Georgia and the American Cowboy
I watch something like the invasion of Democratic Georgia on my television screen and all of my Libertarian impulses are out the window and I just want to go smash some Marxist Heiny.
Rosetts article is a great read and my Neo Conservative tendencies and impulses are fired up when I read about emerging democracies being bullied and rolled over by Russian tanks.
She wrote:

“With Russia’s military blasting its way into neighboring Georgia, this sure seems like a moment when the world could use a democratic super-cop.

Good luck. Right now, we don’t have one.

America effectively resigned from the much-reviled role of lone superpower five years ago, after toppling the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2002, and defying the Oil-for-Food devotees at the United Nations to overthrow the tyranny of Saddam Hussein in Iraq in 2003. Since then, President Bush, to his credit, has stuck with the fight in Afghanistan and Iraq — a display of determination and firepower which goes far to explain why almost seven years have passed since September 11 without another major attack on U.S. shores.

But in dealing with other major threats to the free world, the White House has hung up its spurs, turned in its badge, and handed over the remaining items in the global-security portfolio to the soft-power ministrations of our globe-trotting diplomats.”

No easy answers in these difficult times. One side of me would love to bring all the American Troops home and let the nations fight it out amongst themselves, but my other side understands how many families around the world are grateful for so called American Imperialism and intervention, and I would hate for them to feel like we had abandoned them to the thugs just so we could enjoy our freedoms and luxuries without one of our soldiers dying or being permanently maimed.
I honestly don’t know what is best in the Georgia situation. No doubt thinkers much more intelligent than me are already on it, going through every possible scenario for the best outcome. I am simply praying for peace and that this wonderful country is able to retain its sovereignty.
Jenny Hatch
UPDATE August 15, 2008
Phyllis Schlafly balances out the argument with her take on territorial integrity.
And Pat Buchanan talks about blowback and chickens coming home to roost from bear baiting.
No easy answers….