The American Spectator

Another Perspective

Nation Building 101

By Erin Wildermuth on 8.11.08 @ 12:07AM

(Page 2 of 2)

Many American hawks have come to believe that bringing democracy and liberalism to these nations is the only way to keep Americans safe from future 9/11 style attacks.

BUT ARE THESE new nation building efforts really fostering increased American security?

Probably not. The odds of successful nation building are stacked heavily against us, and the effort has unintentionally cultivated a new and improved hatred for America abroad. The results are not exactly what President Bush was hoping for when he promised to change "hearts and minds."

Between 2002 and 2007, public opinion of America declined in 26 of the 33 countries polled by the Pew Global Attitudes Survey. According to the pollsters, "The U.S. image remains abysmal in most Muslim countries in the Middle East and Asia."

As a country with a vast set of tools available to mitigate major threats to our national security, it is puzzling that the U.S. would embrace nation building now. It's expensive, it darkens our already black image with other peoples, and it usually ends in bitter, bloody failure.

Maybe our leaders should embrace strategies that leave more room for error.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Law, Military, Iraq, United Nations, Oil