“I view Kosovo independence as a tentative win for world-wide democracy and freedom. I think more people should be excited at the positive changes that could stem from this, but success really depends on how people choose to react to this on both an individual and national level. I find it amazing that the same groups of people are still fighting over the past some 800 years later; in America this mentality by and large doesn’t exist, we learn to move on and bring positive change after conflict. One of the most detrimental aspects of human nature is the natural resistance against forgiveness, reconciliation, and moving on.”
The real issue in this line of thinking is that nations with hundreds of years of hatred can suddenly be brought to focus on true economic liberty. It certainly requires an American presence but not necessarily a military presence.
While my belief is that we should reach out to those crying to us for justice in this world, we cannot possibly fight all battles simaltaneously. In this information age, we should attempt to educate the population of the benefits of a better, well run-government of-the-people rather than enforce what we as a collective people know is the right way to live.
On the flip side of the coin, nations such as Iran must be held to account. We should be making energy independance at home a first priority (as important to our economic and national security interests as say the Manhatten Project) and Islam our second priority. That we Americans will sustain casualties in this ongoing conflict is without a doubt. That we will be able to continue and win this conflict is what is now in question.
Reading history of the decline of the Roman (or especially) the English & French empires provides great insight into the reasons behind the rise and decline of great empires. It also provides a general road-map of what can be done to diminish the pain of an over-extended, over-stimulated & receeding empire. This appears to be the phase America seems to have just entered and changing course is not too late to do. Americans are a solid people, but the leadership must submit the will to the people that live within. Advanced geopolitical posturing that is 40 years ahead of it’s time (let information of a better life spread to the globe) has in the past, is and will be a recipe for very large disaster.
Thank-you for your suggestions! I definitely would like to read more on this...do you have any specific books to recommend? I have thought about going back to school to get a Masters in Classics, but don’t see that happening anytime in the near future...