Russia is Punishing Georgia and Sending a Clear Message to Other Would-be NATO Allies
Vladimir Putin Will Not Tolerate Opposition to His Goals of Russian Supremacy
Saakashvili takes the Bait and the Trap Slams Shut
Without going too far into the details (and there are some complicating factors), Russia is absolutely infuriated by the idea of Georgia or any other former Soviet Block country turning its allegiance toward NATO and the west. Let's not forget that as the head of the KGB, Vladimir Putin was, and remains, a true Soviet until his dying breath. His goal is Russian supremacy over the West. He will not allow Georgia to defy that goal.
The high price of oil is funding Putin's mission. The Georgia president, Mikheil Saakashvili, has been a thorn in his side for years with his opposition to Russia and his pro-west policies. Russia has used the breakaway province of Ossetia as wedge to keep their military foot in the door. Without Russian military assistance, this tiny rebellion would have been crushed and the territory re-assimilated years ago. Instead Russia has fanned the flames between Georgia and Ossetia. There have been numerous Russian military provocations against Georgian territory and Georgia has, until now, refused to rise and take the bait.
Russia's Message to Former Soviet Block Countries
Now, though, for whatever reason, Saakashvili and Georgia have gambled badly and given Russia the excuse that it has been engineering for the last few years. Russia is punishing Georgia for its defiance. Russia is sending a message to all its neighbors, and the message is this: "The West will talk nicely with you and support you with words, but they will not defend you against Russian tanks. If you do not respect Russia and do as we wish, you will also be punished." It's a very similar message to the one learned by any former serious political opponents who sought to run against Vladimir Putin within Russia.
President Bush Finds Putin Trustworthy
The master of the Soviet KGB is now the master of Russia and he does not allow enemies to survive. President Bush once said of Vladimir Putin: "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul." Because of that trustworthiness that President Bush saw when he looked into eyes of the leader of the Soviet secret police, President Bush has let Russia build its strength and has backed down from them at every juncture. He will back down again in Georgia. Russia will stop its attacks in Georgia when Saakashvili is either dead, imprisoned, or so politically and militarily weakened that he and the rest of the pro-western government of Georgia are finished. That won't take long, but the repercussions will last a long, long time. As will the object lesson Russia is teaching to each and every one of its neighbors about the consequences of looking to the United States for help against Russia. As long as America's oil dependency continues to support high oil prices, we, ourselves are providing Russia with nearly unlimited funding in their mission.
Published by Brad Sylvester - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Brad spent 18 years in the consumer electronics industry, including more than ten years in new product development. He now writes full time from his home in the mountains of New Hampshire. View profile
Is Georgia a Distraction for Russia While the US Attacks Iran?There are a few things coming to light which seems to be painting a rather dim picture of events yet to come. The news this week was a Georgian attack on Russian soldiers in Sou...
Russia, Energy, and the New Cold WarRussia is attempting to regain control of its oil and gas production. Russia is now the number two producer in the world. With surging output, Russia will be able to spend mor...- The Idiotic Action of President Saakashvili?On analyzing President Saakashvili's action of launching an attack on the citizens of South Ossetia and thus on the mighty Russian Bear, I have found a possible answer to this idiotic feat.
Nationalism, Militarism and Lies: Georgia's Deadly MixThe recent war between Georgia and Russia in South Ossetia is the culmination of more than a decade and a half of bad Western policy in the Caucasus.
- Russia Invades South Ossetia, Georgia
- Russia Invades South Ossetia
- Russia Invades Georgia Over South Ossetia Province
- Russia Looking for a Fight with Georgia Over South Ossetia
- Marshal Josip Broz Tito, President-for-Life of Yugoslavia
- Literature and Censorship in the Time of Soviet Russia
- Russia Invades Georgia
- Vladimir Putin is showing former Soviet Block neighbors what NATO will do for them.
- Putin has said publicly that the breakup of the Soviet Union was a great tradegy.
- Russia will stop its attacks in Georgia only when the Saakashvili government is completely defeated.
8 Comments
Post a CommentI would rather portray in the story about the collective aspirations of South Ossetia to be freed from Georgia. This is the underlying factor which the writer failed to see. South Ossetian wishes to become Independent. If South Ossetia wishes to be a part of the Russian Federation then we should all respect this.
There is clearly a bias in this piece to point the finger at Russia. Lets remember that the Georgian army shelled Ossetia at night, most of which are Russian/Ossetian civilians, all before the Russian army stepped foot into Ossetian or Georgian territory. They had every right to act, and they clearly weren't going to permit another genocide like the Georgians orchestrated in the 90s. Georgia was already receiving help from the United States, they got all their weapons from us and Israel. There were 1,000 United States troops in Georgia a couple weeks before this attack, training the Georgians for the "coming battle". Its sad the Georgians would rather continue to kill civilians who never wanted to be part of them, than allow them to leave in a gesture of closure. I'm still waiting for fair and balanced reporting.
Dave, The conflict between between Ossetia and Georgia is one thing, but I'm referring to Russia's involvement. To Russia, Ossetia is a convenient pawn to be played and sacrificed, nothing more.
It would be interesting had you added that South Ossetia never was a part of Georgia - it was "forcefully" incorporated into Georgia by Stalin,
after Stalin annexed Georgia. As soon as the Soviet Union broke up, Ossetia claimed its independence. It's not a matter of fanning new flames at all, it has been centuries old struggle for Ossetian's which goes back the the 1800's.
This is a very interesting article! Thanks!
Really great coverage! Just want to add that there are plenty of alternative renewable enrergy sources that could be "off the ground" in the near future and should have been already.
Thank you for your submission. Your article has been featured on the front page of AC.
Please keep AC stocked with great front-page material.
If you read high-quality content you believe is worthy of the front page, let us know by using this forum thread:
http://forum.associatedcontent.com/forum.shtml?thread=20963
You started off well, then failed at the end. Two things: if President Bush had taken a stronger tone against Russia, you would be blaming that stronger tone for provoking Russia into this war with Georgia. And, as far as the oil is concerned, Russia would make their money off of China and India whether or not America was addicted to oil. Where else do we have to turn anyway? Wind? Hydro-electric? Nothing but oil can be afforded at this point, at least untl we get alternative energies off the ground. Then again, I guess we could go back to horse-and-buggy.