Around Russia

Value strategy

April 10, 2013 Dmitry Vaisburg

The fact that “the West will help us,” I have not believed for a long time. But now, on the pages of the Hedgehog, this was confirmed by one of those who have made foreign foreign policy for many years. Translated from diplomatic into Russian, Thomas Graham said: we do not care what is happening in other countries, we will do what is beneficial to the United States. Let us ignore his passages that he was not understood, for example, they really did not understand.

But why does he call his approach strategic? Maybe because the first thing he “clearly formulates the long -term state interests of America”? So, after all, Genghis Khan first formulated long-term interests. And Hitler formulated, back in Mine Kampf. And how Lenin formulated! I am silent about Stalin, he, of course,, too, only not everything is available to the study. What such "strategies" lead to is known from numerous historical examples. Exceptions are not visible.

Or the strategy is to, based on these interests, to decide with whom, to what extent and in what quality to cooperate? But, mercy, any shopkeeper also acts: he collaborates with those and so with whom and how it is beneficial to him. What is this strategy?

Or does Graham consider himself a strategist in the military sense? Indeed, in the war, you really have to choose not the best options for actions, but those that are most profitable in terms of the task. Otherwise, you can’t survive. But here I really don't understand. Do American politicians still seriously consider their country to be at war, even if cold? Associations arise completely indecent.

Or, conversely, the strategy is understood as “ a general, non-powerful plan for any activity, covering a long period of time ”? But if so, then it is from a strategic point of view that this approach should be recognized as absolutely failure. After all, Realpolitik is beneficial only in the short term - years, a maximum of decades. For a longer period, it leads to negative structural changes in a systemic nature and, ultimately, to collapse. Historical examples are also more than enough: from Louis XIV to the Romanov empire.

But the main thing is not even that. Denial of the value approach can lead to the consequences of truly catastrophic, and very quickly. After all, values ​​are by no means intellectual toys. They do not make our lives neither satisfying nor comfortable. But they allow you to avoid steps destructive to society or even humanity as a whole, no matter how attractive they may seem. Putting at the forefront, denying the tough, based on values, restriction on ways to obtain it, we risk raising a monster on our head that will turn all our benefits and achievements into nothing, and not only ours.

During the First World War, Germany considered it very profitable to invest a fair amount in the decomposition of the Russian army using the Bolsheviks. What it turned out for Germany is well known. Later, many businessmen (and, the most sad, politicians) of the West decided that it is more profitable to trade with the Bolsheviks than to fight. The result is the Second World War and the Cold War, not to mention smaller conflicts. You can recall both the Munich Treaty, and much more. But it seems more relevant what is happening before our eyes.

About a decade ago or a little more than the United States were an absolute leader in the Hi-Tech production. The whole world used the products of Silicon Valley. Now all this is mainly produced in China and other Asian countries. After all, it is beneficial. There is cheaper labor. Say that these production belong to the Americans? I assure you, not for long. With their investments in the economy of China, the United States provided it with such an increase that the Chinese will not even have to nationalize their enterprises - they will simply buy them.

There are more dangerous examples. Say, no one wants to take responsibility for a very difficult gas situation. It is much more profitable to give it to the bandits and agree with them, so as not to gang up too. Only, I am afraid, thanks to these agreements, the gangster regime will get stronger and turn into such a monster that Hitler will seem a boy in comparison with him.

I hope that no one needs to prove that to supply nuclear technologies of North Korea or Iran is suicide, in spite of any benefits. So, to support Putin’s regimes, Lukashenko and the same as exactly the same thing. It’s not that someone can use nuclear weapons. This is unlikely. But, having gained strength, they will impose their values ​​to the whole world, by no means European and not democratic.

So respected “strategists”, if they do not once want to lose their things as familiar to them, like a fair court, free elections, etc., I strongly recommend that you stop the protection of human rights in other countries as charity. This is your investment in your future.

PhotoGro -Aafia Hedgehog / Olendskaya Maria