Foreign and Defense Policy

1
Foreign and Defense Policy

• Supplemental Lecture

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The vast majority of foreign policy decisions are
made by the president and his advisors

• Other actors can influence foreign policy
• The public
• Can voice support for or opposition to specific
  policies (Vietnam, Persian Gulf War)
• Certain groups play a strong role in relations
  with a specific country or region (Cuba, Israel)

3
Other actors can influence foreign policy

• Congress
• Budget, incl. military, foreign aid, etc.
• Tries to get the president to include it in
  important decisions
• Individual members of Congress can get involved
  in specific foreign policy issues (Richard Lugar,
  R-IN)

4
Other actors can influence foreign policy

• Businesses have often convinced the government to
  intervene in other countries to protect the
  interests of that specific company
• Chile/ALCOA
• Guatemala/Dole

5
Other actors can influence foreign policy

• Military-industrial complex
• Military establishment, weapons manufacturers,
  some members of Congress
• Support high level of defense spending,
  regardless of the objective security needs of the
  US
• Claim that spending on the military creates jobs
  (but it actually hurts the economy)

6
Defense PolicyThe US military is prepared for 6
types of military actions

• Unlimited nuclear warfare (Cold War) - US and
  Russia have reduced their nuclear stockpiles and
  their level of readiness
• Limited nuclear war use of a small number of
  nukes in an otherwise conventional war, or the
  use of a small number of nukes by themselves

7
Defense PolicyThe US military is prepared for 6
types of military actions

• Unlimited conventional warfare prolonged,
  large-scale war on several fronts
• Limited conventional warfare designed to be
  quick and decisive
• US military plans to fight and win two
  simultaneous regional conflicts

8
Defense PolicyThe US military is prepared for 6
types of military actions

• Guerilla warfare (counterinsurgency)
• Police-type actions peacekeeping, fighting drug
  trafficking, maintaining order, providing
  training

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Types of Weaponry

• Conventional
• Nuclear
• Large land-based missiles, submarine-based
  missiles, delivered by airplane
• Small land-mines, artillery shells, etc.
• Chemical biological weapons