Generally, the United States of America is regarded as a global leader since the 1950s. Thus, it is actively engaged in international affairs. The role of the US in the globe has been that of a superpower, world policeman, along with the free world’s leader. Given its status as a superpower, the US has adopted the role of the policeman of the world. As such, it frequently involves itself in global conflicts arguing that it is its responsibility to promote democracy as well as freedom around the universe. Thus, the country has spent a vast majority of its resources together with energy in global policing. In this regard, by examples from different decades since 1950, it is clear that the international policing role and strategy of the United States during the Cold War has become even more necessary in this period of terrorism and instability.
Markedly, the US should continue to intervene in world conflict to protect its security and interests (Schultz, 2018). Additionally, its world policing role would help in building strong governance in countries where it does not presently exist, hence, protecting its national security interests. The importance of the US role as international police can be explicitly seen during the Cold War years, more specifically, during the Cuban Missile Crisis (Chace, 2015). It is imperative to note that during the Cold War, the US had to act as the policeman of the world as there were only two dominant superpowers, that is, the Soviet Union and America. Most economies were weakened by World War II; as such, the US had to protect its security and the security of other countries from the Soviet Union. In the Cuban Missile Crisis, in particular, the US was involved in a major confrontation with the communist world. The Soviet Union presented a threat of nuclear war, but America managed successfully to protect the world from possible nuclear war. This was made possible by the United States’ international policing role. Therefore, presently, in a world threatened by terrorism, the US role as the world’s police is crucial more than ever. The globe’s policeman is also directly connected to the security of the US, mostly in terms of terrorism. For instance, when examining Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2001, it is clear that terrorism was a significant threat to the security of America and other nations. According to Tarzi (2014), America deployed military force to fight Al Qaeda and the Taliban regime in response to the 9/11 attacks.
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Also, as a superpower, America has a right to respond to conflicts and threats that pose harm to the international order. For instance, Operation Desert Storm started as a result of the invasion of Iraq in Kuwait (Powell, 2003). This invasion threatened the security of the world; henceforth, the US had to invade. Also, Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, posing a major terrorist threat to America. Another is example can be seen during the Vietnam war when America participated in the fight to end the domination of communism in Vietnam. This communist domination posed a threat to the national security interests of the US. Hence, military force was warranted.
While the US’ international policing role is vital today, some still argue that it should be discarded as ineffective and counterproductive. They cite that deploying troops to other countries is expensive, yet most of these military force is unsuccessful except for the invasion of Afghanistan. The taxpayers bear this burden of providing the means for the military to police the globe. Thus, American allies should also strive to guard their nations.
To sum up, the international policing role of the US impacts our lives and my profession as well. Because the US is actively involved in enhancing security, we can live peacefully without worrying about when the next terrorist attack is going to happen. The US can prevent attacks even before we hear about them. Also, in my profession, we can monitor any suspicious activities online that may pose a security risk.
References
G.H. W. Bush. March 6, 1991. Address before a Joint Session of the Congress on the Cessation of the Persian Gulf Conflict. http://college.cengage.com/history/wadsworth_9781133309888/unprotected/ps/bushnwo.html
S. Chace. Summer, 2015. The Cuban Missile Crisis: Leadership as Disturbance, Informed By History. http://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=110092272&site=eds-live&scope=site
C. Powell. Feb. 6, 2003. Transcript of Powell’s UN Presentation. http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/02/05/sprj.irq.powell.transcript/
K. M. Schultz. 2018. HIST : Volume 2: U.S. History since 1865. 5 th ed.
S.M. Tarzi. Sept. 2014. The Folly of a Grand Strategy of Coercive Global Primacy: A Fresh Perspective on the Post-9/11 Bush Doctrine. http://libdatab.strayer.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=98323177&site=eds-live&scope=site
