Just A Thought

Late news story: "Hawaiian Sovereignty Activists Barricade Iolani Palace".

As I write this, the matter has not been resolved. The Hawaiian authorities are taking a low-key approach, and hope to settle this without resort to force.

But suppose they can't? What do you suppose would happen if this situation drags on for days or weeks?

After all, there are some countries out there that do not wish us well. What would happen if one or two of them were to take an interest in this matter, and use it to poke Uncle Sam in the eye a bit?

Remember that in the very recent past, the United States intervened to enable part of another sovereign nation, the province of Kosovo, to secede and form an independent country. Russia, as Serbia's closest ally, was mightily displeased, and not without reason. Kosovo had been an integral part of Serbia for about 800 years – many times longer than Hawaii has been a part of the United States.

Unlikely as it would be, just suppose that Russia got together with its ally, China, and decided to intervene on behalf of the "Hawaiian Kingdom Government". Let's say that they decide to bring the matter up before the United Nations, they succeed in initiating a discussion by the Security Council, and the result is that the UN decides to intervene. What would we do? Would we just tell them in diplo-speak to mind their own business? Or, more typically, would we allow such a charade to proceed on the grounds that otherwise, the rest of the world might not love us?

Fast forward a couple of years. After duly investigating the situation, appointing dozens of committees, and sending a succession of highly-paid "rapporteurs" to Hawaii at UN (read: our) expense, the Security Council decides that the "Hawaiian Kingdom Government" is, in fact, the legitimate government of Hawaii. The Security Council then votes to order us to allow Hawaii to secede and declare its independence. What would we do then? Would we finally put a stop to the nonsense by exercising our veto as a Permanent Member of the Security Council? Or would we recuse ourselves on the grounds that it would be somehow unfair for us to throw our weight around?

Serbia tried to tell the UN and the US to mix out. They argued that Kosovo was an integral part of Serbia, and that its problems were a purely internal matter. It did them no good, of course, because in any clash with the UN and the US as its policeman, Serbia would be helpless, and everyone knew it. Their ally, Russia, disapproved strongly of what we did, but fortunately, not strongly enough to attempt to help the Serbs with military force.

So what do you suppose we'd do if this little scenario were to play out as I have described it? Would we do as Serbia did and argue that Hawaii is an integral part of the United States, and therefore, its internal problems are off-limits to the UN? Obviously, the big difference is that we have the power to insure that Hawaii doesn't secede – if we choose to exercise it. Or would we accept the judgment of the UN and set a date for Hawaiian Independence Day?

Just a thought.