A Republic, Not an Empire, by Pat Buchanan


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BOOK REVIEW by OnTheIssues.org:

This is Pat Buchanan's best work. It was written in 1999, in the lead-up to Pat Buchanan's entrance into the 2000 presidential race, and focuses on his policy concept that the United States should act like a Republic (i.e., responsive to the people) rather than an Empire (i.e., against adventurism abroad).

Here's an example of some really good policy analysis along those lines, regarding whether a foreign country should develop nuclear weapons. Apply this logic to Pakistan's and North Korea's decision to join the nuclear club, and to Iran's current decision, and you'll see Buchanan's insight into how non-Americans think (From pp. 351-2):

This book represents what Pat Buchanan COULD be, but he turned down the dark road of racism in several later books, culminating in a fully racist screed, Suicide of a Superpower, in 2011. We like the old Pat Buchanan from this book; we recommend you read this one, and then stop reading his books after 2007.

-- Jesse Gordon, OnTheIssues editor-in-chief, Jan. 2008, updated July 2012

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Energy & Oil     Energy independence by developing Caspian pipelines.     Explore ANWR; reconsider nuclear power & oil import fee.

Foreign Policy     East Europe: Focus on democracy instead of expanding NATO.     Base alliances on their view of US; not on democracy status.     Russia: Stop humiliation now to avoid a 21st century war.     Poland: NATO membership implies nuclear defense.     Independence, not isolationism.     Manifest Destiny OK; Imperialism is not.     Pre-WWI US wasn’t isolationist; but expansionist.     US should have re-armed in 1930s when Japan invaded China.     War guarantees to Poland kept Hitler from attacking USSR.     Hitler was no threat to US; sought mastery of Europe only.     FDR forced Japan to attack US as back door to WWII.     Globalist Elites have not yielded their empire.     Latin America: Support Monroe Doctrine but exit Rio Pact.     Quebec: Offer seceding provinces alliances or statehood.     Cuba: US interest is peaceful transfer of power after Castro.     Puerto Rico: No statehood; eventual independence.     Truculent but contained China is no threat.     Dissolve Asian security treaties, they’ll defend themselves.     Support Free Asia with materiel but no troops.     Don’t aggravate Beijing, but don’t appease.     Supporting role only in case of Chinese attacks.     Korea: Replace US troops with Koreans.     Japan: share burdens(defense) & benefits(trade) equitably.     Russia: Offer EU membership instead of encirclement.

Free Trade     “Good for global business” isn’t necessarily good for US.     Impose tariffs on China; end World Bank loans.

Homeland Security     US hegemony will backfire to create a less secure world.     Stalin & USSR caused Cold War; not Truman & US.     NATO was conceived as a temporary alliance.     We lost Vietnam because we fought on THEIR terms.     US never committed to Vietnam victory; as Great Power must.     No Pax Americana for post-Cold War.     New World Order ties down US without vital interests.     Soldiers volunteer to defend US, not UN.     Annex Greenland.     UK, France, & Germany should defend Europe.     Transfer NATO Army to Germany & Navy to France.

Immigration     Limit immigration to 250,000 per year.

Principles & Values     Original “America First” in 1940s to keep US out of WWII.

War & Peace     We attacked Yugoslav territory without Congress’ approval.     Kuwait: using force on Iraq was a non-vital imperial burden.     Kuwait War benefited Iran; not US.     Iran & Iraq: Abandon dual containment strategy.     Israel: Provide for self-defense, but concede land for peace.     Palestine: a flag, a land, a capital in Jerusalem.     Balkans: Let Europe police their own backyard.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Pat Buchanan