'Another Great Debate'

Morgenthaus article ‘Another Great Debate’ is an effort to separate morality from power politics. He classifies interests into three categories namely sub national, other national and supranational. These three subsequently influence the national interest. Problematically the term ‘national interest’, can often only be representative of a small section of society for example those in power or important interest groups and lobbies. It is said that history is written by the victors and this has been a common theme throughout the echelons of time. Even those in more powerful positions possess the ability to shape the rhetoric and craft self serving truths. The most recent and blatant example of this was witnessed in the United States foreign policy regarding the confrontation between Israel and Palestine. Usually the first to speak up when atrocities were being carried out in the world, the United States decided to close it eyes as Palestinians were slaughtered and bombarded by Israel. US media coverage focused almost exclusively on the paltry number of Israeli soldiers killed and defended the almost genocidal killing of Palestinians with the phrase, “Israel has the right to defend itself.” Morality therefore is only a part of foreign policy when it is it the national interest for it to be so, otherwise it can be shunned and atrocities can be packaged to look morally acceptable. If it suited the United States then countries could be labeled as dangerous and their leaders could be painted as bloodthirsty dictators to garner both national and global support in the event that the hegemon decided to take action against the so called threat. Thus the actual motives such as oil for example can conveniently be veiled, a policy which the United States has often employed over the years with varying success.