"Pacta Sunt Servanda"



Do you remember Gorbachev's "Pacta Sunt Servanda" speech in 1988 before the United Nations? The elasticity of time remained fixed at that moment. In the speech he, the head of Russia, offered to break with Soviet tradition and follow the rule of law in the principle of Pacta Sunt Servanda, or "International agreements will be honored." Perhaps all the players presently on the Georgia front need to re-evaluate historical space of Power acceding to Law. Mikhail Gorbachev, the author of that historic speech, says in a New York Times Op-Ed today:

"What is needed is a legally binding agreement not to use force. Mr. Saakashvili has repeatedly refused to sign such an agreement, for reasons that have now become abundantly clear.

"The West would be wise to help achieve such an agreement now. If, instead, it chooses to blame Russia and re-arm Georgia, as American officials are suggesting, a new crisis will be inevitable. In that case, expect the worst.

"..There is much talk now in the United States about rethinking relations with Russia. One thing that should definitely be rethought: the habit of talking to Russia in a condescending way, without regard for its positions and interests.

"Our two countries could develop a serious agenda for genuine, rather than token, cooperation. Many Americans, as well as Russians, understand the need for this. But is the same true of the political leaders?"

One wonders how Putin would react to an American leader bringing up "Pacta Sunt Servanda." Does it stink too much of Gorbachev, who is domestically toxic? It is a sound principle in spite of the author of its sentiment. But Russia couldn't discard the principle as it does every time America chides Putin for aggression. What was Unilateralism if not naked aggression argued on the basis of American strength?

Presently our arsenal of tactics to combat Russian aggression includes only hot servings of rhetoric (Averted Gaze) and a missile agreement with Poland, which will only serve to rankle the already rankled Russian Bear. If the United States raises "Pacta Sunt Servanda" with Putin and the Russian leader rejects it, he rejects international law. Advantage: United States of America. He becomes the aggressor before the parliament of nations. And America, no longer drunk on Vulcan neoconnivances(The Corsair sips a naive Zin), will once again be on the side of Law,and Russia will be perceived as the rogue (much as we have been perceived as a result of the Second Persian War). Putin would probably respect such a strategic act of Jiu Jitsu, being a Judo man himself. Russia presently has the advantage of facing America in an historical reversal of sorts -- In the '80 Summer Olympics it was the Soviet Union mired in Afghanistan, and at the '08 Olympics it is the United States stuck on the steppes of Central Asia.

Machiavelli, in the hot place, is smiling. We must eschew Niccolo's power politics and instead heed the words of Alexis de Tocqueville who predicted:

"There are now two great nations in the world which, starting from different points, seem to be advancing toward the same goal: the Russians and the Anglo-Americans. Both have grown in obscurity, and while the world’s attention was occupied elsewhere, they have suddenly taken their place among the leading nations, making the world take note of their birth and of their greatness almost at the same instant. All other peoples seem to have nearly reached their natural limits and to need nothing but to preserve them; but these two are growing…. The American fights against natural obstacles; the Russian is at grips with men. The former combats the wilderness and barbarism; the latter, civilization with all its arms. America’s conquests are made with the plowshare, Russia’s with the sword. To attain their aims, the former relies on personal interest and gives free scope to the unguided strength and common sense of individuals. The latter in a sense concentrates the whole power of society in one man. One has freedom as the principal means of action; the other has servitude. Their point of departure is different and their paths diverse; nevertheless, each seems called by some secret desire of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the world."

Two World Wars have started in Eastern Europe, and The Corsair is damn well not disposed to entering into a Third in that locale. Cooler heads must prevail this time, Condi Rice.