Brad Budsberg
George Ball, “Reflections on a Heavy Year,” Foreign
Affairs, Vol. 59(3), 1981.
The Main
Point
Incompetence, both domestic and international, by the United States is causing allies to doubt both the authority and clout America once yielded and the protective umbrella for all world allies.
Summary
The critique on the US deals with the past mistakes both politically and militarily with Europe, Japan, and the Middle East. Each argument points out the facts of wavering command by the US and power struggles.
Symbols of our incompetence:
But a doleful chorus of lamentation was heard not
only in our land but throughout the non-communist nations. It had a recurring theme…No longer did
we display the mastery of events that had given confidence in our economic,
political, and military leadership.
The heard overtones were effects from such disasters as the rescue effort in the Iranian desert in area known for American supremacy. This itself was just an extension of the “appallingly poor condition” of our military. The economy was another area of jaded view by allies. We lagged now behind Japan as the once world industrial leader and, the US economy was upsetting world financial markets by the deficits we were obtaining. These ailments affecting the United States were only to be articulated about the inadequatecy of our American leaders.
Decline of America’s standing and authority:
American authority was subdued in three situations in which the America’s power, “possession of industrial plants and nuclear bombs,” could not handle minor powers in the world. First was our failure to win a war against North Vietnam, largely agrarian nation, with a strong economy and superior military. Second, America was stunned when some of our countrymen were taken prisoners in Tehran, Iran. Playing on human compassion, the table of power had turned against us. Finally, the power of resources brought us to yield to yet another “poor, backward, nonindustrialized” set of countries. OPEC produced another example that power comes from many areas including the control of a finite resource in which the world depends on.
From unclear US energy policies to failure of European organization, the world was in a state of unrest of balance and power. America was facing a time that was unprecedented during the OPEC crisis. No clear answer and wealth being drain across the nation. This only helped weaken faith in our alliances. Europe, coming off of reconstruction, was struggling to handle the OPEC situation as well. Having once been “the great powers of Europe,” they lack the organization to play more than a regional role in world affairs.
Alternative Forms of Power:
Russia is on the brink of a power fight during the upcoming change of the guard, and it still faces fundamental problems including an aging hierarchy and a Soviet command economy is an inferior system that cannot work efficiently. The Soviets are increasing the military to handle conflicts with surrounding areas. These events are not only mounting a large bill- both economically and politically, it is bringing attention to the strength in which the Soviet Union holds. Military might allows the Soviets…
to play a meddlesome role wherever regional quarrels or conditions of internal instability provide targets of opportunity.
Hindsight:
Knowing the sequence in which the Middle East allows one to speculate reasoning behind such actions or inactions as the point maybe. The first one brought about instability in the Gulf, but many have limited the criticism to 1972. This was the time period in which Britain withdrew leaving behind a vacuum of military presence. America left its trust in the shah as the “protector” of Western interests, when clearly; an absolute monarchy had a limited life expectancy. The final statement of the section provides that we should have seen the situation amounting and helped to intervene. This seems very unlikely as we “failed to foresee the Reagan landslide” in our own country.
Society/Media
Interactions:
The kidnapping of our American embassy in Tehran, Iran found us in a frustrating situation. We were forced to wait for an emergence of an institution capable of negotiation. As time passed, television kept America’s eyes peeled to the situation brewing. As emotions grew in the US, pressure built to rescue our countrymen. The failed attempted in April added fuel not only to the escalading situation in the Middle East but in our incompetence as well.
Russian
Intervention:
The Soviet Union moved into Afghanistan to handle a hostile regime in Kabul with large forces to avoid humiliation. This was the first time the Soviets had deployed its forces outside of Europe. Speculations of its other motives included strategic position for an ultimate invasion in Iran. The circumstances, nonetheless, caused a new situation in the Middle East. In retaliation, US “lead by announcing sanctions against the Soviet Union, including not merely stopping grain sales and the transfer of high-technology equipment, but also an American boycott of the Summer Olympics in Moscow. Many allies were unwilling to risk unpopularity by disenchanting their athletes or offending the Soviet Union. This was another symbol our incompetence through lack of command and authority.
Middle East
Development:
Through past precedents set forth by decisions, the United States is in a situation that is troublesome for its power and authority in the middle east. Backing Israel by supporting them militarily and financially has put a burden on other alliances. Saudi Arabia has feels that the US owes them the military assistance for their oil assistance. If their needs are not met, they will look else where such as France. Denying Saudi Arabia the needs it has will only cause further problems with oils policies and benefits of the country. The Camp David is also in need of change by representing both sides equally in terms of recognizing the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization). These events only elaborate on the deterioration of American authority and power in the world.
Degeneration of US/Japanese
Alliance:
Japan’s economy has grown to levels that compete with America’s economy in almost all ways. The situation is that Japan’s budget is 1% for the military while the US is allocating 6%. Japan is almost entirely on US involvement. There is talk of Lend-Lease principle where we would lease two aircraft to patrol the area for Japan.
Restoring American
Confidence:
The suggestions made are as follows:
1) Maintain confidence friends and allies
Restore the effectiveness of our conventional forces
2) Recognize the crisis nature of the energy problem