Rogue Nation Book

The term "rogue nation," formerly reserved for outlaw countries, is increasingly being applied to the United States - not only by enemies but by people who have been steadfast friends. In the six months before 9/11, the United States walked away from a treaty to control the world traffic in small arms, Biological and Toxins Weapons Convention, and other agreements. After a brief flurry of coalition-building after the attack, the United States turned a cold shoulder to NATO's offers to assist with the invasion of Afghanistan, unilaterally terminated the Anti-Ballistic Missile Agreement with Russia, and actively opposed the creation of an International Criminal Court. Then came the war on Iraq, despite the clear refusal of the United Nations Security Council to authorize an invasion. Unilateralism is as American as apple pie, and in Prestowitz's view, these actions do not signal a new U.S. hostility toward the rest of the world. We are not a rogue nation in the sense that, say, Libya was in the 1980s. On the contrary, our democratic ideals remain the hope of the world-but our allies increasingly see us as abandoning those ideals. Where we once defined our national self-interest in terms the whole world could embrace - favoring strong global institutions, due process, and the rule of law - we now seem to be thinking more narrowly in terms of our immediate military and economic security. Where we once contained our foes, we now launch preventive attacks on potential threats. Rogue Nation is not an argument against American dominance or the exercise of American power. It's an argument against stupidity, arrogance and ignorance in the exercise of power. Prestowitz explores the historical roots of the unilateral impulse and shows how it now influences every important area of American foreign policy. In every area, he argues, a multilateral approach, consistent with our humane and liberal core values, is also in our long-term best interests.Read More