A Rat in a Corner Foreign Policy Does Not Work

A rat in a corner always comes out fighting. If politicians had paid attention to their history classes they would know that foreign policies based upon isolation and neglect simply do not work. They never have and never will.

Does anyone remember Cuba? Our policy towards them has been one of neglect and isolation. Because we did not like their form of government or their leader we have maintained a policy toward that nation that has achieved nothing. Nothing for the people of Cuba and nothing for us has been gained by our foreign policy. When we boxed them into a corner in the 60’s, we almost had a nuclear war.

We boxed Iraq into a corner and we all know that result. We have boxed Iran into a corner and where may that lead? If we did not invade Iraq there was a good likelihood that Libya would be a leading hot spot in the world. And now we have put the rat in the corner in North Korea.

In the early 1900’s we ignored Germany and had WW I. We ignored them again in the 30’s and had WW II. Trying to ignore Korea and China led to the Korean War. Thinking we could isolate Vietnam-well-we all know what happened in the late 60’s and early 70’s.

Communication, dialogue, trade, embassies, the presence of journalists and tourism has been key ingredients to successful foreign policy. Look at China. When we failed to deal with that nation there was nothing but tension and the threat of war. But now, with Big Mac, Pepsi and a more open communication policy, we have begun to develop an interdependence that, if it grows, will greatly reduce the tensions between our governments. When we ignored Yugoslavia, we had genocide. When we ignored Rwanda, we had genocide. We ignore the Sudan, and again, we have genocide.

For some reason, the U.S. government thinks that we are so important that by ignoring a country or its government, it will go away. If we say we will not trade with them and not talk to them, the world will follow our lead and all will be well. History says otherwise. Policies that tend to put a nation into a corner have never resulted in a positive outcome. On the contrary, problems that may have been nipped in the bud but which were ignored have only resulted in war, poverty, starvation, misery and suffering on an even grander scale.

If a school has a behavior student, the worse thing that can happen is to isolate and ignore that student. Such strategies only lead to greater negative behavior and more trouble for all. But if that student is engaged in a positive way, in many cases the tide is turned and the behavior is ameliorated. We have worked with and traded with many nations whose internal policies were deplorable. And, while their internal actions may border on criminal, at least these nations have not been a threat to world peace. Over time, the infusion of new ideas into these nations has, on occasion, resulted in positive changes for their citizens. Those nations that have been on the receiving end of our rat in a corner policy, however, have done nothing but regress to the dark ages and pose a threat to the peace of all.

The bottom line is that if you do not talk, you will never change anyone’s mind. It is about time that this country took the high road in foreign policy, swallow a little pride, and begin to talk to others. A little short term stepping back just might result in long steps forward. Mr. President, call North Korea and set up a meeting and get the communication ball rolling. Get the rat out of the corner and maybe things will calm down.