Posted on 08/04/2006 6:30:30 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
John Wayne is possibly the greatest Western cowboy of all time. He was a one-man show who had the fastest guns in the West and always found his enemy and brought him to justice.
Cowboys go through life on their own, and they always get the bad guys, whether it's "dead or alive." It should come as no surprise, therefore, that a recent Times article (July 9) called for the "end of cowboy diplomacy"-our nation's policy of going it alone when it comes to world affairs.
The Wild West had no real laws and was much like our current international system in this way; of course, there were laws, but they were only enforced if the sheriff had the biggest, fastest gun. Jurisdiction ended at the city line, much like international laws end at country borders. You were safe only if you could protect yourself.
Unlike the Wild West, our international system has no sheriff, and thus we hear that America is becoming the police of the world.
"Cowboy diplomacy" aside, there are benefits to using an international force for any invasion or action in this world. An international force lends legitimacy to a conflict-suggesting that the action is morally justified-but it also comes with problems. A multi-national force will have soldiers trained in many different ways, and it will be commanded by a body that is frequently unsure of its goals.
If we think the American government has inefficiencies, consider the United Nations (multiply the problems by at least 10).
Frankly, there are benefits to going it alone, including the ability to attack or retreat at any time, not having to answer to the international community and flexing military might. A military action for which a few nations contribute troops and ally themselves to a goal frequently does better than an organization-sanctioned action; but as the war in Iraq shows us, Great Britain is still not as committed as we are.
"Cowboy diplomacy" has its place in international politics. The ability to show the world that you can fight every battle and win proves you have power. Power controls every negotiation, every discussion and every tidbit of foreign policy. We can thumb our nose every time to the international community and our goals will, for the foreseeable future, continue to completion.
But let's not forget, we do care! America is more than just a military machine. We pretend we don't care what the world thinks, but we want to be liked, and we want to be the shining example of democracy, freedom and justice. We pride ourselves on not only being the strongest, but also on doing the right things.
America can do it alone. We have, by far, the strongest military in the world. We can be the sheriff and police the world all by ourselves. We can invade multiple countries at the same time and not need to call for a draft. We could literally take over the world, bombing nations into submission and making everyone do as we say.
Where would freedom and democracy be, though? It is not that we cannot continue doing it alone, but that we shouldn't. International organizations like the United Nations are highly ineffective (there were more than 15 resolutions telling Saddam to allow inspectors into Iraq, but there was never anyone to force him to until we got involved), but it doesn't mean the United Nations doesn't do some good in the world and that we should remove ourselves from it.
We are looking for a better world, one in which America is safe from attack and in which Americans can travel the world and be safe. We can do it alone; but we shouldn't, because we want a better world-not just a better world for America.
In the Utah Chronicle and everything. Excellent article.
Character: Doing the right thing, even if everyone else is doing the wrong thing.
Very interesting angle of thinking!
I'm still looking for the "some good the UN has done.
Stop looking...you'll just wear yourself into early retirement.
Since it's inception, the U.N. has only done one good thing.
Defending South Korea from NK.
And that ended up in a stalemate.
John Wayne and U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment A-323 at Camp Trai Bi, Tay Ninh Province, Republic of Vietnam, June 1966.
How many of the current crop of Hollywood movie stars have visited our troops in Iraq or Afghanistan? I can't think of any.
They just don't make them like the Duke anymore.
Prior to the war in Iraq, (2002) Drew Carey paid a visit to us in Kuwait. He was outstanding.
And I should give props to Everclear for visiting to South Korea in the Summer of 2005.
They can't make 'em like the Duke anymore. The mold broke.
Semper Fi!
I believe Buce Willis and Gary Sinise have
I can name you two, right offhand (although there may be a few more), Gary Sinise, and Bruce Willis have both done tours of Iraq/Afghanistan for the troops...
the infowarrior
I was wearing blue pajamas.
I think you are giving the UN a bit more credit then it deserves. The UN was mostly just the vehicle for negotiations and oversaw that the agreement. It was the Kennedy Administration who suggested the final solution through the UN. The UN played a role, but most of the diplomacy credit has to go to the Kennedy administration.
I'm not pretending. I don't.
The problem is the "Americans" who do care what the world thinks.
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