I am writing as an American who believes in our nation and our role in the world. I actually believe that we do have a role in the world by virtue of where we have placed ourselves. We have grown in such a way that has created alliances, treaties and agreements with foreign nations that has formed an interdependence - but with America at the center of the wheel. We are the true leader of the alliances, treaties and agreements with these foreign nations.

I do also believe that America is the standard for freedom and a defender of our free neighbors in the world.

Since our founding we have been engaged in various wars. Wars are always tied to money and power – on at least one side if not both. Wars for that purpose are wrong and the deaths of millions are on the heads of a relatively few men who have plunged their nations into wars that those who die to fight them reap no benefit from. Their deaths bring them honor, but bring their loved ones nothing else but sorrow.

This aggression against Georgia is nothing more than classic war for money and power. The cause of the Georgian’s is one that truly seems just to me.

When is war justified?

1. War is obviously justified when we have been attacked but the war should be proportional to the attack and its intention.
2. War is justified when, in the words of Jefferson & the Continental Congress, “a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
3. Acts of war are justified when there is an insurrection or a civil war from within.
4. War is justified when a just, sovereign foreign nation who was not an aggressor calls on allies for aid.
5. Acts of war are justified when there is a clear and present danger that will soon strike and bring about greater death than a war to remove the clear and present danger.

When is war not justified?

War is not justified when it is waged for resources, power, or money. Neither is it justified when the aggressor begins it for a reason other than those stated above including to come to the aid of another nation. If they did not officially through their government request the aid, then we must respect their sovereignty and stay out.

It is my belief that America has no interests in other nations that it must proactively protect. Our interests are here and the preservation of true freedom loving allies. If they have interests and are invaded or threatened, and officially request our aid, then we have the right to respond. We may choose not to but we have the right to assist. US businesses may have interests in foreign nations, but America, our government, our people collectively have none and should never be sent to die for “American interests abroad.” We are willing however to die, as we have for centuries now, for our own and other people’s freedom and liberty.

I am shocked at Russia’s aggression towards our ally – Georgia. I am also shocked at our lack of action. Here we are at day four of a conflict that is reshaping the world even as we speak and we have no plan and have said nothing other than we are “concerned” and that Russia’s actions threaten their global position.

All of that was a preface to this: If Georgia officially calls through their democratically elected government for American or other free nation’s aid, we should be willing to answer that call. Would it be easy? No, it would possibly be the greatest struggle in history – fighting the war in Iraq, fighting the War in Afghanistan, fighting the War on Terror, and fighting back Russia from the small nation of Georgia and keeping Russia from once again rising to its unlawful stature as a force to be reckoned with. Freedom is the force to be reckoned with and we need to stand by it.

Ken Coman