Our foreign policy was in the spotlight last week, which is
exactly where it should be. Almost two years ago many voters elected
someone they thought would lead us to a more peaceful, rational
co-existence with other countries. However, while attention has been
focused on the administration's disastrous economic policies, its
equally disastrous foreign policies have exacerbated our problems
overseas. Especially in times of economic crisis, we cannot afford to
ignore costly foreign policy mistakes. That's why it is important that
U.S. foreign policy receive some much needed attention in the media, as
it did last week with the leaked documents scandal.


Many are saying that the Wikileaks documents tell us nothing new. In
some ways this is true. Most Americans knew that we have been fighting
losing battles. These documents show just how bad it really is. The
revelation that Pakistani intelligence is assisting the people we are
bombing in Afghanistan shows the quality of friends we are making with
our foreign policy. This kind of thing supports points that Rep. Dennis
Kucinich and I tried to make on the House floor last week with a
privileged resolution that would have directed the administration to
remove troops from Pakistan pursuant to the War Powers Resolution.


We are not at war with Pakistan. Congress has made no declaration of
war. (Actually, we made no declaration of war on Iraq or Afghanistan
either, but that is another matter.) Yet we have troops in Pakistan
engaging in hostile activities, conducting drone attacks and killing
people. We sometimes manage to kill someone who has been identified as
an enemy, yet we also kill about 10 civilians for every 1 of those.
Pakistani civilians are angered by this, yet their leadership is
mollified by our billions in bribe money. We just passed an
appropriations bill that will send another $7.5 billion to Pakistan.
One wonders how much of this money will end up helping the Taliban.
This whole operation is clearly counterproductive, inappropriate,
immoral and every American who values the rule of law should be
outraged. Yet these activities are being done so quietly that most
Americans, as well as most members of the House, don't even know about
them.


We should follow constitutional protocol when going to war. It is there
for a reason. If we are legitimately attacked, it is the job of
Congress to declare war. We then fight the war, win it and come home.
War should be efficient, decisive and rare. However, when Congress
shirks its duty and just gives the administration whatever it wants with
no real oversight or meaningful debate, wars are never-ending,
wasteful, and political. Our so-called wars have become a perpetual
drain on our economy and liberty.


The founders knew that heads of state are far too eager to engage in
military conflicts. That is why they entrusted the power to go to war
with the deliberative body closest to the people -- the Congress.
Decisions to go to war need to be supported by the people. War should
not be covert or casual. We absolutely should not be paying off leaders
of a country while killing their civilians without expecting to create a
lot of new problems. This is not what America is supposed to be about.

Also by Ron Paul:
On the Bloated Intelligence Bureaucracy 07/27/10
When There is No Rule of Law 07/20/10
Funding Corruption and Waste in Afghanistan 07/13/10
More Power for the Fed 07/09/10
The War That's Not a War 07/05/10
View all 82 articles by Ron Paul