This book presents the case for an active,
interventionist American foreign policy in the post-cold war era. The author is
a resident scholar at AEI. A summary of the book follows.
This book is an argument. It is an argument for a certain kind of U.S. foreign policy now that the cold war is behind us. It is an argument for a foreign policy that is engaged, proactive,
interventionist, and expensive--as compared with what others would do.
This argument flies in the face of the shibboleth that America cannot be the world's policeman. In truth, it must be more than that. A policeman gets his assignments from higher
authority. But in the community of nations, there is no higher authority. America is the wealthiest, mightiest, and most respected nation. At times, it must be the policeman or head of the posse--at others, the mediator, teacher, or benefactor. In short, America must accept the role of world's leader.