DSA: A Danger to Democracy Throughout the World
My column last month discussed the domestic policy of the Democratic Socialists of America and some of its negative consequence for our country .This column will discuss some aspects of the DSA’s foreign policy and its danger for democratic countries. Why am I so concerned about the DSA? According to the Gallop poll 39% pf Americans have a positive view of socialism and the DSA is becoming a stronger presence in the Democratic Party. It would be a tragedy if America’s future came down to a choice between DSA and MAGA.
Here are some of my objections to the DSA:
DSA supports at least two dictatorships:
- Cuba. The DSA recently praised Fidel Castro, a Communist dictator. Here are parts of their declaration in that regard:
“Today is the centenary of Fidel Castro, and the Democratic Socialists of America recognize the historic significance of both this day and the man. Fidel was an organizer, a fighter, and endures as a stalwart symbol of anti-imperialist struggle DSA has a long history of solidarity with the Cuban people, their revolution, and their self-determination” The fact is that the Castro , his family, and designated successors determine everything themselves without holding free elections. That may be acceptable to American Socialists but it’s not Democratic. DSA claims to be a champion of feminism. Amnesty International said this regarding Cuba: “ The state wields gender-based violence as a tool of repression against women, seeking to break their dignity, their families and their collective strength”.
- Venezuela
“ DSA stands in solidarity with Venezuela and voices our broad support for self-determination and socialism in the country.” According to the Journal of Democracy the former socialist president Nicolas Maduro stole the 2024 presidential election. That is not self determination for Venezuelans. . According to Transparencia Venezuela the net worth of the Maduro family is $3.8 billion. Apparently for the DSA socialist billionaires are okay.
The DSA would weaken the security of democratic countries throughout the world . The DSA wants to withdraw from NATO. That would weaken the defense of European democracies against Russia Let’s look at some of the reasons the DSA gives: “NATO does not function as a dense pact. It is violent structure dominated by the US and its main European partners…”. “ NATO will lead Americans into foreign wars on Europe’s behalf….A hypothetical attack on small Baltic nations that border Russia, although all the way across the Atlantic from the US would force the US to fight on European soil”.
America did fight on on European soil in WWII to defeat Nazi Germany. The defense of European democracies is morally right and important for America’s own security.
The DSA did condemn Russia’s must recent invasion of Ukraine. However, this is the DSA solution : “ this crisis requires an immediate international antiwar response” . The people of Ukraine and their democratically elected government have decided to defend themselves by military means rather than antiwar protest rallies. The DSA does not mention their right to do so.
DSA wants to close all overseas military bases. That would undermine the defense of Asian democracies which need our help to defend themselves against China .
The DSA wants to defund the Department of War. With no military forces it would be impossible to defend our own country.
The DSA implicitly supports the destruction of Israel
According to the DSA Israel is a threat to every country in the Middle East.“Since 1948, every war Israel waged has served to bolster their settler-colonial project…. “ The fact is that at least four of Israel’s wars were fought against Arab armies that sought to destroy it. “No country in the region has known peace since the Nakba.” The fact is there have been numerous wars in the Middle East that did not involve Israel at all. That would include Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and the Iraq-Iran war.
According to the DSA the entire world suffers because of Israel:
“No country in the world will find peace in Zionism’s pursuit of domination.”
The DSA further said,
“… our solidarity with Palestinian resistance and their efforts to dismantle apartheid must not falter until we see a liberated Palestine, FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA [ capital letters in the original]”
The last eight words are a call for the elimination of Israel , a small country located between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
For the DSA “the Palestinian resistance” includes the terrorist organization Hamas which calls for the annihilation of Israel in its charter
Final thoughts:
I encourage you to read the DSA’s platform and declarations . You can access them through your computer search engine ( e.g. DSA platform; DSA Fidel Castro) .The DSA is not an organization of idealists striving to build a better world. Their policies would destroy the life most of us cherish in the United States and make the defense of democracies throughout the world much more problematic.