Consistent, Individual Engagement With Other Countries Is Key To U.S. Success

Setting up a country for economic success with the right support structures is an important part of U.S. global engagement, and although these efforts take time, the United States is a beacon in the world and stands for what is right, said PIPS Vice President of Strategy and Planning Dave Reist in an interview with Russian Television. 

RT America, an English language Russian network, was covering a poll of 65 countries that discussed the U.S. role in peace and war, based on 2013 being a deadly year in Iraq.  Even though the majority of people polled criticized the U.S. for its global actions, the majority also said the United States is the country they would prefer to live in.

Asked if the United States was to blame for the continued violence in Iraq, Reist, a retired U.S. Marine Corp brigadier general who spent 1 1/2 years in Iraq's Anbar province, said that not having the right structures for better economic success caused an issue, and because power brokers inside of Iraq did not have the right oversight from Iraqi or U.S. forces, the situation was likely to deteriorate.  Add to that the fact the Middle East is going through a tumultuous time, and there are many causes for problems in Iraq.  The U.S. engages based on political will, Reist stated.

What the U.S. stands for will manifest itself across time, Reist reinforced, and that bears out by the high numbers of people who want to live in the United States, despite criticism of its foreign policy.  Additionally, the world sees and hears debate about issues  and disagreements in the United States because of free speech, which not every country enjoys.

Despite criticism of its activities, the United States doesn't waiver from policies and issues, and consistency in foreign policy takes time and effort, Reist emphasized.  

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