Why does US foreign polcy consistently suck?

Question

From the time they bailed out Europe after WW2 everything they have done outside the US seems to have been foolish, shortsighted or self-defeating. Why?

I did not say "bailed out OF Europe". I refer to lease-lend; Marshall Aid and the actual fighting. The point about elected leaders being in the job fo too short a time is a good one, and not exclusive to the US. Perhaps presidents have too much power and four years (eight if re-elected) is insufficient time to take a long view.

jian_x : much of the problems currently existent with terrorism were actually created by the US in their mistaken conflict with the USSR.

Answer 1

Elected leaders have to get re-elected. Which means they have to show tangible results, quickly. 20-year plans don't do much good in 4 (or 2, or 6) when people return to the polls and decide if you get to keep your job or not. Even a 10-year plan with a highly re-electible president runs the risk of handing the keys of success over to the other party.

All in all, though, I'd call it more mediocre than "suck."

Answer 2

Ever hear the phrase you can please some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time. The problem with U.S. foreign policy is we try to help too many people in the world. Not everyone wants our help, but we give it to them anyway.

By the way, we didn't just bail out of Europe after WWII. We were there for a bunch of years in force, and we still have armed forces bases over seas. We never left.

Answer 3

I would have to disagree. I think Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, Carter, Bush I, and Clinton all had excellent foreign policies. Johnson and Bush II have had horrible foreign policies. Reagan, in my opinion, had a mixed policy. Somethings he got right, some things he screwed up pretty bad. Ford wasn't in the White House long enough to have any foreign policy. Basically, it seems that the lower the President's IQ, the worse his foreign policy. Bush II and Johnson are the 2 dumbest of the bunch. They're also both from Texas, but then again, so am I...

Answer 4

There is no permanent US Foreign Policy as such.US policy is the policy of salesman, "if you can sell any thing to me and make a profit we are friends, otherwise enemy."There was no bailing out of Europe after WW2.What happened was Europe became market for American goods.Us funded imports of Europe at the cost of Europe.

Answer 5

Nothing is perfect in this world ... even USA.

Many of USA's foreign policies are a result of the rest of the world being too weak to do anything about a problem.

Answer 6

maximum distant places help is run for the period of the UN and the U. S. is plenty and away the biggest contributor. which you would be able to some quantity, the U. S. has little say-with a view to the place and how "distant places help" is run. That pronounced, why could the U. S. deliver funds to China, a rustic who's an instantaneous competitor and a holder of huge quantities individuals distant places debt!

Answer 7

When seen through the eyes of foolish, shortsighted and self defeating people that is the only conclusion possible.
Thank you Jian X. Your people are quite wonderful also.

Answer 8

I'm Chinese and I don't think it. I think that the USA and the UK are great countries that is fighting against the terrorism. The terrorism is a dangerous problem that not all countries have balls to fight against it except the USA and the UK.

Greetings from China.

Answer 9

Because our government seems to think that minding the world's business is what we do and trying to make the world think that we have endless money to spare in turn they will allow us to have power over them,IT'S NOT WORKING ANYMORE.

Answer 10

It only sucks if you are us - if you are a third world country you get bonus bucks. We are being destroyed by the traitors in DC.