Engageing the Enemy:

There have been many calls from diplomats and concerned individuals for the United States and Europe to engage countries like Syria and Iran. I couldn't agree more. I think engaging these states will likely prove the most effective way to achieve regional peace and stability over the long term.

Oh, and by engagement I mean military engagement, not diplomatic pandering.

To be perfectly clear - I do not wish to enter into armed conflict immediately, certainly this should be a last resort if economic and political sanctions don't work, and diplomatic efforts to encourage internal change and reform fail. But it is high time these states and the rest of the world be presented with a single choice: you play ball, or you will be ejected from the game.

Sanctions, enforcing resolutions and laws, and making it abundantly clear to states like Syria and Iran - specifically Syria, Iran, and North Korea at the moment - that their attitudes and behaviors will not be tolerated are esssential and must be implemented now.

There are those who claim that it is not our place to meddle in the affairs of these states, a sentiment I find ridiculous. These people do not share our values, they do not share our world view, and so we cannot and should not apply our logic and our systems of understanding state-behavior to them. This isn't about imperial designs, and this isn't about dominating the globe - this is about being very honest with ourselves first, and our enemies second. We, the West, cannot deal with states that don't play by the rules. If they don't want to play, that's their choice, but then we must kick them out of the game. There can be no middle ground. We cannot deal with Syria, Iran, or North Korea in any manner - even if it means gas prices reach $10 per gallon. We must do everything in our power to demonstrate the importance of playing by the rules. Part of this could be, and I think this would prove a most useful tool, kicking out of the United Nations organization those nations that do not abide by its rules, do not implement key elements of its charter, and who mock the Western ideals and principles that it was founded upon. So long Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, North Korea, Sudan, Algeria, Palestinian Authority, (Russia and China - you are on thin ice, so play nice and be careful), and Libya.

No oppressing dissidents, no torturing political prisoners, transparent governance, clear citizen rights, responsible government, no military aggression unless in defense against an existential threat (proportionate responses to attack are of course acceptable), participation in economic treaties and agreements, recognition of all sovereign states and renouncing calls for the destruction of another state (note this does not preclude criticism of others, simply bans calls for the anihilation of others), etc. In other words, if you want a seat at the table and you want to have a voice in the international community (ie UN or similar organization) you MUST sign on and swear to play by the rules.

So yes, let's engage our enemies and our adversaries - but let's engage them in a frank discussion about what need to change for them to be allowed back to the table, to be allowed back in the game (note, I believe these states must first be kicked out of all international organizations). And if you won't play, or you form a competing organization with the intent to destroy us, well, you just opened up a can of whoop-ass on yourselves, and we will defeat you - no matter the cost.

~JDS