A Lesson from History

A Lesson from History

(203:15)

1994 11-12 November-December 30 A Lesson from History (226)

In his speech on October 5, 1991, George Bush, the former American President said:

“One cannot separate foreign policy and military issues from economic growth and reform. The world has seen only too clearly the immense costs of over-armed, aggressive states such as Iraq. It has also seen how excessive focus upon projecting politico-military power and neglecting the economy has badly, perhaps permanently damaged the USSR.”

In the present world at times it becomes a matter of necessity to use force. But the use of force should be resorted to only when absolutely necessary, and then only temporarily. Excessive focus upon accumulating military power is useful neither for individuals nor for nations; neither for minipowers nor for superpowers.

No one is powerful enough to keep pace with both targets of economic progress and military power at the same time. Spending more resources on military power is always at the cost of neglecting the front of economic progress. Such a policy inevitably brings dangerous results, examples of which can be found in both distant and recent history.

Peace should form the general policy and war should only be an exception. The best and most correct policy for any individual or nation is to set matters right in all dealings with others through peaceful means. The way of clash and confrontation should be adopted only occasionally in emergencies.