interest and some important objec- to develop and sustain the economi- world from facing third world
ing third world war.
tives of its own and a strong
medium to achieve
the pious ideolo-
gies of democratic
world. Americas
foreign policy is not
the exception of it.
To understand it
would be an incor-
rect and partial evo- Niaz Ahmed
lution. Because by evaluating the 218
years from George Washington to
Bush (Jr.), their foreign policy is
sensitive for international affairs and
determined to establish peace and
human rights in the world. America
as the first democratic country of the
world has contributed great com-
mitment and efforts to establish
peaceful atmosphere in the world. So
in the light of the above facts we can
say that apart from some so-called
exceptions, Americas foreign policy
has proved to be a helping and well
faring policy.
(1) Establishment of democracy
in world levelAmerica has been a
strong supporter of democracy and
an equal opponent of monarchy, right
from the beginning. They fought the
first world war of 19141919 in the
name of democracy. In the second
world war the then American
President Roosvelt, described the
objective of his foreign policy to
destroy the dictatorship of Hitler and
to establish four kinds of democracy
in the whole world : They are freedom
of expression, to follow any religion
of the world, freedom from terror.
American has also played a vital role
to implement these objectives in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
(2) Supporter of human rights
After the terrifying result of the 2nd
world war, American has formed its
objective to support and sustain the
human rights. Jimmy Carter had
created a separate bureau in the state
department. After that this would
include among the duties of the
ambassadors to follow and present
the importance of human rights to the
other countries as role model. Today
the healthy condition of human rights
and awareness towards it, we are
seeing today, is indeed the effort of
Americas rich foreign policy and its
indomitable efforts.
(3) Continuous foreign econo-
mic help America has always tried
PD/August/2007/350
cally poor countries of the world with
their own development. This has
been indeed the most important
aspect of Americas foreign policy to
assist economically backward and the
developing countries. The following
objectives have been the main planks
of its foreign policy.
(i) To make the developing coun-
tries strong by economicl aid.
(ii) To use their important facili-
ties like, ports, military bases and
airports by giving military help.
(iii) To stop the expansion of
communism by giving numerous
kinds of help to the poor countries.
(4) Well wishers of enemies
After the end of the cold war, America
and Russia were jointly striving hard
to release the pressure and establish
peace in the region. NBT (1963), NPT
(1968), SALT I & II (1987) and START
(1991, 1993) are some of examples,
where both super powers have
signed these treaties, and given the
impression, that they are inclined to
achieve peace, and American foreign
policy is not only working for its own
good but for others good as well.
It is noteworthy that after the
second world war America had
assisted its chief exponent China and
Russia with multi billion dollars.
Furthermore America had also assis-
ted 16 European countries with 20
billion dollars during the period of
194852.
(5) International development
policy of AmericaIn 1961 President
John F. Kennedy had started this
facility to assist poor countries of Asia
by giving them economic, technical
and military assistance. By misusing
this very facility Pakistan had atta-
cked India in 1965.
(6) Support to NAM and its
member countriesAmerica had
changed its policy and outlook
towards the non-aligned countries
like Egypt, Indonesia, Yugoslavia and
many Afro-Asian states. America has
given its approval by accepting the
convenience to N A M. Furthermore
given the Peace Corps to the poor
and those countries, which were
facing civil war America had also
sent number of experts, for the
development and welfare purposes.
(7) Disarmament and American
foreign policy : America has contri-
buted great efforts to prevent the
For this purpose, in 25 July 1963 USA,
UK and USSR signed the NBT. After
that America was also firm on the
matter of NPT and CTBT. In reality
the main sources of condition of
disarmament and its progress, which
we are seeing today, lie on the
American foreign policy.
(8) As the destroyer of inter-
national terrorism : American has
done a lot after the terrorist attack on
Pentagon and World Trade Centre on
11 Sep. 2001. They have established
their foreign policy to destroy the
terrorism so that world can be saved
from this threat of terrorism.
The creators of Americas foreign
policy have set the following objec-
tives to destroy the terrorist organiza-
tions and those countries which are
assisting terrorism.
(a) No compromise with abduc-
tors.
(b) To impose various bans and
restriction on the countries which are
supporting terrorism.
(c) To send the foreign terrorists
to their own countries.
(d) To react sharply to the activi-
ties of terrorist groups and to esta-
blish information center to stop them.
(e) At any cost to prevent terro-
rists from getting latest technologies.
(9) Effect of domestic policy and
pressure groups in foreign policy
The domestic policy and pressure
groups influence the makers of
foreign policy. Public Welfare is one
of the most important facts of
Americas foreign policy and even the
President of USA cant ignore this
fact.
Conclusion
On the basis of the analysis of the
above facts, we can say that Americas
foreign policy is very well associated
with the welfare of the whole world.
Those who are criticizing it, are
providing superficial facts and their
analysis is based on intense preju-
dices against America. All in all we
can say that Americas foreign policy
is based on human rights, tolerance,
peace and support and aid to the poor
and the developing world. Its main
objective is to solve the most burning
international issue of the contempo-
rary world i.e., terrorism and total
ban on atomic weapons. Hence a
foreign policy, which is carrying this
kind of sublime and noble objects,
cant be said to be selfish. P.Darpan