by Stephen Zunes | September 11, 2008
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/5529While the foreign policy segments of the Democratic Party platform as outlined in my most
recent article is disappointing in many respects, the
Republican Party platform is downright scary.
Among the more frightening aspects of the platform is its unconstitutional assertion that the president has sole prerogative to make decisions on matters of war, rejecting any role for Congressional "interference" in foreign policy matters. This appears to be a pre-emptive assertion by the Republican Party that, in the event of a John McCain win in November, they would reject any attempt by the likely Democratic-controlled Congress to impose any checks and balances to prevent a possible war on Iran or other dangerous executive initiatives.
... snip: general military, immigration ...Attacking the United Nations
Nearly a full quarter of the foreign policy segment of the Republican platform is devoted to attacking the United Nations and international law. The party of the most scandal-ridden and corrupt administration in modern U.S. history ironically attacks the UN as "scandal-ridden and corrupt." It condemns the UN for alleged discrimination against Israel, apparently for its insistence that Israel comply with international humanitarian law. And the platform applauds the successful U.S. effort to have Israel included in the UN's regional grouping of Western European nations although Israel is located in the Middle East.
In apparent reference to unsuccessful efforts by the international community to insist that the United States and Great Britain comply by the UN charter and not launch their illegal invasion of Iraq, the platform insists that the UN should not "prevent our joining with other democracies to protect our vital national interests." In peacekeeping operations, while maintaining that Americans should be able to command armed forces of other countries, the platform asserts that "as a matter of U.S. sovereignty, American forces must remain under American command."
The platform rejects the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC), designed to prosecute war criminals such as the Sudanese leaders responsible for the genocidal war in Darfur, claiming that it would somehow limit the ability of the United States to "act abroad to meet global security requirements." The platform goes so far as to back legislation punishing other countries that do ratify the ICC agreement. Such legislation would authorize the president to use military force against countries – such as the Netherlands, where the ICC is located – that detain citizens of the United States or allied nations held by or on behalf of the ICC.
The platform also rejects the Law of the Sea Treaty, which defines the rights and responsibilities of the world's nations in their use of the planet's oceans, establishing guidelines for environmental protection and the management of marine natural resources. The treaty has been ratified by 80% of the world's nations.
The platform condemns the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women as "radical social engineering" that fails to "respect the fundamental institutions of marriage and family." The United States is currently the only country besides Somalia – notorious for its use of child soldiers – that has refused to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
... big snip: more international, regional detail ...As this platform indicates, should the Republicans win in November, U.S. foreign policy will continue in its unilateralist and militaristic direction, with little regard for international law and human rights except for their highly selective application to advance U.S. policy goals. While the Democratic platform is disturbingly similar to that of the Republicans in a number of areas – particularly regarding Israel, Afghanistan, and military spending – it parts company with the Republican Party's emphasis on military solutions to complex political problems and American exceptionalism within the community of nations.
Most Americans see the domestic economy as the primary concern this election season. Nevertheless, the Democrats would do well to highlight their differences with the Republicans on foreign policy issues. After all, public opinion polls indicate that on most of the issues highlighted above the incumbent party appears to be out of sync with the majority of American voters.
Stephen Zunes is a professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco and a senior analyst for Foreign Policy In Focus.
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