Jonathan Hoenig and Wayne Rogers: Regarding Syria, Americans Should Be Selfish

Astonishing as it is that we must argue for the principle that the U.S. military should be deployed exclusively in service of America’s self-interest, we must.

As Craig Biddle explained on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many Americans, including our politicians, advocate a foreign policy that sacrifices American security, wealth, and lives for the sake of others. (As to why so many Americans advocate such a policy, see Biddle’s article.)

Thankfully, though, some outspoken Americans are calling for a policy of self-interest. Jonathan Hoenig and Wayne Rogers (actor, investor, Navy veteran) recently appeared on Fox’s Cashin’ In, and, on the question of whether the United States should enter the Syrian civil war, both men unequivocally and unabashedly advocated a policy of selfishness.

Hoenig said:

Americans, I think, would gladly pay any price, whether its in their lives or their treasure, for American interests. But to sacrifice American kids [and] American treasure for these savage Islamists is . . . treasonous. . . . Our soldiers are not sacrifices; they’re rational, they’re self-interested. And to send them off in any element of harm’s way for al Qaeda’s children I think is criminal.

Rogers added:

Hezbollah is with Assad; we know that. And al Qaeda is with the rebels; we know that. So why not let them shoot each other? We have no selfish interest there to protect.

This is what Americans should be saying to our politicians. This is the kind of policy that makes sense for a country founded to protect its citizens’ rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is the language of a genuinely American policy on the use of military force.

Although Rogers does incorrectly detach selfishness from morality, he is correct to call for a selfish approach to the use of American forces. Thank you, Mr. Hoenig and Mr. Rogers—and please keep speaking the moral truth loudly and clearly.

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Related:

• “No Substitute for Victory”—The Defeat of Islamic Totalitarianism
• On the Anniversary of 9/11, Relativism and Religion Still Paralyze American Self-Defense

Image: Wayne Rogers

About Ari Armstrong

Ari Armstrong blogs at AriArmstrong.com, and he has written for publications including the Denver Post and Complete Colorado. He is the author of Values of Harry Potter: Lessons for Muggles, a book exploring the heroic fight for life-promoting values in the Potter novels.

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