Spies -

What is that Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times". Well, these times are interesting well beyond my sense of logic and understanding. Take for example the workings of international affairs. The West, and especially the US, seem to be in a phase where we are afraid to confront or offend our enemies, though not afraid to alienate our friends.

I would venture to say the US reached the zenith of its power and prestige when the Soviet Union collapsed. But somehow, in attempting to make all of the former Soviet bloc our friends, we seem to have bent over a little too far.

Consider the most recent incident. A dozen Russian spies were caught in the US. They had been in the US for years under deep cover. And what is the result of the disclosure of these spies in our midst? The US says that they are hopeful that this incident will not harm US-Russian relations. Huh??? The US is worried that catching Russian spies might be a BAD thing? What the hell is this?

Put another way, we are afraid the burglars who are about to rob our homes, will be mad at us when we catch them?? Can someone explain that logic to me? Is this the current meaning of the phrase "political correctness"? You aren’t supposed to call out the people who are stealing from you??? Really. I mean this isn’t a board game people, this is real espionage. Is the Cold War even really over if the Russians still have deep cover spies in the US?

Consider some of our other "close friends". The Chinese are not only spying on the West but are constantly attempting - and succeeding - to hack into top secret computer systems with no apparent consequences. Because we don’t want to antagonize them either. The Saudis finance jihadists, but Western leaders still show great deference to these duplicitous desert sheiks.

All of these nations are engaged in actions intended to cause us harm, and they are doing so with impunity.

Maybe it’s just me, but this doesn’t look like diplomacy, it looks like fear and the United States should not be looking fearful on the international stage.

I must be really naïve in the art of international affairs because I assumed that if you spy on me and steal from me, and finance my enemies… you are not my friend no matter how many times you get to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom.