06 Jul 2009 |
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| By JIM ELLIOTT President Obama is being criticized by some for not talking tough enough with one nation or another or for being too tolerant of some religious beliefs. This behavior, which we have not seen in a president for some time now, is known in some circles as “manners,” and in foreign affairs as “diplomacy.” It is a pretty old practice as far as relationships among nations are concerned, and often yields unexpected benefits. Talking tough, which Obama has indeed exercised as well, has its place too, but not as the only course of action. Talk tough long enough and you may back yourself into a corner you can’t get out of. The invasion and occupation of Iraq come to mind. Our nation was founded by men who believed strongly in having good diplomatic relations with other nations both in principle and in practice. Our Declaration of Independence was not an “in your face” document; it is a model of firm speech delivered in a dignified manner. We didn’t just confront the King of England for his crimes against the American colonies and say, “make my day,” because the Declaration of Independence was also a diplomatic document directed not so much at the British as it was at the other European powers. The American Continental Congress had already declared to Britain its resolve to fight for American liberties, while still remaining as British colonies, on July 6, 1775, in the “Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms.” The Declaration of Independence made the case for our break from Britain in a calm yet forceful manner designed to elicit understanding in other nations, and not the least because we were in a war we could not win without the acceptance and support of the world’s powers—England excepted. The Declaration made clear that what had been an internal conflict in the British Empire was now a war between two sovereign nations. Governments that were wary of meddling in Britain’s internal affairs were now given notice that America had taken her place among the nations of the world, and as such requested their help in our fight for freedom. On the Fourth of July we might revel in the fact—if we think of it at all—that our tiny nation beat the most powerful military force in the world. But we had plenty of help, both military and financial, from France, Poland, Prussia, Sweden and other European nations, and we had it because of the diplomatic efforts of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, and the tactful wording of the Declaration of Independence. France had plenty of self interest at stake, anything that diminished British power was helpful; but most allied with America because they believed deeply in the American cause and many individuals personally took up arms, on our soil, on our behalf. The Prussian born drillmaster General Friedrich von Steuben trained the Continental Army in military procedures to work as a disciplined unit rather than a collection of fighting individuals. He wrote what was to become the training manual for the army. Polish born Casimir Pulaski served as Brigadier General of American Cavalry and is regarded by some as the “Father of the American Cavalry." He was killed fighting with the French forces in the battle of Savannah in 1779. His countryman Thaddeus Kosciuszko was colonel of engineers for the Continental Army and was responsible for the Continental Army’s battle fortifications. He was later made engineer of West Point, the fortress that commanded travel on the Hudson River, and which, at Kosciuszko’s suggestion, became our Military Academy. The French contribution was the most important in terms of both military help and financing. The Marquis de Lafayette not only fought in battle on our behalf, as did some 90 other French officers, he also helped finance it. Among the other officers was Pierre L’Enfant, a self taught architect who served as a major in the war, and went on to design our nation’s capital city. The victory at Yorktown in 1781 which effectively ended the war was won by Washington’s 8,800 man Continental Army and 7,800 French troops under the command of General de Rochambeau. None of this could have happened without the diplomatic efforts of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Since our beginnings America has, more often than not, relied on diplomacy rather than force to recruit allies amongst other nations, and it’s good to see it’s being used again. You never know when you might need a friend.
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