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Do As I Say, Not As I Do
Posted Friday, August 15, 2008, at 9:54 AM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
In 1823, then President James Monroe issued what would later become known as the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine consists of three major components. The first stated that European nations were no longer allowed to colonize in any part of North, Central, or South America. The second component stated that the United States would only become involved in European affairs if our rights are violated and the third component says that any attempt at colonization in the Western Hemisphere would be considered a threat to US national security. President Theodore Roosevelt later added to these principles with his Roosevelt Corollary proclaiming that the United States also has the right to intervene in Latin America if necessary. Later in 1928 the Clark Memorandum added to the Roosevelt Corollary which adds that the United States has the right to self-defense and that no other justification is necessary to invoke this right. The Monroe Doctrine has been cited many times by the United States when it objected to a European nation gaining influence within the Western Hemisphere and we have used the Monroe Doctrine as justification for military action. We are indeed the self-proclaimed policeman of the west. Add the Bush Doctrine to the mix and the possibilities are endless!
Why am I blogging about the Monroe Doctrine? Recent events in former Soviet republics and Poland is my reason. The United States, in the name of self-defense from rogue nations and the spread of democracy, continues to stick its nose where it does not belong. Many of our policies are easily seen as a slap in the face to the nations that we say are allies, most notably Russia. Russia has been the big dog in that neighborhood for many years, and while the United States may not agree with how Russia operates, we still must respect what Russia sees as its right of self-defense. What happens between South Ossetia, Georgia, and Russia is not the business of the United States. Once all Americans are evacuated from Georgia, US involvement is not necessary. The United States would consider intervention by Russia in the affairs of nations in the Western Hemisphere a violation of our self evident rights of self-defense. Why would Russia not feel the same way?
My second point involves the installation of a missile defense system by the United States in Poland. An agreement signed yesterday between the United States and Poland to allow the base has infuriated Russia. The United States says that this missile base will be used to shoot down long range missiles fired by rogue nations like Iran. While this may be the case, if ever a time came when Russia fired its nuclear arsenal at the United States would we not use it to protect ourselves? Of course we would and for the United States to play the Russians as fools is disrespectful and arrogant. A missile defense system installed in Poland is easily seen by the Russians as an escalation in an arms race, it just wears a different hat. This deal with Poland is more than enough to reignite old hostility between Russia and the United States for a very long time.
The Monroe Doctrine is used by the United States to ensure that we are geographically protected from aggressive nations. Involving ourselves in a conflict involving Georgia, a territory that has been part of Russia for more than 100 years and that directly borders Russia, can only be seen as an act of aggression from the Russian's point of view. The reawakening of Russia as a force to be reckoned with after years of recovery is real and occurring right in front of our eyes. As Russia grows more aggressive it becomes more apparent that its opinion does matter and its power is not something the United States can ignore. Now is the time that the United States can sow the seeds of diplomacy or the seeds of war. Are we already making the wrong decisions?
Articles Referenced to Write This:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_doct...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080815/ap_o...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_Doctri...
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Just me- But I agree- But we have always been good at stickin our noses in other peoples business. Our way of livings better - our goverments better- our Gods better- Do things our way or we will invade and tell you what to do... My question is what would we as the United States of America do if anouther country tried to do that to us.. I wonder?
Great topic, Thank you for the time you spent posting it. I am glad to see someone else has some doubts about the situation, and is commenting publicly before the disinformation and rhetoric become too firmly rooted. I also appreciate the links, which I will check out sometime.
I am going on the assumption that the conflict, and our place in it, has more to do with the protection of capitol than it does with anything else for any party currently involved. I feel bad for the citizens and the military involved, but they are just pawns to be played. I agree that we should revert back to pre-WW2 isolationism to the best of our ability, but I do not think we will ever make it there completely. We have too many problems simmering, and too many commitments all over the globe. When you make deals with the devil (or oppressive tyrants), it is hard to get out of them without paying in some way.
Nice job, Nathan. Very interesting stuff!
I wish all these nations would decide to let the people choose how they will live (and who will guide them) based on who has the best track record with the welfare of their inhabitants.
"Let's see... So & So's way of doing things has resulted in our being healthy,well-educated,at peace and living with all we need and the means of getting most of what we want.
The folks over yonder are starving. They're forbidden to think and are fed lies. There is no honest work or health care. There are no friendships or families. People disappear from the streets never to be seen again unless they are publicly executed for trumped up crimes.They are ignored until someone needs a slave,a scapegoat or cannon fodder.
Given the choice,how would we ever decide who we should have govern us?"
Other countries should get a clue from who has to maintain barriers to keep people in and who has to watch their borders to keep folks out.
We are,to an extent,our brother's keeper.
We may not do it out of love but,if his children become ill or his house catches fire,we WILL be affected.
If our evils are confined to our borders like an encapsulated infection,our neighbors have little justification for "saving us from ourselves" just because we have resources they could put to good use.
It does make sense for them to say: "I'm here to help whenever you want me. I'll show you how to feed yourselves,avoid disease and injury,insure justice for your people and help them stay safe.
I want you to reach your full potential,live according to what is right in your hearts and be a friend,partner and source of support for when I need back-up."
The invading tyrant who wants to steal or despoil all he sees and the well-meaning despot are equally unwelcome.
The preferred sort of neighbors act as teammates with none of them burdened with the task of being the others's baby-sitter or chattel.
Yes,think of us as being part of a "Neighborhood Watch".
We will help you clear fallen limbs from your rooftop.
We will see that the burgular or vandal never touch your home.
We'll take your child or pet home when it wanders and we'll make a report if we hear screams coming from next door and see your family try to hide your burns and bruises.
We'll look to see if you are ill or lonely because that's what friends do for one another.
We won't help ourselves to what's yours,disturb your peace or impose "Extreme Makeovers" you neither need nor want.
The Big Brother may feel obligated to look after a weaker sibling but his duties don't include being a bully or keeping those in his care from growing up.
He fails if he neglects them but he also fails if he tries to keep them in infancy.
He can dry their tears,squelch their tantrums and try to get ahead of their mistakes.
But,along with the guidance and protection,he needs to give them space,play with them and let them see that he believes in who they are becoming.
Lets say we keep our "nose" out of our allies business. Russia invades a little country that does not matter, they get away with it they decide to invade another little country that does not matter again they get away with it. They keep on invading little countries that dont matter and finally you get to England its a little country that "does not matter" but now they are at out door steps. DO YOU THINK IT WOULD MATTER THEN.
South Ossetia and Georgia have been involved in a dispute over independence since the early 1990s. A solid majority of the citizens in the region want to be independent of Georgia or to become a part of Russia. After Kosovo was recently granted independence, South Ossetia felt that they now had a stronger argument to be free of Georgian rule. Georgia made the first aggressive move in this war, taking the capital of South Ossetia, and in the process killing 12 Russian peacekeepers and injuring 150. These peacekeepers were members of a coalition comprised of Georgians, South Ossetians, and Russians that has existed since the early 1990s. Russia seeing this attack as a violation of an earlier ceasefire agreement and an attack on its military, retaliated.
The violence in Georgia was initiated by Georgia and not invading Russian forces. A majority of South Ossetians do not want to be ruled by Georgia and they want their voices to be heard. The scenario you have portrayed "sparkle" is not what is actually happening in Georgia at the moment. If Russia begins marching through Poland I will have a different opinion. Until then South Ossetia and its political status should be of no concern to the United States.
It is a challenging balancing act. How would we feel about "defensive missiles" in Cuba?
Lets say we keep our "nose" out of our allies business. Russia invades a little country that does not matter, they get away with it they decide to invade another little country that does not matter again they get away with it. They keep on invading little countries that dont matter and finally you get to England its a little country that "does not matter" but now they are at out door steps. DO YOU THINK IT WOULD MATTER THEN.
-- Posted by sparkle on Fri, Aug 15, 2008, at 9:55 PM
Sorda like what we are doing in the middle east now... Oh the irony of your statement.
Btw, Nathan- GREAT BLOG!!! Glad to see you back on here.
I agree whole heartedly with you Nathan. The old adage, "haste makes waste" comes to mind. In my opinion, the U.S. would be wise to stay tuned to the situation, but remain diplomatic. Until the situation at hand escalates out of control, we should remain idle and allow them to work out their own confrontations. Thank you for your service to our country and explaining the situation in Georgia.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
http://kremlin.ru/eng/speeches/2008/08/2...
American President George W. Bush
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/...