Non Intervention Quotes
Inscribed in the John Adams Building of the Library of Congress. On this subject Jefferson was in agreement with George Washington {37176} and his political opponent, John Adams {592705}.
This quotation as such has not been found in Jefferson's writings, but it is entirely consistent with Jefferson's philosophy and practice
There was a major revolution ongoing in Syria with different Arab Muslim factions slaughtering each other. The government side was particularly vicious shelling and using poison gas unarmed civilian enclaves in areas where the regime was not popular. Many nations called for humanitarian intervention. Netanyahu opposed any interventions while other politicians like President and former prime minister Shimon Peres disagreed and thought that Israel and other nations should intervene on humanitarian grounds and prevent the Assad government from butchering its own non-combatant civilians.
Dulles lied to Congress. The CIA at the time was supplying planes and American pilots in support of an anti-Sukarno Government faction that was in armed revolt. It is not clear whether or not Dulles knew the truth when he had so testified.
Paul tended to be one of the very few Republicans who did not favor American intervention in Syria.
England is entering the war against Germany The German war plan called for attacking France through Belgium. However, Belgium was intent on remaining neutral. International law prohibited a neutral country from allowing troops of either side to enter and maneuver in its territory. ({642178}). When Germany moved into Belgium, the Belgians resisted. England had a treaty with Belgium that it would protect Belgian neutrality in the event of any war in Europe. England then sided with Belgium {642175} and committed to send troops to help Belgium oust the Germans. The Kaiser was furious and could not understand that the English would go to war when there was no economic need or advantage for them to do so. Wilhelm II did not have much respect for treaties, promises, or honor other than military honor. He had earlier convinced himself that the English would not fight for a scrap of paper, especially in a land war. {642105}
No military alliances has been a tradition in American politics which broke down and changed in our allied effort in WWI. Harding and the Republicans of his day, wanted to reestablish that principle of American Foreign policy. They succeeded, but WWII and its Cold War aftermath made a major change in U. S. policy on this point, and NATO was not only a major permanent military alliance, but lasted well beyond the fall of the Soviet Union. America and our NATO allies were so pleased with the benefits of a permanent military alliance, that they preserved it by looking hard for missions that it could take on rather than dissolve NATO.
