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As a veteran of the
Iraq War,
Congresswoman Gabbard understands the cost of war and is fighting to create a foreign policy that not only protects America but keeps us out of perpetual wars that we should not be in. |
The only time war is justified is in the
direct, unquestionable life or death defense of our country. Yet, every
Republican presidential candidate believes in the use of force in order to
protect our vital interest, so does Hillary Clinton.
Voting for any Republican presidential candidate,
or Hillary Clinton, is essentially a vote for the perpetuation of America’s
wars . . . more killing, more atrocities, more lives destroyed. The protecting vital
interest phrase is standard rhetoric Presidents use to justify invasions and
military occupations of other countries.
Senator Bernie Sanders is the only
candidate that comes close to being a no war candidate. He says, “As President
and Commander-in-Chief, I will defend this nation, its people, and America’s
vital strategic interests.” The key difference is that Sanders says he will
“defend America’s vital strategic interests,” as opposed to using the word
“protect,” because he believes “The test of a great and powerful nation is not
how many wars it can engage in, but how it can resolve international conflicts
in a peaceful manner. I will move away from a policy of unilateral military
action and regime change, and toward a policy of emphasizing diplomacy, and
ensuring the decision to go to war is a last resort.”
Most of our political leaders use the
phrase. Their rhetoric often includes the need to support the international
community and the world is looking for America’s leadership. The euphemistic
phrase and these inclusions really mean the United States will only achieve its
foreign policy goals by taking a belligerent stance, and will do so despite the
needs of its citizens.
The phrase sounds patriotic. It sounds reasonable.
But, its deceptive phrasing means gaining control of another nation’s resources.
Its sound-good patriotic overtones suck Americans into supporting military
actions without detailing what those vital interests are. So, most Americans
believe the phrase means protecting our freedoms and maintaining our security.
The use of the concept of leadership in
this way is also deceptive because true leadership would be the ability to
bring peaceful outcomes to complex situations. It would be showing true
leadership. It would also show authentic support for the international
community because peaceful outcomes are better than the death and chaos caused
by taking military action. Bernie Sanders is the only candidate who offers the
probability of this kind of leadership.
