A Little News

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Putin Shows Who's In Charge

I have purposely held off writing anything about the Russians until things in Georgia developed a little more. From all the reports I've seen, Russian forces continue their aggression even though a cease fire accord was signed after negotiations with the French.

You'll have to excuse me for reflecting back on Poland in 1939. The duplicitous Russians had signed a secret agreement, along with the Non-Aggression Pact with Germany, which gave them half of Poland as theirs once Germany attacked. The reason that war was declared within days was due to the fact that England and France had signed an agreement with Poland to treat an attack on Poland as an attack on them as well.

Georgia has applied for membership in NATO, as has Ukraine. If they had already been approved as members, we would be at war now.

Instead, we are doing everything we can to try and resolve the matter diplomatically. Meanwhile, Russian forces have basically cut the small country in half, and their forces are 20 miles outside Tbilisi, the capitol of Georgia. Diplomacy is the correct course, but for how much longer?

The disputed regions have a majority of people who are Russian - just like there were so many Germans in the Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia and Poland. The Georgian President's movement of forces into the area last week, albeit an action of questionable judgement, was a movement of a country's forces within their own borders. Nonetheless, it was the pretext the Russian's used for their entry.

In May of 2007, in a post entitled "What's Your Guess?", I made the observation that it appeared that Russia's experiment with democracy was over. If anyone has any doubts about who's really making the calls in Russia these days, then you haven't been paying attention. Mr. Putin is the man in charge; an ultra-nationalist who is seeking to rebuild the old Soviet Union.

I suspect that all of the threats and sanctions mean very little to Putin, because he has the power of immense reserves of oil and gas at his command. Not only does he have the ability to put Europe through an extremely cold winter, but his actions would have a dramatic economic impact worldwide. I don't think that means a lot to him either.

So what are we going to do?

The first thing we have to do is make sure we act in unison with the Europeans. Sending Secretary Rice to France and Georgia, and sending humanitarian supplies are good first steps. We have to ascertain if the Europeans are willing to commit forces if it comes to that. We are in no position to take on the Russians by ourselves, but we can do a lot of other things to isolate Russia from the international community with the cooperation of our European allies.

Dismissal from the G8 should be immediate.

If Russia refuses to remove it's forces from Georgia, we should immediately grant NATO membership to Poland, Ukraine, and any other former members of the soviet block who want to join. I don't know if NATO membership would have kept the Russian's out of Georgia, but if they don't leave, we have to draw a clear line in the sand that alerts Putin to the fact that the world will not tolerate any further aggression. We prefer discussion and negotiation, but if they chose otherwise, they will learn that the forces of democracy cannot be overcome.

The Georgian forces may have over-reacted; they may have been driven to action by KGB provocateurs - how it began will take some investigation, but there is no doubt that Russia's actions have gone far beyond their stated goals. If we fail to unite and act as the forces of democracy, it does not bode well for the growth of freedom around the world.

If a cowardly bully is never faced down, they continue their domineering behavior. Sometimes a show of force is sufficient, sometimes it isn't. We have to be ready to react to either situation.

10 comments:

NorthCountryLiberal said...

"If Russia refuses to remove it's forces from Georgia, we should immediately grant NATO membership to Poland, Ukraine, and "

1. Rice is impotent. Thanks to the NEOCON's over-extension of our military we couldn't invade Liechtenstein.

2. Russia had more rationale to invade Georgia than we had to invade Iraq.

3. After a whole week of "diplomacy" the conservative nut jobs are looking for a way to "kick their ass" if they don't listen.

Who are the bullies, Watson?

Watson said...

Secretary Rice is no more, or no less impotent than Madeline Albright. The situation doesn't appear ripe for compromise, but if we didn't send the Secretary of State you'd complain about that. Liechtenstein? I agree that our military is overextended, at least as far as ground forces are concerned. That's why NATO is so important. If every country in NATO stands up to Russia, perhaps we can stop any future invasion plans they have.

Moral relativism applied to war - what's gotten into you PCS?

No one wants to kick anyone's ass amd you know it. If the Russian's had stuck with the "Peacekeepers", and had just stayed in the south of Georgia, we would not have the more ominous situation we have now. I understand that they view themselves as liberators, but when the Russian Foreign Minister says we shouldn't worry about Georgia's territorial integrity, how do you think the people in Ukraine and elsewhere feel? Do you honestly believe that this was just a "humanitarian" invasion?

What would you have us do PCS? How long does diplomacy continue while people die? Should we just ignore them all together? Other than Jesus, Ghandi, Dr. King, very few men have faced down the aggression of one sovereign state against another with non-violent protest. Are you suggesting that we should all just stop buying Russian products as a sign of solidarity with the Georgians? That's one small step.

No one wants another world war. If the free nations of the world fail to come together and stop Russia, I fear it would be inevitable at some point in the future.

Condi got one thing right, this isn't 1968 - it's 2008 and the stakes are just as high now as they were then.

Oh, and you know who the real bullies are too. We have had our moments in history, but I'll still give us better grades for intent.

Watson said...

My apologies NCL - I'm so used to verbal exchanges with PCS I just automatically put his moniker in the comments. I am sorry and can only plead guilty as charged.

I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen again, but short term memory retention is not one of my best subjects in school these days.

NorthCountryLiberal said...

"Secretary Rice is no more, or no less impotent than Madeline Albright"

Oh! Yes she is. The Secretary of State is only as influential as her boss, and Bush has become impotent in doreign affairs. In spite of what went on under his desk, Clinton was one of the most influential and popular presidents in Foreign relations.

"What would you have us do PCS? How long does diplomacy continue while people die?"

I wouldn't have us go in there with guns blaz'in. If we're so conserned about people dying, what about Darfor and Rwanda?

What's driving this entheusiasn for WWIII is the Military Industrial Complex that our ecomony is increasingly based on.

"Condi got one thing right, this isn't 1968 - it's 2008"

And it's not 2002 either. How can you conservatives keep a straight face when you show your moral indignation. Russia "unilaterally invaded a sovereign nation" for their "national interest", just as we did. The only thing different is they did it with less technology, bravado and lies to the citizens.

Watson said...

I'm not sure if you're referencing the President's "lame duck" status as the cause of his "impotence", or if its your hatred of the man that prompts your observation. I'll grant you one thing, Slick Willie was popular regardless of his sexual proclivities, but his grasp of foreign policy was, and is, that of a person who'd rather be liked than right. I wouldn't select Slick as an example to be held up to anyone, especially our children.

If you can't make the distinction between our actions in Iraq and Russia's, it's only because it wasn't a Democrat at the helm.

The dreaded "military-industrial-complex" boogeyman makes an appearance. Don't you guys ever come up with a new playbook? Enthusiasm for WWIII? Are you out of your mind?

Try taking American politics out of the situation before rushing to judgement on the Russians.

Rwanda and Darfur are perfect examples of why the UN is totally useless when it comes to standing up to aggression. They're also examples of why unity amongst the NATO members is so important.

"The only thing different is they did it with less technology, bravado and lies to the citizens." Sounds like you've found yourself a new home - when do leave for Russia?

NorthCountryLiberal said...

Watson,
I think the biggest difference between our politics is that you mistake dogma for patriotism and I believe patriots have a duty to criticize when their government goes off the path laid out by Constitution.

No, not impotent because he is a lame duck, but because he is "lame period". Can you tell me what part of being President he hasn't screwed up or screwed over in 7 1/2 years? Justice department? Environment? Foreign affairs? Economy? Trade? Employmeent? Health care? Energy? Immigration? Education? The Constitution?

(demeur: http://demeur.blogspot.com/ has a good series on Bush and the Constitutional Ammendments)

I recommend you read a more balanced variety of news sources and blogs. You seem to be wandering in that conservative talk radio fog.

I can't answer any of the rest of your paragraphs because I can't find any substance in them. Go to Russia, boogieman, useless U.N.. What can I say? Yo Mama?

PCS said...

Seems to me I'm the one due the apologie. Geez, do you argue with me in your dreams too?

PCS said...

If a cowardly bully is never faced down, they continue their domineering behavior. Hmmm, I wonder to whom else that statement might apply?

Watson said...

Come on PCS, let's be a little more specific. Is it your contention that the United States is a cowardly bully?

Thank God I don't dream about you; if that starts happening I'll need a psychiatrist and a good explanation of why I voted for Obama.

NCL - sorry, that little Russia line was meant as a joke. I have not listened to talk radio since May - I'm not traveling now so there's no reason to turn on the radio. Believe it or not, I don't rely on Rush Limbaugh or Randi Rhodes for my opinions. I have my paradigm through which I view the world, and my major concern is trying to avoid WW III - it kind of usurped climate change for the moment. I'm sure you'd like to avoid WW III as well - the trick is to find the balance between the carrot and the stick. If the stick is no where to be seen, or if it's perceived as a "paper tiger", then I believe that the Russians will just decide to pick their own carrots.

PCS said...

I was thinking more of G.W. Bush as the cowardly bully.