Corridors of Power: Should America Police the World?
This is the title of a new eight-part series which has just completed broadcasting on the BBC and is now available of the BBC’s iPlayer. An impressive array of senior figures speak with knowledge, candour and regret, making this one of the very best documentaries on global politics that I’ve ever seen.
It looks at a succession of international crises, where mass casualties were involved, and considers what happened when the international community – most notably the USA – did or did not intervene: Iraq, Bosnia, Rwanda, Kosovo, Darfur, Libya and Syria.
Huge humanitarian, military and political issues are involved and there are never any simple options or answers. Intervention can have consequences which make matters worse (think of the invasion of Iraq). Non-intervention can lead to mass slaughter (think of the genocide in Rwanda). Even when there is a measure of success, there are massive complications (think of Kosovo). All decisions involve major uncertainties and unanticipated consequences.
I believe in principle that there are times when we should support liberal intervention by other nations in a nation state’s internal affairs. Such occasions are where mass loss of life is threatened or happening and, in those limited circumstances, the United States, ideally acting with UN authorisation and with allied support, is best equipped to make such intersessions. But clear objectives, skilled execution and a plan for ‘the day after’ are all vitally necessary.
There will never be a wholly successful action, but it is honourable to do all that one practically can to make a global crisis a bit better and to save some lives.