Boom 040117

There is a well-established foreign affairs ploy of governments faced with domestic unrest or low ratings in national polls.  The ploy is used not only by totalitarian regimes but also by supposedly democratic governments.  It works on an ounce of truth and tons of lies that creates and demonizes a foreign "enemy."  Alternate facts are widely broadcast to suppress immediate popular decent, leaving the real facts to be dug out by scholars 50 to 100 year in the future after the responsible participants have passed on.

The Lincoln administration attempted to generate another war with Mexico with the expectation that both North and South would rally around and forget their differences.  Mexico was a likely target; the United States had already fought two wars and taken half of the country.  Mexico was expected to be an easy victory that could satisfy the north's business interest and the south's quest for honor.  Fortunately for Mexico the government procrastinated, unfortunately for the United States which erupted into its bloodiest war.  North/South animosity lingers on only moderated somewhat by WWII's amalgamating the two in single formations.

France repeatedly went to war to "save" French Catholic missionaries, while the British "protected" Protestant missionaries.   Often the missionaries were surprised that they needed to be protected or saved but were happy to serve the home countries' colonial land grabs.  Not to be left out the United States demonized weakling Spain to seize its own foreign empire.  The Wilson administration again invaded Mexico to divert attention from the Great War in Europe.  Between the two World Wars the United States fought demons in Central America and its overseas empire.

After World War Two there emerged only two demons the Soviets and the Americans (depending on perspective) who fought a series of proxy wars around the globe mostly in Africa and Asia but also in South America.  John Foster Dulles foreign policy was, "If you aren't for us you are against us," as some nations attempted to stay out of the great power struggle.  After almost three-quarters of a century as the targets of demonization there should be no surprise at wide spread distrust of great power intentions.  The little countries will smile at U.S. largest but they count their fingers after every gift and still go their own way.

For the foreign demon ploy to appease domestic turmoil there must be a credible demon and a clear goal that is achievable.  There have been more long-term failures than victories utilizing this ploy.  The classic failure would be Hitler's invasion of little Poland that touched off wide spread destruction and changed the world forever. 

Before utilizing the ploy to distract from government's domestic difficulties administrations should have clear, attainable goals. It should consider future potential effects and remember that it makes its own enemies, who have very long memories.  It may also fail in its political objective of distracting domestic unrest.  The question is who is the target.  Is it the generated foreign threat, the domestic turmoil or the administrations own inability to govern?