The Evolution of U.S. Policy

1. The Evolution of U.S. Policy

2. Foreign Policy “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma” - Winston Churchill (describing Soviet foreign policy)

3. Overview • Definitions • Foreign Policy 1776 - 1950 • Isolationism thru Containment • Deterrent Strategies 1950-89 • Massive Retaliation thru Contemporary Containment • Foreign Policy (1989 - ?) • Post Containment Era • Pre-emptive Strike

4. Samples of Behavior • ID the main ideas of our six foreign policies from 1776 to the present • ID the main ideas of each of our deterrent policies

5. US Foreign Policy The goals and guidelines that shape the conduct of American relations with other countries.

6. US National Security Policy Guidelines for the protection of the nation’s people and territories against physical assault, and protection of vital economic and political interests, the loss of which could threaten fundamental values and the vitality of the nation.

7. NATIONAL SECURITY + FOREIGN POLICY = NATIONAL POLICY #

8. FOREIGN POLICIES • Isolationism • Imperialism • Pacifism • UN Cooperation • Containment • Deterrent Strategies • Post-Containment Era

9. ISOLATIONISM (1796) • New nation • Still in turmoil internally • Physical separation • No phones, no lights, no motorcars... • Neutrality & Non-Entanglement • Europe in violent times • Very dependent on European trade #

10. IMPERIALISM (1893) • Social Darwinism (by Europe) • Colonialism • US “expanded overseas” • Guam, Philippines, Puerto Rico • Panama Canal • Monroe Doctrine & Roosevelt Corollary • “Moral right & obligation to intervene in Latin America” to protect/restore American interests • i.e. Haiti (1916/1994), Bay of Pigs (1961), Grenada (1983), Panama (1989) #

11. 1914-1918 • World War I • 10 million men lost their lives! • “War to end all wars”

12. PACIFISM (Post WWI) • US emerged as world’s most respected country • Treaty of Versailles • Sought to punish Germany • League of Nations • Neutrality acts / Peace societies • US cut many ties to Europe

13. Setting the stage for WWII..... • Harsh reparations on Germany • Great Depression • Lack of treaty enforcement • Lack of political will

14. UN COOPERATION (Post WWII) • Had full political backing of US and USSR • Stressed “open communication” among nations But, during this same period…...

15. Communist Expansion • Soviet Union • Poland, Baltics, Eastern European bloc • Instigated communist rebellions elsewhere • China falls to Communism • Serious blow to US relations

16. Communist Expansion • Reasons for expansion • Communist doctrine • “Capitalist pigs” • World War II • China’s government had poor admin control, corruption

17. “Let every nation know… that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty” - President J. F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, 1961

18. CONTAINMENT • US had to stop Soviet expansion • Marshall Plan (1947) • Berlin Airlift (1948) • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949) • Significantly rebuilt Europe • Countries able to resist communist expansion • Korea • Third World nation stalemated us! • Altered US foreign policy……. #

19. Massive Retaliation • Focus on technological and strategic superiority • Use nuclear weapons “at a time & place of our choosing” • Launch of Sputnik in 1957 • America shocked • America’s age of innocence was over • America changed its deterrent policy once again...

20. Graduated Response • Soviet military capabilities (vs population) • Expanded alliances in Pacific region • ANZUS Pact (1951) • Japan (1954) • Tactical nuclear weapons • Countered being outnumbered conventionally • Main reason USSR kept in check? • Defend SE Asia from communism

21. Flexible Response • Restructure conventional forces • Green Berets and Dual Basing • Reconstruct airlift and sealift • Mutual Assured Destruction • No one wins...

22. “…the United States will participate in the defense and development of allies and friends, but…America cannot -and will not- conceive all plans, design all programs, execute all the decisions and undertake all the defense of the free nations of the world” - President Richard Nixon Feb 18, 1970

23. Realistic Deterrence/Nixon Doctrine • Essential Equivalence basic nuclear strategy • Soviet nukes bigger, outnumbered ours, but ours more accurate • Total Force concept to policy • Active duty, National Guard, Reserves • Security Assistance Program • Trained nations to fight, loans, foreign aid

24. Contemporary Containment/ Reagan Doctrine (1981) • More outspoken about dislike of communism and USSR • “Evil Empire” • Military rebuilt • Increased pay raises • More funding for new weapon systems • Security Assistance Programs increased • Allies shouldered more responsibility for own defense

25. World started to change in 1989… • Warsaw Pact crumbling • Berlin Wall coming down • Countries asserting independence from USSR……. #

26. Post Containment Era / A Strategy of Engagement • To enhance America’s security • To bolster America’s economic prosperity • To promote democracy and human rights abroad * * National Security Strategy for a New Century Dec 1999

27. “At this moment in history, the U.S. is called upon to lead-to marshal the forces of freedom and progress;…to reinforce our democratic ideas and values;…to enhance American security and global peace. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to…build a better and safer world.” President William J. Clinton December 1999 #

28. Where are we headed in the 21st century? • President Bush’s “Pre-emptive Strike Doctrine” • Signals a new focus by the US on security • “Our Nation’s cause has always been larger than our Nation’s defense. We fight, as we always fight, for a just peace—a peace that favors liberty. We will defend the peace against the threats from terrorists and tyrants. We will preserve the peace by building good relations among the great powers. And we will extend the peace by encouraging free and open societies on every continent.” • President Bush • West Point, New York • June 1, 2002

29. Summary • Definitions - Foreign Policy - National Security • Foreign Policies • Deterrent Strategies

30. Summary (Foreign Policies) • Isolationism • Neutrality & Non-Entanglement • Imperialism • Expansion overseas (west CONUS, Pacific, Caribbean) • Pacifism • Disarmament by example; avoid conflict • UN Cooperation • Countries working together, better comm; avoid future wars • Containment • Marshall plan; foreign aid for defeated foes • Post-Containment • Security; economy; democracy; human rights

31. Summary (Deterrent Strategies) • Massive Retaliation • attention on nuclear arsenal; total destruction • Graduated Response • massive attack not credible; concentrate on tactical nukes • Flexible Response • concentrate on conventional forces; airlift/sealift capabilities • Realistic Deterrence • startedSecurity Assistance Programs; weapons more accurate; drawdowns • Contemporary Containment • increased defense spending; emphasized Security Assistance Program to assist countries in resisting communism • Pre-emptive Strike

32. The Evolution of U.S. Policy