The War in the East, or West, or Mideast, or...

So there is a war going on out there. One, shockingly, in which the United States is not a part of. One which perhaps the US should be taking more of an active role in. One which, if you believe the current administration, the US should be in. One which John F. Kennedy himself said is a war we should take part in, during his inaugural address:

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

This much we pledge—and more."

Georgia is a democratic state. One of the first in the region following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Georgia is the most West-aligned state in the region and one which the West courted and pushed to become a member of NATO.

In the first instance in modern history, a democratic country (Russia) attacked and invaded another democratic country (Georgia). Though its hard to say that Russia is a legitimate democracy; while the institutions may be present, its interesting to point out that Vladimir Putin left the office of President (after term limits prevented him from staying longer) to become the Prime Minister, and yet he still holds the same power he had before. Russia's current president has been made to look ceremonial at best, which seems to be Putin's plan. Russian President Medved sits on TV and talks with his defense minister, giving him ceremonial orders, yet it is Putin who is seen at the front, directing Russian forces, and sending out the strongest language against Georgia and the United States.

But what could the US do to prevent any further escalation? We did nothing. It was the French president who went to Russia to work out a deal to cease hostilities, yet it was with Medved. As we can see, the Russians continued. Only this past Wednesday did the US send Rice to the region (first to the French Riviera) to hold discussions. In a smart move though, we did send US forces to Georgia in a humanitarian mission. In reality, this is a move to tell Russia we are supporting Georgia, and that with US forces there, any action upon them will look like an act of war against the US. The forces there are basically a trip wire...bait, perhaps. Ideally, with the presence of the troops the Russians will back down so as not to accidentally attack Americans, but should they, the US will be drawn into the conflict. No one wants that, so its quite a deterrent.

Why, though, doesn't the US push any further in protecting Georgia? It is clear that Russia is flexing its Cold War muscles, sending a message to all of the former Soviet states that Russia is the hegemony in the region and that any more actions with the West should cease. Does the US really want to get back in to a Cold War scenario at this time? With two wars being fought and the economy in recession, Putin picked the best time to make his move against the US.

So the answer to my initial question as to why the US hasn't joined in the fight to protect a country that we assured we were friends with is because we can't. We are fighting two wars that have drained us in every way. Our economy is in shambles. And with our focus on fighting Iraqis and terrorists, we let the Russians slide right underneath our radar. Russia is back on the block, and now we have to deal with it.