Both Time and Newsweek came out with covers this week that clearly point to the largest crisis the world has seen since the end of the First Cold War.
Time cover story: http://time.com/3028057/in-russia-crime-without-punishment/
Newsweek cover story: http://www.newsweek.com/2014/08/01/behind-scenes-putins-court-private-habits-latter-day-dictator-260640.html
There are hot spots in many places these days. ISIS is taking over Iraq, and it represents the biggest terrorist threat to the United States since the rise of al Qaeda. The Taliban are poised to rule Afghanistan again once we pull out. The U.S. State Department bugged out of Libya because of all the militia infighting there. The rest of North Africa (Including Egypt) is a mess of political and militia chaos. Thousands are killed every week in Syria - Obama's red line on chemical weapons officially erased. And of course the fighting in Gaza goes on unabated, and threatens to become a larger regional war any day now.
All are examples of what happens when the United States runs away. Call it "disengagement" or "isolationism" or being "war weary." All show the U.S. is clearly repeating mistakes of the past.
One only has to study the consequences of America's withdrawal from the world stage after World War I. In 1917, a "war weary" nation withdrew to the imagined safety of its own continent. Problems in Europe, Africa and Asia didn't worry us. The roaring '20's and the first age of access on Wall Street fueled an economy that was on a runaway path to prosperity for all...until that bubble bust in 1939.
In the meantime, the world simmered. Germany staggered under the penalties imposed at Versailles. Japan reached out for natural resources it needed to fuel a growing empire. And a new version of militant fascism first reared its ugly head in Italy.
When a discredited Winston Churchill attempted to warn the world of impending doom, no one listened. While the United States reveled in its bubble of riches and isolationism, nobody cared. While France boasted the world's largest army and a line of impenetrable forts (The Maginot line), no one worried.
And no one seems to worry, or care about what is happening today, especially when it comes to examining the biggest threat the world faces - the one coming from Moscow. Even after Russia is clearly linked to the downing of a civilian jetliner, and western intelligence agencies do everything they can to publicly display Moscow's role in Ukraine's pro-Russian uprising, it seems no one wants to take the steps necessary to slow down Vladimir Putin's march - not even the economic steps that would have the most impact.
The European Union's reaction to what Moscow has done in Georgia and Ukraine is nothing more than absolute ignorant dismissal. It borders on suicide. No one wants to see NATO troops enter Western Ukraine. Ukraine is not a NATO member, and such a step would probably jump start World War III. But the European Union must to something substantial to punish Moscow - or it borders on the kind of appeasement that encouraged Hitler to occupy even more of Europe. Even if it wanted to, NATO no longer has the firepower or the willpower to put its foot down against a militant recharged Russia. Vladimir Putin knows he can march anywhere his heart desires. A de-fanged NATO and a "war weary" United States will do nothing about it.
You have to look no further that what is happening in Gaza right now to determine how far the United States has fallen in credibility and influence. Nothing we say is even slowing down Israel's march to stomp out all militarized descent in Gaza, and it doesn't matter how many civilians get hurt along the way. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/un-calls-for-immediate-cease-fire-in-gaza-as-lull-in-fighting-prevails/2014/07/28/01dea116-9195-424b-85b1-da93899d8250_story.html
And it's as if HAMAS knows it has no choice but to fight back. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/28/us-mideast-gaza-idUSKBN0FV04A20140728
The United States/White House excuse that the country is "war weary" will only lead to more tragedy as the enemies aligned against it (Russia, China, Islamic terrorists) become ever more embolden by our strategy of disengagement.These periods of withdrawal always end tragically. One most only remember Pearl Harbor and 9/11.
Another wake up call is coming, and sometime in the next 10-20 years we will be in another shooting war. And if our enemies are allowed to build to a Nazi like crescendo, it will most likely be the start of World War III.
Image the U.S. fighting China in the Pacific, Russia in Europe, and Islamic terrorism in the Middle East and North Africa - all at the same time. Not a pretty picture, and one we are likely to lose.
It's just human nature. Allow a bully to go on bullying long enough, and eventually he's going to take a swing at your nose. Especially if he senses weakness.
The United States is oozing weakness right now. And the bullies are lining up to take a swing.
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