..the inference drawn here is that since there are no inherent rules (or 'guiding principles') in the international system, states act upon their natural predatory instincts in order to prove the 'initial impetus' for conflict, and therefore the states that are preyed upon must respond to the predator by defending themselves, or indeed counterattacking them." (2007)
The realist view is such that holds that the outbreak of conflict is supported alone by domestic policies and predatory practices." (Banuri, 2007)
Garib (2003) writes in the work entitled: "Realism and Liberalism Reconsidered in Post 9/11 American Foreign Policy" that while the liberalism of former President George W. Bush is "ostensibly present in the National Security Council's 2002 National Security Strategy, which speaks of America crating 'a balance of power that favors human freedom' and of a new American international outlook which seeks to create political and economic freedom, peaceful relations with other states and respect for human dignity...a liberal interpretation of Bush foreign policy after 11 September 2001 is indeed surprising given the facts. The fact is, Bush policy is clearly and unequivocally unilateral, morally ambiguous and geared towards defense and geopolitical strategy, rather than being a multilateral drive towards the democratic peace and open markets." (Garib, 2003)
Liberalism is stated by Garib (2003) to often be "...the foil for the realist interpretations of international politics. Central to interpretations of politics since Thucydides, realism deals exclusively with the importance of the power of the state." (Garib, 2003) the liberalism of the Bush administration is stated by Garib to hardly be the kind "which can be described by the liberal analytical perspective" however the realist perspective "...is quite effective at understanding the motives and policies behind the United States international grand plan." (2003)
VIII. Conclusion
Indeed, it is the realist theory that offers the best understanding of the stance of the United States and its foreign policy on the conflict in Afghanistan and the reason this is held to be so is due to the utmost consideration by the Washington administration given to the importance of the power of the United States in the ongoing conflict. As well realist theory explains the position of the United States in its institution of the Taliban into power in Afghanistan and the subsequent attempt to remove the Taliban from power both of which are moves that support the ongoing power of the United States in this area of the world which is a critically located area for many reasons as noted in this brief study.
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Ali, Noor, ? http://www.afghan-politics.org/Afghan_Scholars/DrNoorAli_Papers/february_21_98.htm "blank" ?U.S.-UN Conspiracy Against the People of Afghanistan?, Online Center for Afghan Studies, 21 February 1998
Ahmed, Nafeez Mossaddeq (2001) Afghanistan, the Taliban and the United States: The Role of Human Rights in Western Foreign Policy. Media Monitors Network. 2 May 2001. Online available at: http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq2.html#_ednref4
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Rubin, Barnett, 'In Focus: Afghanistan', Foreign Policy in Focus, Vol. 1, No. 25., December 1996.
Ahmed, Nafeez Mossaddeq (2001) Afghanistan, the Taliban and the United States: The Role of Human Rights in Western Foreign Policy. Media Monitors Network. 2 May 2001. Online available at: http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq2.html#_ednref4
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Banuri, Sheyeryar (2007) Cooperation Theory and Terrorism. Democratization, Globalization and International Relations. 2007. Online available at: http://www.utdallas.edu/~banuri/sb_cp13_prodgir_cooperation_terrorism_012007.pdf
Ibid
Coleman, Markus (2007) Fitting the Facts of Life into International Political Economy Theories: The Case of Afghanistan's Poppies. International Public Policy Review. Vol. 3 No.1 June 2007. Online available at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ippr/download/volume-3-1/Coleman.pdf
Ibid
Banuri, Sheyeryar (2007) Cooperation Theory and Terrorism. Democratization, Globalization and International Relations. 2007. Online available at: http://www.utdallas.edu/~banuri/sb_cp13_prodgir_cooperation_terrorism_012007.pdf
Ibid
Garib, Andrew (2003) Realism and Liberalism Reconsidered in Post 9/11 American Foreign Policy. 7 Nov 2003. Online available at: http://saveandrewgarib.com/writing/essays/03.11.07-usforeignpolicy-katz.pdf
Ibid
