19th Annual Ethics Essay Contest Prompt: U.S. Involvement in the Middle East
Since the 9/11 attack in 2001, the United States has waged a "War on Terror" that
has cost over $1 trillion in spending, the loss of 130,000 Iraqi and Afghan civilian lives,
and the deaths of more than 6,000 American servicemen and women. Mr. President, may
I suggest an end to U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan? It is concerning this
involvement in Middle Eastern affairs that various ethical considerations MUST be
addressed. Not only have thousands of innocent civilians lost their lives in the crossfire
between U.S. military and terrorist forces, but U.S. servicemen and women are being
killed as well. Not only are families in Iraq and Afghanistan weeping for lost loved ones,
but families in America are experiencing the pain as well in the form of dead family
members, friends, and spouses. In addition, the phenomenon known as PTSD (Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder) is rampant in returning service members who often
experience nightmares, uncontrollable anger, self-destructive behavior (such as
alcohol/drugs), and a host of other psychological problems that sometimes tragically
result in suicide. Also, not to mention the enormous cost of both the conflicts in Iraq and
Afghanistan, amounting to more than $1 trillion in spending, and adding increased
pressure in the buckling American economy.
Are broken families both at home and abroad worth it? Not to mention the tens of
thousands of lives it has cost? We must realize that the future of this country should not
be that of a worldwide police force. Though the concept is chivalrous and a seemingly
ethical thing to do, in actuality it is just as terrible as actual war. Though we may enter
another country under pretense of ousting a dictatorial power terrorizing and controlling
it's citizens, the cost is as high as war. In the ensuing struggle, the U.S. military topples
the regime, yet still at the cost of hundreds, possibly thousands of U.S. lives, in addition
to countless civilian as well. However, the U.S. military eventually wrestles control, and
order is restored to the region and a true government by the people is formed. Though
true, nothing is achieved as (in Iraq and Afghanistan) rebel forces still target both U.S.
military and civilian personnel, and though order is "established" the conflict continues
indefinitely. This was especially the case in Iraq where Hussein's regime was toppled, yet
more individuals were killed in the ensuing years following "victory" than during the
actual fighting. It's a vicious cycle, and even the constant presence of the U.S. military
will never be enough to deter conflict in such regions. Therefore, it is in my opinion that
the United States should cease all military involvement in Middle Eastern affairs. The
countries that our military becomes involved in need to progress on their own. Europe
did, and so did we; no good will come by forcing change upon a country, even if it is for
the cause of "good."
In short, it is my belief that we, as a nation, should no longer be involved in any
conflicts in the Middle East. From an ethical perspective, withdrawing all combat units
completely and maintaining a "hands-off" policy is what we must do. In replacement of
combat units, we should instead send aid workers, men and women whose job is to help
the people of the nation in question and aid them in developing a self-sustainable country.
Such an undertaking would truly be an ethical action with no lives lost on either side and
only the sweet fruits brought about by the labor of aid workers. There will no longer be
any costly invasions, no more American lives lost, and no more broken families.
Additionally, the people within the disputed territories will have the ability to naturally
progress on their own rather than relying on foreign intervention that not only costs them
many lives but also deprives them of their ability to maintain their own country and forge
their own path in this world. To resolve this issue, I would call upon fellow citizens and
even members of the armed forces to adopt and spread the ideal of non-intervention by
the United States Military in foreign conflicts unless solely for purposes of aid and postconflict recovery. In doing so, we will have not only averted the deaths of our own
service members and those of the country occupied as well, but we will also be able to
focus on our own country and deal with problems we face domestically and not just those
abroad. That, is what I believe to be both morally and ethically the correct decision.