The dichotomy or the dilemma that the United States has been facing in the recent times in dealing with external and its own internal problems has been clearly visible. While the state of current affairs has been changing across the world at a rapid pace, the United States has been besotted with internal problems. Increased threat of terrorism and problems related to gun massacres that has prompted the president to bring about curbs on the liberal sales of arms are just a few examples of issues affecting the United States.
The question is, why? The United States has been on the list of highly developed nations for a long time, and still is the most powerful nation despite all its internal and external issues. In trying to play the role of a big brother and sorting out the messes around the world, while maintaining its superiority, it has gotten enmeshed in external issues, and that may be a cause of some of its external problems and threats.
It has also invested heavily in projects worldwide, especially in underdeveloped countries, which has fueled the growth of such economies. Some of the examples are technology, manufacturing, arts and culture, and information technology. While the returns that the United States may be getting out of it is a question mark, it has nevertheless been extremely beneficial for such economies. It may have resulted in an overspend that the United States may not be able to reclaim in the near future given the fact that success of such investments have been under a scanner. This is despite complete backing of the United States, adequate funding and know-how transfer.
The United States has been trying to play a brave heart at sorting out and mediating in the issues across the world, but its pressing internal needs have clearly taken its focus back home. This is visible in the recent Pathankot attack by terrorists, where, while the experts shared their knowledge in pinpointing the outfit based on the type of attack, its agencies have given halfhearted statements at dealing or mediating in the act. Despite the Indian government pointing out how Pakistan buries the investigation of such attacks for the lack of timely evidence, the United States’ intervention and interest has been lackadaisical.
There is no denying that the United States still ranks as one of the highly developed and powerful nations. However, it needs to do some soul-searching on what it should be focusing on, what should be its priorities internally and externally, and how much of external affairs it can manage or take down the throat without causing any collateral damage to itself. It may need to revise its role in managing external affairs and get its own house in order before it takes up issues worldwide.