Former diplomat Gregory Djerejian argues that Georgia would be wiser to adopt realpolitick foreign policy, "Saakashvili, an apparently quite idealistic 40 year-old former NY lawyer, seems to have erred too much in thinking that giddy summitry with Western big-wigs might pay dividends but unfortunately, insufficiently appreciated the disastrous waning in U.S. power these past years, despite his constant hankering for NATO membership, and thus has fallen short with regard to better appreciating a variable which would have been more apropos, namely, a harsh dose of realpolitik." This means recognizing Russian power on Georgia's northern border and conducting policy within that limitation.
Inherent in that assumption is the loss of American power. Russia and Iran are able to conduct their foreign policy in the manner they are because Iraq and Afghanistan have sapped American standing and power. Russia's adoption of the organization of nationalistic authoritarianism will place it in direct opposition to American interests. While I doubt it will be the binary globe of the Cold War - which will be the intellectually lazy manner in which to approach it - Russia and China will both challenge America as the sole hyper-power.
