Posted by
Rational Arizona on Friday, August 08, 2008 3:52:24 PM
Today, once again, in Georgia we see the impact of the actions of authoritarian states and thier foreign policy as an expression of the dctators personal preferences. The actions of Russia in Georgia represent the personal policies of Putin. Not the ill-conceived but considered policies of a ponerous Politburo (Afghanistan 1980). The current party machinery in Russia is insufficiently based to direct such a momenteous decision, this is obviously the policy of one person.
While Iraq is often said to be "Bush's war" it is not. It was considered, discussed, mull, baked and re-baked, vetted and announced for many months. Hardly a surprise to anyone. And hardly the personal desire of a single person. Herein lies the real danger of autocracies such as Russia is returning to, or Iraq.
And this must be the goal of the US, and indeed the west,: to eliminate such autocracies. The Bush "doctrine" must be re-stated and re-invigorated. A new set of 14 points, not specific to national boundaries but individual liberties, must be adopted and followed. The "diplomacy as usual" simply is not a working process as it focuses on national interests, and too often these are the personal interests of the dictators.