US Foreign Policy in the Middle East Undermines our National Security

Current U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East undermines our National Security Resolved: The current U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East undermines our national security. I stand on firm AFFIRMATION of this resolution. I would first like to stat by defining a few words from the resolution. The National Security Strategy, released May 27, 2010, lays out a strategic approach for advancing American interests, including the security of the American people, a growing U.S. economy, support for our values, and an international order that can address 21st century challenges. Also, the definition of undermine is to weaken or ruin by degrees. Using these definitions, I will elaborate my points and show you how there is no other ballot but for the affirmative. My first point is that Oil in the Middle East has been the cause of some major terrorist attacks. We must all ask the question: If there were no oil in the Middle East, would we be so concerned with the region? Terror attacks that have been carried out to date on the oil infrastructure have clearly caught oil producers unprepared. For example, al-Qaeda"s February 24, 2005, attack on the Aramco facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, sent shock waves through the world"s financial markets all over the globe- not just the united states. This is especially not good for us because our national security is being threatened because of the war on oil. Adding on to my first point, on the same day that Al-Qaeda attacked the facility in Saudi Arabia, the price of oil on international markets jumped nearly $2; despite the attack"s complete failure (the terrorists and two security guards were killed.) Oil is a BIG part of our nation, no one can deny that. About 139,100,000,000 dollars worth of oil come from the Middle East per week. Within the past few weeks, the exportation of oil has become much, much harder- leading to prices going up. Recently, barrels of oil rose to 100$ per barrel. This can be seen when you look at our gas prices, which are at an average of 3.62 (10/23/12 Marylandgasprices.com). Whether you may think so or not, everything in our great country of America depends on gas prices. When gas prices go up, cost of shipping goes up- grocery stores, or any other store who gets products sent to them are raised. Our whole country will go into a state of inflation. This is not good at all.. How are raising prices good for our economy? If there wasn"t so much oil in the Middle East, then we would have no concern with the Middle East at all. My possible alternative solution is to get OUT of the Middle East and start using our refining our OWN oil. Gas prices will go down because we don"t have to pay to ship it over here. Isn"t that what everyone wants? For my third point, coming away from oil, the Middle East is dangerous. This leads me to my final point; Our foreign policy has led to various accidents, or "Blow-backs," a term which is defined by Merriam-Webster as "unforeseen and unwanted effects, results, or sets of repercussions." The biggest blowback suffered is the fact that dangerous nations in the Middle East have stolen our weapons and technology, such as drones. Last December, Iran (One of the most unstable countries out there) captured one of our drones. They have refused to return it which has made many worry about the fact that weapons in the wrong hands could do considerable damage. In 2009 we invented the Stuxnet virus, which was used to break into Iran"s nuclear program. Iran, at this point, has no need for nuclear weapons and we fear that if they receive the technology for it then Iran will use it against us to destroy us; therefore, undermining our national security. Shortly after a twin virus called the Flame was launched on the Middle East, having an identical resemblance to the Stuxnet virus. A country in the Middle East stole our virus and is going to use the technology against us. Our current foreign policy has brought technology into the wrong hands where it can now be used to undermine our national security. The U.S. trying to help our own country is only bringing us down. In conclusion, oil is a major problem when it comes to the Middle East, terrorist attacks have been made against our country since we started relying on the Middle East for oil, and the United States has suffered many blow-backs because of our relations with the Middle East. Clearly this is the wrong way to turn our country and we should no longer be involved with the Middle East. I see no other ballot but for the affirmation.