Ch. 20: Defense and Policy

by Amarachi Onyema, Rachel Bluestone, and Gwyneth Henke

Key Terms● realism: political lens that emphasizes nations

acting in self-interest● isolationism: avoiding international conflict

(dominated US policy interwar period)● internationalism: nations must engage in

international problem solving to survive● unilateralism: encourages nations to act on

their own interests when threatened● hard power: rely on military, economic strength● soft power: rely on diplomatic, negotiative

strength

● weapons of mass destruction: biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons, capable of huge deaths

● economic sanctions: deny import/export abilities to a nation in order to encourage change of policy

● theory of deterrence: develop so much military power that no nation will dare challenge you

● MAD: mutually assured destruction, similar to theory of deterrence--largely refers to nuclear weapons

● Bush doctrine: policy implemented by GWB Jr. challenging any nation that possibly has nuclear pwr

Foreign Policy OverviewInfographic

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT): ● mutual efforts by U.S. and Soviets to limit the growth of their

nuclear capabilitiesWar Powers Resolution of 1973:

● requires POTUS to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing troops

● forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 30 days without authorization from Congress or a declaration of war

Foreign Policy OverviewStrategic Defense Initiative (STAR WARS):

● The plan was to create “a global umbrella in space wherein computers would scan the skies and use various high-tech devices to destroy invading missiles.”

Operation Desert Storm:● Saddam Hussein, the dictator of Iraq, invaded Kuwait, which was a

major oil supplier to the U.S. ● Operation Desert Shield was the operation responsible for putting the

coalition troops in place● coalition nations issued Hussein an ultimatum● bombing started January 16● ground war started February 24, and within 100 hours, Kuwait was

declared liberated

Instruments, Actors, Policymakers

Military instruments: The oldest instrument of foreign policy

● war and the threat of war, military force

Economic: This instrument is becoming increasingly powerful.

● Control of oil, trade regulations, tariff policies and monetary policy

Diplomacy: This is the quietest instrument of foreign policy.

● Nations form and maintain relationships with each other (summits, treaties)

Actors in Foreign Policy● International Organizations: These help facilitate

the cooperation of many nations to maintain international relations. (UN)

● Regional Organizations: Organizations of several nations bound by a treaty, often for military reasons. (NATO, European Union)

Actors (cont.)● Multinational Corporations: Businesses with vast

holdings in many countries They account for one-tenth

of the global economy and one-third of world exports.

● Nongovernmental Organization: Churches, labor

unions, and other groups that have international

interests and activities

● Individuals: Tourism allows regular citizens of various nations to interact, enhancing friendship and understanding among nations.

Policymakers● The president: Chief diplomat,

main force behind foreign policy.

o The president negotiates treaties/executive agreements, the president deploys troops abroad, appoints ambassadors and cabinet members, gives official recognition to other nations

Policymakers (cont.)● Diplomats: The state department (lead by

secretary of state)

o Staffs embassies and consulates in over 300 overseas posts (32, 000 employees)

o Split into functional areas and area specialties

o Diplomacy is becoming an increasingly dangerous job. (Attacks on US embassies in recent years)

PolicymakersNational Security Establishment

○ Department of Defense (“the Pentagon”)■ Combines army, navy, and air force into one

department, led by Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff

○ National Security Council: a group of high ranking officials who coordinate foreign and military policy■ Composed of pres., VP, secretary of defense,

and secretary of state

PolicymakersCIA: Created after WWII to coordinate American intelligence activities abroad, includes national reconnaissance office, and the NSA

■ Provides info and analysis needed for policy making and implementation

■ Most of the activities are uncontroversial, but they also collect info through espionage, and involves itself in other nation's internal affairs

PolicymakersCongress

○ sole authority to declare war, raise and organize military, and appropriate funds for national security

○ Senate ratifies treaties, and confirms ambassadors and cabinet nominations

○ "power of the purse" and oversight of the executive branch

War on TerrorismForms of Terrorism● Attacks on Buildings/Ships

○ September 11, 2001 Attacks

○ World Trade Center 1993

○ USS Cole in Yemen (2000)

● Assassinations: Assassination attempt on George H.W. Bush

● Kidnappings of diplomats and civilians: Iranian hostage crisis (1979)

● Responses to Terrorism○ Govt. participation in improving security measures,

methods of gathering intelligence, and punishing govt. and organizations that have engaged in terrorist activities

■ Air Attack on Libya in response to Libyan-supported acts of terrorism (1986)

■ Striking Iraq’s intelligence center in response to a failed assassination attempt on George H.W. Bush (1993)

■ Launching an attack on Osama bin Laden (1998)

Afghanistan and Iraq● Post Sept. 11: US declared a war on terrorism

● U.S launched an attack on the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and attempts to remove current pres.

● George W. Bush declares Iran, Iraq, and North Korea formed an “axis of evil”

● Plans of demilitarization and restructuring of Iraq, but the planning was poor and public support declined

Current SCOTUS CaseCurrent Court Case: Kerry v. DinIs the government required to give a detailed explanation for denying an alien’s visa based on terrorism-related ground under the Immigration and Nationality Act?

Rethinking National Security Policy

New, preventative foreign policy declared by President George W. Bush

● preemptive strikes against terrorists and hostile states to prevent their use of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons against the U.S.

● eventually, added prevention of the development of threats● explicitly advocated U.S. supremacy in military capabilities

and (if necessary) unilateral action

Politics of Defense Policyinfluences

1. domestic political concerns2. budgetary limitations3. ideology4. public policies

⅕ of the federal budgetcontradicting ideologies (liberal vs. conservative)START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) (1991):

● 1st accord mandating the elimination of strategic nuclear weaponry

U.S. military influence:1. overwhelming nuclear superiority2. world’s dominant air force3. only navy with worldwide operations (with impressive air

power)4. a unique capability to project power around the globe

Triad of nuclear weapons to deter attacks5. ICBMs6. submarine-launched ballistic missiles7. strategic bombers

New Global Agenda● Shift: military to economic

power ● “Security hinges as much

on winning hearts and minds as it does on winning wars” (Joseph Nye and Robert Keohane)o soft power over hard

powero interconnectedness of

global economy

● Economic sanctions main toolo Iran, South Africa,

Cubao First resort; less

risky than sending troops

o But, can always provoke

● Nuclear proliferationo Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 1968

First attempt to limito “Outlaw states”

Iran, North Korea

● International Economyo Interdependency defines modern $o Globalization of financeso Tariffs dangerous; turn to quotas, subsidies

insteado 1992 North American Free Trade

Agreement Eliminates tariffs: Canada-US-Mexico

o 1994 General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade

o 2005 Central American-Dominican Republican Free Trade Agreement (lowers tariffs to US goods in C. Am. countries)

● Desire to maintain balance of trade

● Energyo Organization of Petroleum Exporting

Countries (OPEC) in 1973 embargoes oil shipments to US/WE over Israel conflicts Example of global economy links

o Middle East controls oil (Saudi Arabia) Gulf War: partly to protect Kuwait oil

interests

● Foreign Aido humanitarian, make

allies, open market for USgoods

o Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Greece main recipients

Understanding National Security Policymaking● Government has more discretion

o Less civilian interest in foreign affairs than domestic

o But, public opinion key● President leads, Congress approves

● Pluralism key in international policy● Huge scope of government in

internat. affairs

Defense in the News● http://www.aljazeera.com/news/

2015/03/obama-rebukes-netanyahu-palestine-comments-150321233927965.html

● Israel/Palestine Conflict● US traditionally Israel’s main ally● Prime Minister Netanyahu’s comments

o Refusing bi-state solutiono Decried by President Obama as

“unsustainable”

● Huge example of pluralismo Iran nuclear talks inflammatoryo Maintain oil interests

with Arab stateso Muslim population

in Americao Jewish population

in Americao Other Middle Eastern

players: Egypt, Saudi Arabia

● Obama’s stanceo Offered aid, military cooperation, strong

allianceo But, powerful tensions with PM Netanyahuo Supports bi-state solution

● Republican stance (majority)o Support strong alliance with Israel (while

maintaining other ME relationships)● Democratic stance (minority)

o Strongly favorable to Israel (a few fringe opponents)

SourcesAPGOV Lineberry 20 National Security Policymaking. PPT. Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman, 2009.

Cameronrules36. "AP Gov Chapter 19." Flashcards. February 2013. Accessed April 30, 2015. https://quizlet.com/19391004/ap-

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"Chapter 20: Making Foreign and Defense Policy - AP U.S. Government Vocabulary - Study Notes." AP U.S. Government Notes.

Accessed April 30, 2015. https://www.apstudynotes.org/us-government/vocabulary/chapter-20-making-foreign-and-defense-policy/.

Edwards, George C., Martin P. Wattenberg, and Robert L. Lineberry. "Chapter 20: National Security Policymaking." In Government

in America: People, Politics, and Policy, 795-841. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2014.

"Operation Desert Storm." Ushistory.org. Accessed April 30, 2015. http://www.ushistory.org/us/60a.asp.