We too often react to what is happening around the world, rather than asking why. Our foreign policy has become a responder to the most current threat(s), and we seem lost to consider or act with a thought out strategy for what is important for our continued existence 100 years hence or to even attempt to understand why nation states act in irrational or extraordinary fashion. Additionally, we telegraph our every move through a constant need to show that we can scurry faster than the latest social media. This is not world leadership and certainly not that of a state committed to the ultimate betterment of mankind.

There are long and distant reasons for the longstanding troubles in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. To believe we can stand guard as a playground monitor and keep the peace when they’ve all trying to re-stake the claim to the same homeland will not end well. Our (read: the western world’s) investment basis in that region has changed significantly over the past 150 years and perhaps, too, should the way we involve ourselves in its future.

The island building in the South China Sea is indicative of the same nation-state issues as those that drove Japanese territorial expansion in the mid-20th century, but by a newer major player on the world stage. The threat to free movement on the seas is understandably unnerving to every other state which values their own existence. But we seldom look at why that player feels obliged to put a stake in the sea/sand, why it is more than saber-rattling, and how we must work toward a regional stability that will pass the challenges of the next millennium.

Too many of our political leaders believe that Defense should lead our foreign policy. It should always be a last resort, but we/they are too willing to insert our military without asking first what is the desired outcome — and it is never winning via body count, bombs dropped, buildings destroyed, or missions flown.

The brotherhood of arms is a strong fellowship of those who share a kindred understanding of what it means to be willing to go the final mile. I must tell you that no commander wants to commit troops without knowing why they might lay down their lives, but we see too many would be commander’s-in-chief or congressional want-a-be’s all too eager to throw fuel on any fire that rages in the world with little regard for any endgame other than smash-mouth. Our foreign policy is seldom led by statesmen, our national interests are too often short term and driven by profit, and our national resolve is too often built on social media polls. We can’t lead the world with might if we have not determined to understand the why that drives it’s challenges and then at least move a finger to scratch that itch. No one, no state, no actor gets everything it wants, but if we act to understand why then a world statesman we might again become.

With best wishes for greater resolve to do better in the new year.