Foreign Policy, Defense, & Terrorism

“The very purpose of Government”, as defined in the 2nd paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, is: “to secure these [unalienable] rights, Governments are instituted among Men … that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

 

To fulfill this obligation, the Preamble of the Constitution states one of the duties specifically delegated to the Federal Government is to: “Provide for the common defense”.

 

US Constitution, Article 1, Section 8, Clauses 11 – 16 give Congress further direction and authority in this area, including the power “To raise and support Armies” and “To provide and maintain a Navy”.

 

In regards to foreign policy, the founding fathers advocated a non-interventionist foreign policy. This is evidenced in many of the founders’ famous addresses.

Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address

“I deem [one of] the essential principles of our government, and consequently [one] which ought to shape its administration…peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.”

 

George Washington, Farewell Address (1796)

“Europe has a set of primary interests, which have to us none, or very remote relation. Hence, she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collusions of her friendships or enmities.”

“Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?”

 

John Quincy Adams, Speech Delivered in Washington DC (July 4, 1821)

“America has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when the conflict has been for principles to which she clings…She goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.”

 

James Monroe, Monroe Doctrine

“In the wars of European powers in matters relating to themselves we have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy so to do…Our policy in regard to Europe…is, not to interfere in the internal concerns of any of its powers…” 

When wars are necessary, there is a prescribed protocol in the Constitution.

 

Article 4, Section 4 states that:

“The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion”

 

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11:

“The people of the states empower the Congress to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal; and make rules (laws) concerning captures on land and water:”

 

It is a primary obligation of the federal government to provide for the common defense, and to be vigilant regarding potential threats, prospective capabilities, and perceived intentions of potential enemies.

We oppose unilateral disarmament and dismemberment of America’s defense infrastructure. That which is hastily torn down will not be easily rebuilt.

We condemn the presidential assumption of authority to deploy American troops into combat without a declaration of war by Congress, pursuant to Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

We should be the friend of liberty everywhere, but the guarantor and provisioner of ours alone.

We call for the maintenance of a strong, state-of-the-art military on land, sea, in the air, and in space. We urge the executive and legislative branches to continue to provide for the modernization of our armed forces, in keeping with advancing technologies and a constantly changing world situation. We call for the deployment of a fully-operational strategic defense system as soon as possible.

We believe that all defense expenditures should be directly related to the protection of our nation, and that every item of expenditure must be carefully reviewed to eliminate foreign aid, waste, fraud, theft, inefficiency, and excess profits from all defense contracts and military expenditures.

We fully support well-regulated militias organized at the state level. Further, we fully support and encourage the restoration of unorganized militia at the county and community level in compliance with our patriotic and legal responsibilities as free citizens of the United States.

The Constitution Party steadfastly opposes American participation in any form of world government organization, including any world court under United Nations auspices.

Since World War II, the United States has been involved in tragic, unconstitutional, undeclared wars which cost our country the lives of many thousands of young Americans. These wars were the direct and foreseeable result of the bi-partisan interventionist policy of both Democrat and Republican administrations.

The Constitution Party is opposed to the continuation of the same interventionist policy, with that policy’s capacity to involve our country in repeated wars.

We demand that never again shall United States troops be employed on any foreign field of battle without a declaration of war by Congress, as required by the United States Constitution;

Congress refuses to fund unconstitutional, undeclared wars pursuant to presidential whim or international obligations under which American sovereignty has been transferred to multi-national agencies.

The Constitution Party has consistently opposed American involvement in conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Central and South America. The United States has no interest in these areas which would justify the sacrifice of Americans on foreign battlefields – nor is our country properly cast as a merchant of death in international arms races.

We propose that the United States cease financing, or arming of belligerents in the world’s troubled areas.

We support the principle of the Monroe Doctrine, which expresses U.S. opposition to European adventurism in the Western Hemisphere.

We call upon the Congress to immediately terminate American military presence in all foreign countries where such U.S. presence constitutes an invitation for this nation to become involved in, or further participate in, foreign wars.

Since World War II, the United States has engaged in the greatest international giveaway program ever conceived by man, and is now spending billions of dollars each year to aid foreign nations. There is no constitutional basis for foreign aid. These expenditures have won us no friends, and constitute a major drain on the resources of our taxpayers. Therefore, we demand that no further funds be appropriated for any kind of foreign aid program.

As mentioned in the Immigration plank of the Constitution Party platform, defending our borders from invasion is indispensable to protecting our nation from terrorist threats.