Come to Georgia and you will witness an extraordinary transformation, a triumph of Western values that cost not a single American bullet nor the life of a single European soldier to achieve.

A country that five years ago was falling apart—where electricity came and went and corruption and criminal syndicates ruled—is now an emerging liberal European democracy rooted in the rule of law and respect for human rights. Our elections are truly free, our economy is one of Europe's fastest growing, and the World Bank ranks Georgia as the No. 1 reformer in the world.

Georgia is a signal triumph of soft power—that is, the persuasive power of ideas—and a foreign policy that stresses morals as well as interests. The 2004 Rose Revolution, which unfolded without violence, was fomented by a growing awareness among the Georgian people that there were other, better ways to be governed. The current cabinet is composed of young leaders educated at the West's best universities, often thanks to scholarships. My own studies at Columbia University's School of Law were made possible by a Muskie Fellowship specifically designed to help advance economic and democratic growth in Eurasia.

Such Western aspirations are not limited to Georgia's well-educated elite. More than three quarters of Georgians, according to independent polls, support NATO integration and want to draw closer to the European Union. Having lived through a series of authoritarian systems, they know their options—and they've chosen to look westward.

This is thanks in no small part to the United States under the Bush administration, which not only championed democracy in its rhetoric but also used its soft power to advance it. Western institutions have helped train Georgia's judges and modernize its prisons. Meanwhile, Washington, together with several EU countries, has argued forcefully for Georgia's integration into NATO. This is not meant to rebuff Russia but to reaffirm NATO's moral relevance by supporting the free will and hard work of my country's people. It also reflects the fact that Georgia is now a net contributor to global security through its participation in peacekeeping operations and as an alternative route for sustainable energy.

As a result of its resolve, the United States remains popular in Georgia—unlike many other parts of the world. This is an echo of the good will America generated in the 1990s with its unwavering support of Eastern European and Baltic states as they pursued their successful integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.

The Bush administration's foreign policy has been maligned in many quarters, and the next administration might be tempted to start again from scratch. Where Washington has faltered, however, it has largely been a failure of means, not purpose. It would thus be a disaster to throw the baby out with the bath water. Being forcefully present in the world and cultivating a democratic option for people living in oppression is more important than ever. Further strengthening U.S. credibility will require not only new approaches to intractable problems but also the courage to recognize and continue what the Bush administration has done right.

Georgia's neighbors in the Black Sea, Caucasus and Central Asia are watching our experiment closely. We still have much to do: our judiciary must be further strengthened, our government institutions made more robust, and a new generation of Georgians must be educated so as to pursue full and independent lives.

If Georgia, with the support of the EU and the United States, continues to consolidate its progress in building a sustainable democracy, it can set an example for others. This is the particular multiplying magic of soft power—its transformative potential rests in the ability to peacefully persuade others to be their own agents of change. If Georgia one day becomes a model for countries in our neighborhood, it will serve as a ringing tribute to a foreign policy guided by values and backed by the robust and consistent deployment of soft power.

Saakashvili is president of the Republic of Georgia.