CBS has reported that a U.S. warship pounded a militants' base in Somalia the other day. They attacked on Friday a "mountainous village in Somalia where Islamic militants had set up a base," in the partially self-governed republic of puntland. CBS quotes Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman as saying, "This is a global war on terror and the U.S. remains committed to reducing terrorist capabilities when and where we find them."
And I am quoted here as quoting Solomon, who said, "Like a man who seizes a dog by the ears is he who meddles in a quarrel not his own." Think "Monroe Doctrine." This formed the basis of U.S. Foreign policy from 1823 to about the end of WW II.
Wiki says the main points of the Monroe Doctrine were these:
"First, it conveys that European countries cannot colonize in any of the Americas: North, Central, or South as well as islands of the Caribbean which were considered to be a part of the Americas. Second, it enforces Washington's rule of foreign policy, in which the U.S. will only be involved in European affairs if America's rights are disturbed. Third, the U.S. will consider any attempt at colonization a threat to its national security."
But the main point of #2 (above) from a military standpooint was simply to avoid unnecessary conflict, meaning esp. battles with any power outside our hemisphere, unless absolutely necessary. This was much closer to the biblical mark than what historians have called (since the end of WW II) the "Rise of the Imperial Presidency" -- just what the framers of the Monroe Doctrine did not want to see.
Solomon knew something about interacting wisely with other nations. I vote we follow his foreign policy -- implied by the proverb above. If you must have something imperial, why not make it wisdom? "Long life is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her." Solomon said that too.
Now, what more could a nation want?
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