Current U.S. Foreign policy in the Middle East undermines our national security

Merriam- Webster defines the Middle East as "The countries of South West Asia and North West Africa." However this definition does not give mention to the violent conflicts, polar extremes, or the groundbreaking waves of change that truly define this region. America"s involvement and policy in this area has jeopardized our national security on too many occasions. Therefore I affirm today's resolution that "Resolved: Current U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East undermines our national security." To begin, our continued investment of oil in the Middle East has made our nation vunerable. A quote from Ivan Elands newest book "No War For Oil" tells us that To ensure the free flow of oil from the Middle East, the United States maintains military facilities in Oman, Bahrain, and Iraq to name a few"as well as in nearby Egypt and Djibouti. We are putting more than 144 ships and 5 troop divisions into openly hostile territories, and these resources and people do not need to be there. Yet there is another blatantly contradictory problem with our investment in Middle-Eastern oil. We buy and invest in oil from Iran, a country who we are currently attempting to punish economically for making its nuclear program. Essentially we are counter-acting our own defensive policies because of our dependence on oil! More over these people have killed our troops, civilians, and most recently; ambassadors. Perhaps if we showed that we could live without their oil they would be more welcoming of our country. Our dependency on Middle Eastern oil has been a crushing factor of our foreign policy which has undermined our national security. Representative Ron Paul once said "Maybe we ought to consider a Golden Rule in foreign policy: Don't do to other nations what we don't want happening to us. We endlessly bomb these countries and then we wonder why they get upset with us." This is a perfect elaboration of my second contention: our foreign policy has made us many enemies. Our military actions in the Middle East have killed over 150,000 civilians according to the United Kingdom Guardian. Knowing this, it is no surprise to hear in a CNN report that in response there have been no less than 50 attempted terrorist attacks on American soil from the Middle East. Also, last November, 24 innocent Pakistani civilians were accidentally killed by American Airstrikes. To date, Pakistan still believes the attack was deliberate. As a result Pakistan now refuses to end its 6 month blockade of NATO troop supplies meant for Afghanistan. In sum our foreign policy has been seemingly uncaring of civilians, and as a result the people of the Middle East have tried and on many times succeeded in undermining our national security. As I earlier mentioned, the Middle East can be defined by its extremes; both good and bad. It is a place where accidents have consequences. This leads me to my final contention; 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." Perhaps the most influential blowback is the fact that unstable nations have stolen our weapons and technology. Last December Iran 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 affect Iran"s nuclear program. Shortly after a twin virus called the flame was launched on the Middle East, bearing an identical resemblance to the Stuxnet virus. Someone had stolen our virus, and used it for themselves. Couldn't"t they use the virus on us? Our foreign policy has brought technology into the wrong hands where it can now be used to undermine our national security. I have worked out a possible alternative foreign policy. In this we cut back on our dependence for Middle Eastern oil, we treat those who dislike us with kindness while we do not put ourselves in their harms way. Finally we support those who support us or want our help. To do this would make our nation secure again, sound again, and strong again. As to do this" progress must be made-- therefore affirm today's resolution that "Resolved: Current U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East undermines our national security."