Russia has invaded and is occupying the nation of Georgia. If nothing else, these actions have provided us with an important reminder. That reminder is that when nations invade other nations, there are very serious consequences.
While watching television the other day, I nearly fell off my couch when I heard comments pertaining to Russia’s actions by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, President George W. Bush, and Senator John McCain.
First, this is what Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: “Georgia has been attacked. Russian forces need to leave Georgia at once. The world needs to help Georgia maintain its sovereignty, its territorial integrity and its independence. This is no longer 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia ... when a great power invaded a small neighbor and overthrew its government.”
Second, President George W. Bush stated: “Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century … Only Russia can decide whether it will now put itself back on the path of responsible nations or continue to pursue a policy that promises only confrontation and isolation.”
Third, Senator John McCain remarked that, “in the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations.”
Of all the reasons I resisted and ultimately protested the US invasion of Iraq, one perhaps turns out now to be the most significant. I’ll frame it as a question: If the US invades and occupies another nation in the 21st Century (as in Iraq), threatening its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence (as in Iraq), invades a small country and overthrows its government (as in Iraq), bullies and intimidates others through its foreign policy which leads to confrontation and isolation (as in Iraq), what right does it have to condemn such actions by other nations?
It has no right to do so. The double standard, indeed the hypocrisy, is stunning.
As recently as July, Rice said she was proud that the US invaded Iraq! Bush still defends the war every chance he gets. And McCain stands by the invasion of Iraq to the point of even attacking Senator Barack Obama for supposedly being naïve about our occupation of the country.
Perhaps now, those few who continue to insist that the war on Iraq was the right thing to do can finally see one significant reason why it was such a mistake. The US has lost any right to condemn such actions by other nations. We’ve lost our moral authority as a defender of the rights of free people.
Finally, let’s think about the importance of the upcoming election. Will we elect a man who has opposed the war all along (Obama) or one who continues to defend it even while condemning similar actions by other nations (McCain)?