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Foreign Policy Lessons from Abroad
By Jacob Hornberger
 Sometimes by focusing on what is happening in other countries, we can gain a deeper understanding of what is happening here in the United States. The Washington Post reports today that Afghan authorities have surrounded a group of Taliban fighters that are holding 23 Koreans. The Taliban is also holding a German citizen hostage, after having killed another German. According to the Post, “The Koreans are the largest group of foreigners the Taliban has taken hostage since the Islamic extremist group began an insurgent campaign after being ousted from power by a U.S.-led invasion in 2001.” The Post added, “German Chancellor Angele Merkel said her government would not agree to the Taliban’s demand that Germany withdraw its troops. We will not give in to blackmail.” (Translation: “Germany will occupy any country it wants, and the citizens of such countries will be expected to obey the orders of Germany military officials.” Meanwhile, German officials are debating anti-terrorism measures in Germany that would constitute severe infringements on civil liberties, causing some Germans to raise the specter of Hitler’s “temporary” suspension of civil liberties after the terrorist strike on the Reichstag. According to the Post, “The governments of South Korea and Germany have both come under intense domestic political pressure to withdraw from Afghanistan, and South Korea has already announced that it will leave the country by the end of the year.” There are lessons to be learned here — lessons involving foreign policy. Lesson 1: These terrorist acts are taking place not because the Taliban hate South Korea and Germany for their “freedom and values.” They are taking place because the South Korean and German governments are in Afghanistan — i.e., far away from their own countries. Lesson 2: The Taliban have not committed terrorist acts against Swiss citizens. Why not? Because the Swiss government does not have troops stationed in Afghanistan (or Iraq). The Swiss government minds its own business and, thus, the Swiss people do not live their lives in constant fear of terrorism. Meanwhile, the New York Times reports on its front page today, “While Washington is mired in political debate over the future of Iraq, the American command here has prepared a detailed plan that foresees a significant American role for the next two years.” At the same time, U.S. intelligence agencies are reporting that the threat of terrorism, including on American soil, by al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups continue to grow. Last week, President Bush used the Iraq occupation to justify another ominous infringement on the liberty of the American people — an executive order that, according to Washington Post columnist Walter Pincus, could be interpreted as casting a wide net “to include not just those who commit violent acts or pose the risk of doing so in Iraq, but also third parties — such as U.S. citizens in this country — who knowingly or unknowingly aid or encourage such people.” (Unfortunately, the order was not a law debated and enacted by Congress but instead was part of Bush’s policy of ruling America by decree.) It is easy to see that there is an obvious solution to the problems of terrorism faced by South Korea and Germany: Return your military forces to your respective countries. If you fail to do that, you will incur terrorist counterstrikes, which will then be used as excuses to infringe upon your freedoms. If it is so easy to recognize the solution for South Korea and Germany, why do Americans have such a difficult time recognizing the solution for themselves? Mr. Hornberger is founder and president of The Future of Freedom Foundation. Recommend this article...
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