences of trying to deal with Pakistan’s problems,
all signs in Washington point to further escalation. Both the
House and Senate have newly introduced bills to triple foreign
aid to Pakistan, from $500 million to $1.5 billion, with every
indication that the leadership in Pakistan is taking advantage
of the situation with the Taliban to milk more aid from the
US taxpayer. We are broke. This is money we don’t have,
and it is an insult to the American people to run up the national
credit card for this type of military adventurism after many
Americans thought they were voting for peace.
The bottom line is our involvement in Pakistan’s internal
problems is not making us safer. In fact, we are adding to
the numbers of our enemies and increasing the threats to our
security here at home. We are inciting the very terrorism and
extremism we are trying to stop. Every dollar we send, even
if it is for humanitarian purposes, frees up resources to make
war and potentially prop up unpopular leaders. The factions
and politics of the Middle East are irrational and dangerous.
We play with fire when we meddle in their affairs, and we isolate
ourselves diplomatically by making more enemies than friends.
We need to bring our troops home, end all foreign aid, and
maintain a neutral stance on the world stage. It, in fact,
is the only foreign policy we can afford right now, and it
would gain us more friends and trading partners than our bombs
ever could. Besides, that’s what the Constitution permits
and our founders strongly advised.
Read more Articles by Ron Paul at http://www.house.gov/paul/legis.shtml
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