Thursday, August 14, 2008

Juan Cole on Bush/Putin Analogies

Juan Cole has an article in Salon about how the Bush administration's gutting of international law provided cover for Russia's attack on Georgia.

Amen to that.

But the next question concerns what to do about a situation in which the bigger powers recognize no authority higher than the aspirations of their neo-cons/aggressive nationalists.

The starting point for solutions to the U. S. invasion of Iraq, Georgia's attack on South Ossetia, and Russian invasion of Georgia should be increasing the costs for the aggressive parties.

One way to deter aggressive nationalists is to stress the high costs and humiliating failures of adventures like Serbia's attack on Bosnia, the U. S. invasion of Iraq, and Georgia's assault on South Ossetia. "Iraq" needs to replace "Munich" as the key analogy for thinking about foreign policy.

A second strategy is to strengthen the international legal framework in ways that make unsanctioned attacks like the American invasion of Iraq into war crimes and provide a system of penalties for the nations involved.

There's also a need to emphasize is the value of "entangling bureaucratic process" over "decisive action" in foreign policy. Events of the last twenty years have highlighted the need for more bureaucracy, more negotiations, more compromise, and a lot less eagerness to "go it alone." The EU has become the best model for getting things done and we need to adjust our values accordingly.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

With his doctrine of preemptive warfare, Bush single-handedly tore down the architecture of post-World War II international law erected by the founders of the United Nations to ensure that rogue states did not go about launching wars of aggression the way Hitler had.

Have either of you guys ever actually read a fucking history book?

Seven Star Hand said...

Hello Ric,

Here's something to open your eyes to some very bitter truths. Not meant so much as a comment but as a heads up for you, personally. Take the time to understand and then help me hold their feet to the fire !!! Spew some sparks from that keyboard of yours and put others onto this hot trail.

Here's another detailed analysis on the Russia-Georgia shenanigans. Only this one addresses the machinations of the "hidden hands" behind this and other dastardly events.

It's time for people to wake-up to the true nature of the world leaders that have set this thing into motion. It is far more contrived and deceptive than most would believe. That is why I have been patiently setting a very unique trap for these snakes. Take the time to understand and then hold their feet to the fire !!!

This whole Russia-Georgia affair is a purposely-orchestrated and easily-pierced theatrical production. How convenient is it that the Bush Administration trained and prepped Georgia and then (some...) US troops-trainers pull out just before they initiate an "apparent blunder" that the Russians have been ready and poised to respond to, for months. Remember, nothing of this scale can be pulled together quickly, and all sides have been watching each other, like hawks, for decades.

Also remember that both sides have satellites and very well equipped spy agencies, so any assertion that anyone was surprised is laughable. It goes without saying that the leaders on all sides in this strange little war have something up their sleeves that most people have no clues about. All the pieces were placed on the board before major world leaders went off to the Olympics, pretending to be surprised, and pretending to be mad at each other afterwards.

Likewise, isn't it just a little too contrived that the US media is spinning that McCain is being helped by a war that the Bush administration openly and undeniably helped to start? This is one more key to the truth about this slimy little affair and the low-life snakes that arranged it. Here's more help connecting the dots and closing the trap door on these evil halfwits.

Time to get a clue, before its too late...

Peace and Wisdom...