Our love for intervention is really quite clear. Just three years ago, our leaders were clamoring for resolution in Libya because there was supposed indifference to mass killings by its leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Now, we have Russia and Crimea where our leaders are pledging billions to Ukraine and issuing unnecessary, and fortunately limited, economic sanctions against Russian leaders.
Looking back, Washington Examiner’s Gene Healy summed up our actions in Libya three years ago quite nicely: “Three years ago today, President Obama announced that America would ‘not stand idly by in the face of actions that undermine global peace and security;’ he’d decided to order military action in ‘support for a set of universal values.’ The next day, the bombing began.”
Yet the reasons for doing so are quite vague, considering the legal arguments; advisers at the state department asserted that actions in Libya didn’t count as “hostilities” under the War Powers Resolution. And, of course, the usual argument of saving thousands of lives is thrown in there, too.
But does anyone actually turn and look at the effects of our “saving lives” justification or our well-intentioned intervention in Libya? Nope.
Obama and other presidential war power folks like John McCain continue to push new actions in conflicts we really shouldn’t care too much about.
After the NATO intervention in Libya in 2011, we saw the rebels continue their push for seven more months with additional death counts of over 7,000. Sounds like we really saved lives there. Healy also reports that as a result of that intervention, we emboldened peaceful protesters in Syria to turn violent in hopes of similar U.S. and NATO rescue missions.
Just last week, headlines regarding Libya read: “Political Killings Still Plaguing Post-Qaddafi Libya.” More than 100 prominent people have been assassinated, leaving the country in unrest and confusion, and don’t forget militias holding over 8,000 people in prison.
Again, sounds like a job well done.
Let’s now turn to Ukraine and Crimea. Ron Paul’s recent piece in USA Today pretty much covered it: “Who the F cares.” That’s my inappropriate language phrasing, not his of course. But seriously, Crimea is just one of four countries as of late to push for succession in the region; Scotland, Venice and Catalonia round off the others. Amazingly, or not really, we hear almost nothing on the other three, but good lord, did we get fired up about the Crimea’s vote to succeed from Ukraine and join Russia.
Paul poignantly noted that Article 1 of the United Nations Charter clearly states the purpose of the U.N. is to “develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.”
Self determination is the focus there. His article gets better. Obama and this administration are outraged over Russia’s occupation of Crimea, saying the succession vote was equitable to a gun to the heads of the Crimean people. But, we fail to note that our own occupation of Iraq not so long ago was trumpeted as a voice of democracy when the first vote was held there under our own guns.
What a beautiful and brilliant comparison. It shows just how short-lived our leaders’ historic memories run and how two-sided our foreign policy remains.
Indeed, perhaps we should study our Constitution and, surprisingly, learn that it does not authorize us to overthrow other countries’ governments nor send countless trillions to peoples all over the world in hopes of a sustaining and building a “better tomorrow.”
Our government’s sanctions are pointless. They do nothing but disrupt trade when Europe, particularly countries that rely on economic engagement with Russia, can least afford any more monetary problems.
So, essentially, my words above lead to my humble advice for our country: Just stop.
Stop being in love with the concept of ubiquitous intervention, and stop continuously scratching that intervention itch. It will do others and us a world of good — allowing trade and economic relations to better our world. That’s the true answer to help save lives.
Cory Ferraez is a third-year law student from Columbus.
