When Should The U.S. Use It's Military To Intervene?

Coalition special operations forces and Afghan soldiers patrol though a valley near near Nawa Garay village in the Kajran district of Afghanistan's Daykundi province, April 3, 2012. The coalition and Afghan forces partnered to conduct operations throughout Daykundi, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Dillon

When To Intervene -- Amitai Etzioni, National Interest

Does the responsibility to protect doctrine allow for the toppling of regimes? A recent Clinton Global Initiative panel discussion refocused the debate about the conditions under which one nation is justified in intervening in the internal affairs of another nation.

Michael Gerson, a George W. Bush speechwriter and Washington Post columnist, made a strong case for intervening only when our national interests are involved. I agreed but argued for an exception, what might be called a moral minimum. I suggested that indeed if our interests are not significantly affected, we should stay out, both because otherwise we undermine the most elementary foundation of the international order—the Westphalian norm—and because once we march in, we tend to leave behind a sociological mess when we finally find an exit. Consider the more than one hundred thousand Iraqis who were killed, and many more wounded, since we liberated Iraq. Add to this the situation in Afghanistan if more convincing is needed.

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My Comment: The road to hell is always paved with good intentions .... a case in point is Somalia. Because of a famine and the iron grip of warlords who were prolonging this genocide .... the U.S decided to intervene. The result was "Black Hawk Down" .... and the quick departure of US forces from the region .... and a conflict in Somalia that exists to even this day.

So what is my take .... I tend to follow the rule that we should only intervene when attacked (or our allies are attacked) .... or when our vital .... and I mean very vital interests are at stake. Otherwise ... stay out of the conflict .... support those in the conflict who support our views .... and minimize our footprint as much as possible.

But that is just my opinion.