The Prime Directive
As 2014 winds to an end, it seems to be an appropriate time for reflection. After 13 years, al Qaeda is still with us. Bin Laden is dead, but his ideology lives on. Thousands of young men are flocking to the banner of the Islamic State and the Middle East is in flames. Hackers, most likely from North Korea, are calling the shots in Hollywood. Saudi Arabia is playing a game of chicken with the American fracking industry. Russia is testing NATO’s resolve. Cuba claims victory in their struggle against the United States. Tensions are high within the United States. It has not been a banner year. Where has it all gone wrong? The United States is still a global superpower, but troubling signs have emerged and America’s rivals seem to be emboldened and sensing opportunity. In an effort to forget about the bad news, I tuned into my inner nerd and watched an old Star Trek episode.
Yes, the original series is approaching 50 years old. However, the show’s message seems to radiate a timeless appeal. Since the television show is a product of its time, the crew dealt with issues that America was, and still is, grappling with: disruptive technological advances, war, racism, religion, women’s rights and the rights of other nations and peoples to choose their own destiny . However, short of transporter malfunctions, or the effects of alien diseases, the crew never lost sight of their altruistic goals. The United Federation of Planets would be a force for good in the galaxy and their members’ deeds had to match their hopeful and positive mindset. Through it all, the message was consistent, positive and hopeful. I found that message uplifting and yes, comforting. I believe that is what is missing in today’s America.
America has not been consistent with its messaging to the rest of the world. Our leaders criticize human rights violations by some nations, but look the other way in cases where it is expedient and helpful to our nation’s cause. Our leaders spend decades supporting authoritarian governments, but abandon the same governments when our new leaders determine that it is time for a change (or multiple changes in a short time span). The recent history of Egypt provides a superb illustration of these inconsistencies. How can we expect other leaders and people to trust our country with the obvious inconsistencies in America’s message? The world is changing rapidly in the information age and the Internet will allow messaging inconsistencies to be challenged almost immediately, without filtering. Unfortunately, those inconsistencies are then used to justify conspiracy theories and negative responses from America’s rivals.
By my own admission, I am not a positive individual. Sadly, I seem to be finding more company than ever in today’s America. Recent events and recent elections are evidence of a nation that is increasingly divided. In my estimation, what is missing is leadership. However, it is not enough to talk about hope. A true leader doesn’t bend with the wind of discontent either. America, and indeed the world, needs leaders who actually walk the walk. Actions speak louder than words.
Americans also need to have a frank discussion about the common values we share going forwards, rather than constantly fighting over our differences, and we need to emphasize those shared values. We might also demand that our leaders stand up for those values. It seems that our values and messages shift dramatically with each election cycle and that inconsistency is reflected in our foreign policy. We have to strive for consistency to restore faith and trust in the United States.
Some people believe that globalization will solve all these problems and the concept of the nation state has outlived its usefulness. Perhaps that will be true one day, but for now I think it is important for the United States to provide solid leadership during troubled times if we want to see that golden future.
Not too many months ago, I was fortunate enough to hear a speaker talking about a National Strategic Narrative. I am not going to claim that this is absolutely the correct narrative, or the only narrative that might work for the future of America, but I found its message alluring. I hope that you might also find something uplifting and comforting in this message:
It is time for America to re-focus our national interests and principles through a long lens on the global environment of tomorrow. It is time to move beyond a strategy of containment to a strategy of sustainment (sustainability); from an emphasis on power and control to an emphasis on strength and influence; from a defensive posture of exclusion, to a proactive posture of engagement. We must recognize that security means more than defense, and sustaining security requires adaptation and evolution, the leverage of converging interests and interdependencies. To grow we must accept that competitors are not necessarily adversaries, and that a winner does not demand a loser. We must regain our credibility as a leader among peers, a beacon of hope, rather than an island fortress. It is only by balancing our interests with our principles that we can truly hope to sustain our growth as a nation and to restore our credibility as a world leader.
Perhaps there is something important we can learn from Star Trek after all!
