Not a time for isolationism

The U.S. has embarked on its interminable presidential election campaign. Several of the leading candidates are openly campaigning for a new U.S. isolationism. This is a dangerous trend. President Clinton and his anointed successor are right to oppose it actively.

There is a thread of United States-first that has veered dangerously into isolationism in the ceaseless American presidential political campaign. The right wing of the U.S. mainstream has always treaded dangerously close to abdication of responsibility in world affairs.

Now members of the far right of the Republican Party are openly supporting isolationist policies. The most disturbing sign of all is the opposition of George W. Bush Jr. to the nuclear test ban treaty.

President Clinton has condemned the Republican leaders in Congress, Governor Bush and others. He calls them "the new isolationists".

The new isolationists are mainstream members of the Republican Party, the United States's version of a conservative party. The isolationists lie at the right wing of Republicanism. There is no doubt that many Americans support isolationism. The right-wing Republicans represent, and pander to these United States- firsters.

While their political principles shift over time, the isolationists basically oppose any active American activity or leadership role overseas. They opposed, for example, U.S. participation in the Gulf war.

It is bad enough that last October the new isolationists gathered enough votes to prevent the test ban treaty from being ratified. This ill-considered and even dangerous act threatened American leadership abroad like no other issue since the Vietnam war. While Mr. Clinton's administration and many sane Americans preached nonproliferation to the world, the U.S. Senate's isolationists stopped the United States from doing its part to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

American policy and leadership are vital issues to Thailand and our region -- and to most of the world. If the only surviving superpower is truly about to forsake its responsibilities, it is a matter of deep concern. It seems absurd that any major U.S. politician would oppose a deeply significant and symbolic step toward peace as the nuclear test ban. The presidential debate should make it clear which way the United States will go.

-- The Bangkok Post