The United States has a rich history of holding an immense amount of international influence. Today such influence continues as the current administration works to dictate and manipulate the changing political tides of the Middle East.

Founding father and first president George Washington said “the great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.” This idea was completely abandoned after World War II, when the U.S. rose at a dominant global power willing to extend power at the mercy of its own ideals and interests. Since then Western colonialism has trampled across continents.

Yet, the U.S. is a country of freedom, opportunity, and, most importantly, of peace and respect. So should we not abide by such ideals when dealing outside our borders? The foundation for a reasonable and sound foreign policy begins by building positive relationships, with an emphasis on free trade, while avoiding negative relationships, with an emphasis on military non-intervention.

Some groups fear that such an approach would lead organized terrorism to victory. Having a large military and global influence entices terrorist attacks rather than deterring them. But in fact, one could argue that Osama bin Laden’s Sep. 11 attacks was a means of causing the United States to react in a way that would put the nation in great peril economically. Such an illusion is rapidly becoming a reality as the cracks of the crumbling U.S. economy widen.

A demand by the American people is growing for our government to focus on domestic defense and the needs of the American people rather than those pertaining to the rest of the world. In order to rectify this situation and prevent further conflict, we need to move out of the Middle East entirely. Cutting military spending will combat the economic crisis, while bringing the military back to domestic soil will entrust younger generations with a safe future full of opportunity and prosperity.

In addition, all government-to-government aid must stop and we must refrain from attempting to alter the political structures of individual countries’. This plan will rectify the conflicting views towards American presence being expressed by the people of the Middle East. While 54 percent of Libyans approve of U.S. presence in Libya, 82 percent of Egyptians refuse U.S. economic aid. In addition, $800 million per year is given to Israel, thereby, increasingly causing tension between the U.S. and various Arab nations.

Our government must stop provoking enemies and instead foster friendships. The riots sweeping the East are aimed at deterring totalitarian rule. The U.S. cannot act as surrogate rulers nor be compelled to colonize the area. These tactics failed miserably during the Iraq war, creating only more upheaval and unrest in the region. The bloodshed of the innocent at the hands of the American government must end and peace must prevail, for Americans demand it.