Issue Position: Foreign Policy Considerations

Issue Position

The United States was generally free to exercise foreign policy as it saw fit until it became dependent on Middle Eastern oil largely during the 1950s. By 1973, this dependency allowed the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) (OPEC is OAPEC, minus Egypt and Syria) to punish the US and hold it hostage by reducing energy exports to the U.S. n retaliation for US support to Israel during the Yom Kippur War between Egypt and Israel. The U.S. was forced to deal both economically and politically with unstable regions such as the middle-East and South America to ensure adequate oil supplies for American needs.

Thanks to wide American development and use of alternative energy sources, such as ethanol, biodiesel, hydro-power, wind and nuclear, and advancing technology techniques for oil recovery and use, the U.S. has essentially achieved energy independence. This alone ensures that the U.S. can exercise it's chosen foreign policy without coercion from outside.

We should be proud of this accomplishment. That a modern, good, free, vibrant nation, such as ours can act for the good of the planet without constraint, should be celebrated by all Americans, as well as those who have felt the gift of food, support, freedom and protection from the U.S. for 200 years. Those endlessly complaining, dark forces both inside and outside the U.S. should not garner our attention. They only hold us back.

Free to do as we wish, where should we put our foreign policy attention?

Russia

Russia is the largest threat to the U.S. However, it is a failing, second-tier nation with an estimated 6,500 nuclear weapons under the control of a soviet depot who, just dismissed the entire rest of the government without opposition. That constitutes enough risk for us to be very diligent as Russia seeks territory in Ukraine, Crimea and Northern territories. Also, Russia continues to meddle with the U.S, using cyber warfare techniques, notably in propaganda and elections.

Our best approach is to quietly fight the cyberwar, maintain our deterrent military strength and solidify the strength of our EU and NATO alliances. Russia cannot tolerate such an economic squeeze.

China

We should recognize that China is in a "quiet war" with the U.S. and is using our money against us. Foolish U.S. government tax policies and overbearing manufacturing regulations drove U.S. companies to develop and manufacture products offshore. We made China great. We made China a nation of high precision/high-quality manufacturing, and killed millions of American jobs. We need to continue to bring manufacturing home and continue to strengthen the American economy with American goods and services.

A basic understanding of their Belt and Road Initiative tells us exactly what China's plan is. We need to acknowledge Chinese military expansion in the South China Sea and strengthen our relations with the coastal nations there. We need to counter Chinese business expansion into Africa and South America, recognizing that their goal is to monopolize and control the world's rare metals and minerals. Finally, China has launched the very best cyber warfare capability against our government and industry. The U.S. needs the best cyber warriors of our own to counter these endless attacks.

Freed of a two-decade-long war in the middle east, the U.S. should concentrate on our border partners and traditional allies.

Mexico, Canada, Central America, South America

Economic success is key to relations with these areas. Dictators and cartels only thrive where good economies don't exist. We should get back on the path planned by George W. Bush before the tragedy or 9/11/01, to help our neighbors economically and socially toward national success and freedom. Trade deals and alliances help us do sensible immigration policies that provide for U.S. populations' needs while encouraging economic nation-building inside border nations.

Europe, NATO, The European Union and the United Kingdom

After living under U.S. guaranteed protections for 75 years, it is fair and reasonable for these partners to step up their funding and engagement in economics and security. Strong economic and military alliances are essential. Regarding BREXIT, the voters in the UK have spoken and the government needs to listen.

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