Posted on 08/08/2008 4:45:11 PM PDT by kronos77
One fact is clear: the Kremlin's troops would not be in South Ossetia today if Georgia were a loyal ally. Instead, Mr Saakashvili is paying the price for his pro-Western foreign policy and, in particular, his ambition to join Nato.
Two key events well beyond Georgia's borders have triggered Russia's fury. The first was Kosovo's declaration of independence in February and the new country's subsequent recognition by many Western states. This brought a public warning from Moscow that Kosovo's move to independence could set a precedent for Georgia's two breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The second was Nato's pledge at the Bucharest summit in April that membership of the Atlantic Alliance for both Georgia and Ukraine was not a matter of "if" but "when", although in deference to Russian objections, no timetable for entry was granted. This provoked Vladimir Putin, then still Russia's president, to promise more support for Georgia's breakaway regions.
Despite the Cold War's demise, Russia regards the successor states of the old Soviet Union as its sphere of influence. This intervention is about sending a message from Moscow to Washington to "keep your nose out" of an area that the Kremlin has always seen as being inside its domain.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Ping!
Kosovo is going to haunt us as the biggest foreign policy blunder since Jimmy Carter.
Kremlin's troops would not be in South Ossetia today if Georgia were a loyal ally. Instead, Mr Saakashvili is paying the price for his pro-Western foreign policy
This however is asinine. Interesting that the Telegraph UK is carrying the Kremlin's water here. What does this sentence imply? That a sovereign country, like Georgia can't pursue an own foreign policy, and unless it "loyally" follows Moscow it deserves to be invaded and occupied? Preposterous.
um, Cuban Missile crisis ring a bell?
No doubt about that.
Yes this war is a tragic shame. I pray for a quick ceasefire. The world is already chokeful of trouble.
http://www.rttnews.com/Content/GeneralNews.aspx?Node=B1&Id=673840
"Last month, apparently angered by the U.S. plans to install a missile-defense shield along Eastern European borders, Russia's top military leaders called for establishing a military presence in Cuba, which is about 90 miles from the United States."
yitbos
1,400 civilians dead as Russia 'goes to war' with Georgia over breakaway region
"The Vaziani military base near Tblisi, until recently home to 1,000 US Marines on a training operation, was also reportedly struck."
Maybe next time Armenia demands resolutions from our Congress condemning the genocide 100 years ago in Ottoman Turkey Congress can ask about things a little more recent.
Hard to be a loyal allie to the guy that tried to poison you to death and left you disfigured for life.
That is Ukraine.
fair is fair, right?
i tell you what: go up north and find a bear that’s coming out of hibernation and poke it with a stick.
US/NATO policies have done much to bring the Putin faction to power. images of the Kosovo cluster/fk were there for all Russians to see and they are angry.
Thanks, oops...
Still hard to like Putin..
The oil pipeline through Georgia and Turkey is the only route that does not go through either Russia or Iran
As a Serb, as a Orthodox Christian I weep for both Russian and Georgian soldiers and civilians killed in this senseless war.
And I believe that oil is behind all of this:( <<<<
I think you are correct.
Am praying for a speedy end to this war and all wars.
Ping.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.