…the end of man is to know

How delightful that just after my post about the glory of the Olympics, I get to discuss war. American media has been very kind in not reporting various international conflicts that don’t directly involve the United States. However, when a petro-state that has nuclear capability and a checkered past invades a democratic ally, it tends to get some press.

Russia has swiftly come to the military aid of South Ossetia, a separatist region of Georgia. Reminder: Georgia is a former Soviet republic, not just the home of Ty Cobb, sweet tea, and T.I

The question is: what should we do? Well here are the options:

1. Military intervention:

As far as I’m concerned, this is off the table. We absolutely can’t send more American troops into harm’s way. We have lost billions of dollars and thousands of lives in the Middle East, and are spread too thin. More broadly, the United States’ soft power has been crippled by interventions. Proceeding without international consent would destroy whatever shred of diplomatic sway we have.

2. Condemn from afar

Virginia Governor Tom Kaine would have us believe that Barack Obama’s foreign policy is not just effective, but also is causing international change. Governor Kaine said, “And I’m very, very happy that the Senator’s request for a ceasefire has been complied with by President Medvedev.”

Because we all know that the Russian President is making monumental foreign policy decisions based on the words of an American presidential candidate who hasn’t even been officially nominated by his party.

Allow me to yet again remind Barack that HE IS NOT PRESIDENT. Allow me to also remind Tom Kaine that HE IS NOT THE VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT YET BEEN PUT IN OFFICE! Simply hanging out in Washington D.C. and saying that violence is bad is pointless.

3. Sanction

I think that sanctions are the most effective way to deal with quasi-rogue states. I use “quasi” because I believe that Russia is willing to stand in the face of the international consensus, but still has very calculated, rational decisions. However, they simply will not be enacted. Industrialized states are simply too reliant on Russian oil and natural gas. More importantly, Russia knows that it can outlast Europe. A few days of decreased energy revenue is far less painful than sending massive price shocks through the oil and gas market.

4. Prepare an alternate grand strategy

Here is the most effective, and complex, solution. The United States needs to recognize that the former USSR will continue to take any lands it can. Like the board game Risk, you always take neighboring territories that are easily defeated and ill-defended. Therefore, the United States must recreate a situation which counterbalances and deters Russian aggression. A meeting between NATO and allied former Soviet republics is in order.

When NATO was first formed, it was created as a means of mutual protection from a Soviet invasion. I now suggest a NATO backed alliance among emerging Eastern European democracies. Countries like Georgia, Ukraine, and the “-stans” must publicly work together. Using their own political and economic resources, create a union which will oppose Russian entanglements.

I cannot offer guarentees that a rag-tag group of fledging countries can hold off Russian invasions, but I think it is the best available option. At the same time, the world needs to be talking with Russia. Let’s the naiive discourse and put Russia’s intentions on the table. There is enough room in the world for Russia as a regional power. Russia has a large population, military, and economy. It deserves a commensurate amount of influence. Yet, influence is earned. Russia can offer strong leadership, but needs to be kept under the watchful eye of the international community.

Whether it’s former Soviet Republics or the international community, all would be wise to remember Ben Franklin’s words, “we must all hang together, or assuredly we shall hang separately”.

While Americans were busy not paying attention, most of the free world (and some of the less-than-free world) had its eyes trained on Euro Cup 2008. In yesterday’s final, the Spaniards defeated the vaunted German side, 1-0. The game was highly entertaining, even to this admitted nationalist who focuses on American sports. After Spain’s victory, there were massive impromptu celebrations throughout Barcelona, Madrid, and a host of urban areas.

So many Europeans fully invest themselves, and their sense of national dignity, in how well their soccer team performs. Soccer-mania extends beyond Europe, as the African nation of Senegal virtually shut down after a stunning upset in 2002 over soccer goliath, and colonial master, France. Political leaders attend key matches, legitimizing the games as more than just sport. Foreign policy blunders, economic woes, and political scandals are temporarily forgiven in exchange for a victory.

On this side of the Atlantic, most people don’t even know how America performs in international competition. There is minimal enthusiasm, or news coverage, over whether or not America’s men’s basketball team can reclaim Olympic Gold in Beijing. In fact, I’m curious to know how many of my countrymen even know when (or if!) the Olympics will begin.

Despite not taking a single Sociology course, I have a few hunches as to why America seems wholly indifferent to our ability to move an object in a certain direction using certain body parts/accessories:

1. Dude, we’re awesome:

There’s a golden rule of social groups: those at the top don’t like change. Likewise, the United States should avoid national prestige being left up to athletic feats. Instead, let’s stick to what we’re good at: cultural diffusion, economic size, and the ability to destroy the planet in 6.4 seconds. Once we invest ourselves and risk our title as greatest, best country god has ever given man on the face of the Earth we actually might lose it. So pretending that international athletic events are completely irrelevant prevents us from losing anything.

2. 4, 6,8: USA does not preach hate:

Can anyone tell me who the United States’ greatest rival is? The Soviet Union doesn’t exist anymore. The Japanese are now a key trading partner. The Germans are a strong ally. The British haven’t fought with us (tea v. coffee, notwithstanding) since the War of 1812. The Mexicans and Canadians are humorously non-threatening. There simply is no country to root against. Our “rivals” have always been countries which we have tried to destroy. Our geographic and social isolation also means that we don’t have friendly rivalries. The United States is in a category by itself. Without any peers, Americans traditionally don’t favor one country over another.

3. Football, not futbol!

For the past century, America has been a baseball-football-basketball country. NASCAR, golf, tennis, and hockey are on the periphery. Cricket and soccer (for those over the age of ten) are unheard of. The problem is that most countries are die-hard soccer fans and South Asia looooooves its cricket. Baseball and basketball are globalizing very slowly, but are still very much American. If the world cared about its football teams, then maybe Americans can rally behind NFL stars in international tournaments. In the interim, there are no international football competitions. Our national sports are simply ignored by the rest of the globe.

It is quite odd, and disappointing, that in a country which has accomplished so much thanks to competition and rivalry, the public routinely forgoes opportunities to improve nationalism and patriotism.

This summer, prove me wrong. Paint your entire body red, white, and blue. Wrap yourself in the American flag. Actually commit the national anthem to memory. You can only gain bragging rights if you are willing to lose them.

And if the USA doesn’t win, just tell your non-American enemies that your country can destroy theirs before they can say “gold medal”.