Remember President Richard Nixon's "Ping Pong" Diplomacy that started the dismantling of the "Bamboo Curtain" and made the Chinese the unofficial allies of the United States in the Cold War against the Soviet Union?

Perhaps the national leaders of the United States can start a "Baseball" Diplomacy that may "reinvent" the country's foreign policy.

Here is how "Baseball Diplomacy" may work. The United States is losing a lot of support the world over because in fighting international terrorism, American policymakers and decision makers have opted to send abroad military advisers, special-forces scouts and military hardware. In Iraq and Afghanistan, tens of thousands of American soldiers are fielded to fight the terrorists. What if American leaders were to bat (pun intended) for a "Baseball" Diplomacy that would instead send abroad baseball scouts instead of army scouts and rangers?

Right now, American Major-League teams are sending scouts and representatives to countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America and Asia to look for the Third World's versions of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and other baseball greats. America is looking for the next Roberto Clemente and more of him and his passion for baseball and charitable works.

This blogger started a Filipino version of "Baseball Renaissance" by organizing a Filipino-American Community Night at the Dodger Stadium on July 24, 2006. We followed it with the Second Fil-Am Community Day at the Dodgers last July 1, 2007. Yes, American soldiers and bureaucrats introduced baseball to the Philippines in 1899 and Filipino players dominated baseball in the Far East in the 1920s and 1930s. Baseball is one of the few sports that small people like Filipinos can excel in because it does not require players to be giants like the NBA wizards in basketball, which is now the craze in the Philippines. Yes, the world needs not only a baseball renaissance but also the development of it in Africa and other soccer-crazy continents.

What if our political leaders can champion a "Baseball" Diplomacy, where instead of building overseas military camps and prisons, the United States were to build "fields of dreams" and baseball infrastructures? What if Americans were to promote international aid that would consist of baseball bats and paraphernalia, instead of Armalites and rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers? What if our leaders were to propose that the "fields of dreams" were to be constructed adjacent to corn fields - just like in that movie scene in Dyersville, Iowa - and grow lots of it to produce ethanol and help the Third World solve the problem of producing indigenous fuel? Corn also can be turned into cereals that can feed the malnourished children of the Third World.

Perhaps the whole world can profit more if the United States generates tons and tons of goodwill by promoting baseball, corn and ethanol production as the tools of American diplomacy. What if a lot of countries were to sing "Take me out to the ballgame . . ." instead of shouting, "Yankees go home . . ." and other anti-American slogans? Even Fidel Castro of Cuba loves baseball and he would probably welcome with open heart and gloves American "baseball diplomats."

What say you, baseball fans?