by Charles Sumpter

Created on: August 19, 2008

In this age of constant global crisis, further escalation by the United States will do nothing to bring down the level of tension. In fact all it will do is cause Russia to react. Placing missile defense in Europe will only cause Russia to protect itself by placing missile defenses in a country like Cuba, been there done that time to move on. In order to move forward, we must not forget the past.

To do so despite the opposition of Russia would do nothing for our international stature or sitting with the Russian government. Whatever action is taken, must be done so in a bilateral fashion. The candidates have spoken on the conflict and John McCain seems to have a hard time of letting go of the past. Targeted aggression held on since the Cold War must end. While I think his heart is in the right place, it is the job of the sitting president to make decision such as this, especially while in power. I think the media had a role in this as well.

One way to work this situation is through diplomacy. Whether or not you agree with President Bush, he at least got this right in my opinion by sending in Secretary Rice to try and broker an agreement between Russia and Georgia. Bush has also instructed the US Navy to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia to help the wounded. Leaders of these nations should sit down and discuss what went wrong. A intermediary should be involved and it does not need to be someone from the United States. It was great to see the French president take the lead in this latest crisis.

Once the agreement is met, the international community should be involved to ensure that both sides adhere to the agreement before it is enacted. After which the United Nations should monitor to make sure that it all works.

Russia, for its modern day country invasion should pick up be penalized by the UN Security Council, maybe even stripped of its placement in the G8. The United States, however, must take the highground and not see this as a way to grow our weapons armament and strategic placement. In the next few years, the U.S. should rescind some of its global cloat and instead invest time, money and effort in rebuilding its educational system, healthcare and economy.

With the new approach to international matters, the United States can increase the level of appeal around the world. Countries will start to see that the United States in fact does promote peace and democracy. Instead of escalation, the United States must focus on de-escalation; for the betterment of the world. The last thing we need is another arms race. This time, I don't think it would end as it did in the past.

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