In Steve Skutnik’s column, he reaches several conclusions that undermine the very values that represent human justice. He reaches the certainly unpalatable conclusion that continuing to assist our allies and intervening in international affairs is essentially a tacit request for terrorist attacks on American soil. He concludes that Americans should return to an isolationist policy or a policy of constant non-intervention to ensure that we don’t become cloaked in fear like Israel.

This is not a logical conclusion, however, because to end our interventionist policies outright would almost ensure that we have more to fear than ever before. In many cases, like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, our intervention is only the necessary fulfillment of agreements made in the past.

To break such alliances means the few allies we have will no longer be allies. Skutnik suggests that the American Revolution was fought to keep Americans from participating in “insane wars we don’t belong in.” However, the American Revolution wouldn’t have even been successful if our own allies, most notably the French, hadn’t given us assistance. Our own liberty may never have come about if it weren’t for nations involving themselves in conflicts that weren’t theirs.

For whatever reason, our nation’s freedom was won, in part, with the blood of foreigners.

The trade deficit the United States traditionally runs also dictates that non-intervention could have a disastrous effect. We have found that it often makes more sense economically to import goods from countries rather than try and produce them ourselves.

However, by signing import/export agreements with nations, there is an implicit consent that their nation will be respected or in some way protected.

By isolating ourselves, or even declaring neutrality in times of international conflict, we will find ourselves alienated.

Our alienation won’t be from strife or conflict, but from economic prosperity. It’s true. We shouldn’t throw rocks at a hornet’s nest. Then again, turning our backs won’t keep us from getting stung.

Tim Kearns

Junior

Political science