Georgia: The First Shot in a New Cold War

American Thinker ^ | August 12, 2008 | Lance Fairchok

[neverdem]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. In a replay of classic Soviet interventions from the cold war, using the flimsiest of contrived pretexts, Russia came to the rescue of a supposedly beleaguered minority in South Ossetia, a sparsely populated mountainous region and unimportant to Russian national security. Unimportant, but for the fact that Georgia, in which this afflicted minority resides, is a West-leaning democratic nation and US ally with aspirations of joining NATO. It is also a strategic conduit for oil from the surrounding region to the Black Sea and Europe.

In this larger context, we can surmise what Russia actually intends by its actions. This crisis was carefully choreographed by Moscow with Ossetia militia members firing on Georgian forces with weapons provided by Russian "peacekeepers," until they provoked a reaction, providing the excuse for an invasion.

Far from the localized "peace keeping" intervention to stop what the Russian foreign ministry called "genocide" in Ossetia, Russian bombers hit oil installations in Georgia, the main transit pipeline, its largest port and the international airport. A Russian tank division and artillery poured across Georgia's northern border and Russian ships blockaded it harbors while landing ground forces in Abkhazia, another separatist enclave on the Black sea. It now looks like Russia will prosecute a three-pronged attack on Georgia, and will likely continue until it can replace the government of Mikhail Saakashailli, turn around his reforms, and install a leader more pliable to Russian persuasion. Russia will not respond to Georgia's request for a cease-fire until its military objectives have been reached.

It is obvious Putin pulls the strings in Moscow and President Medvedev is his creature. Putin's vision of a resurgent Russia is ambitious and includes renewed support for Cuba, military aid for Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, and arms for Iran. He is a scion of the old KGB, with no qualms about assassinating unflattering journalists or political opponents, or removing an uncooperative head of state in Russia's sphere of influence. A communist at heart and a dictator by nature, Putin plans to rebuild the empire lost when the Soviet Union collapsed.

Russia is now a world oil power and growing economically. Putin understands energy is the weak underbelly of Europe. Controlling a large part of the oil flow gives him enormous leverage. European Union hand wringing was a given, its futile protests brushed aside. The Russians bet on the US being distracted by the upcoming election, its President made a lame duck by a Democrat-controlled Congress. Indeed, President Bush would be hard pressed to aid Georgia however much he wished. Not much of a gamble for Putin.

Apologists for Russia will soon surface. Already left-leaning pundits are blaming Georgia for provoking its own invasion and using the crisis for political ends.

"McCain took an inflexible approach to addressing this issue by focusing heavily on one side, without a pragmatic assessment of the situation," ..."It's both sides' fault - both have been somewhat provocative with each other," 
 - Mark Brzezinski,   a former Clinton White House National Security Council member and adviser to the Obama Campaign.

In the typically muddled, ill-informed realpolitik we expect from the left, we hear "It's both sides' fault," a justification to do nothing. It is troubling how foreign policy elites can make such nonsensical statements, ignoring all the evidence, just to appear reasoned and measured. That credulous moral equivalence encourages the Putins of the world. Presidential hopeful Barrack Obama condemned the violence in general terms, assigning no blame and predictably calling for UN intervention. When decisive action is called for, dialing the UN does not cut it, not when the stakes are this high.

The New York Times quoted   a Georgian officer leaving Ossetia:

A Georgian major who only gave his name as Georgy said, "Over the past few years, I lived in a democratic country, and I was happy. Now America and the European Union spit on us." He was driving an armored truck out of South Ossetia.

It is easy to understand the Major's frustration and anger. Georgia is a small country and its armed forces are fighting insurmountable odds. For him, it is his family that will suffer and his men that will die. He will likely fight to the bitter end to defend the young nation he loves. The Georgian armed forces are not yet defeated, not by a long shot, and they will continue to give good account of themselves. Georgia has successfully resisted Russia's political intimidation in its elections and interference with its internal affairs. Though it is resisting the Russian army now, without help, the results are predictable; the full weight of Russian military power will crush them.

As so many times in the past, from the fall of Hungary and Czechoslovakia to Cambodia, Afghanistan and Kuwait, we know that the price of inaction in the face of aggression is tragedy and suffering for countless innocents, a price far above the sacrifice required to meet aggression head on.

The reaction of the US, NATO and the EU will determine the future of not only Georgia, but also every former Soviet republic that has the temerity to form alliances outside of Russia's control; the Ukraine, the Baltic Republics and other uncooperative nations will experience similar manipulation and intimidation. Most already are. If we let this invasion go unchallenged and end in disaster for Georgia, all our high-minded talk about democracy and freedom will mean nothing. Major Georgy is fighting for the principles we claim to stand for, for the freedom that will allow his people to prosper. Our inaction will be seen as a betrayal, our promises false and our ideals hypocrisy. Vladimir Putin has fired the first shot of a new cold war, the first battle is Georgia and we can be certain there will be many more.

[weegee]

This is a revamp of the LAST cold war.

We DO have a new Cold War, our war against Islamic tyranny. That’ll probably drag on a few decades more or at least until the radicals can secure a nuclear arsenal.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Shouldn’t we be occupying Venezuelan oil fields about now?

Via Havana?

Monroe Doctrine...

[matthew fuller]

"Vladimir Putin has fired the first shot of a new cold war, the first battle is Georgia and we can be certain there will be many more. "

And where is George? Oh yeah, last I heard he was over to Bayjing for the Chinese olympics.......

[SolidWood]

The war against Islamism is a hot war. But the conflict with Islamic tyrannies and their friends is more and more becoming a proxy war with Russia.

[oldbill]

While America sleeps, or watches American Idol, the lights are slowly going out in Eastern Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa.

Our manufacturing capacity. that once mighty Arsenal of Democracy, has been sent overseas. Our financial markets are subject to Chinese whims. Our energy is in the hands of seventh century bedouins who wish us dead.

Like the 1930’s, the scripts and obituaries are being written now for millions of dead Americans and a new demography more suited to the culture of Mexico than Main Street.

Enjoy it while you can. One day you will be able to watch the American surrender ceremony on your 60-inch wide screen made-in-China HDTV just before your illegal alien lawn care guys who now number in the majority says hell with that and throw you out of your home.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

*ALL* world trends are currently red for America. We are losing our technology, our innovation, our strength, our manufacturing, and our energy independence.

All you mentioned, made sense when they started.

None do now. But nobody has the sense to stop them.

I think this will end badly. For someone.

I’m not certain yet, the someone is America. But something bad will certainly happen.

The current situation cannot continue.

Something is going to give.

[Billthedrill]

Well, given that the thing is all of three days old I wouldn’t condemn the U.S. reaction as betrayal just yet. I think too many folks demand instant gratification in this television age. The U.S. has decided to keep its military advisors in country, which is exceedingly interesting. Israel has sold the Georgians UAV’s, which is also interesting. The 2000 Georgian troops in Iraq were returned there by the U.S. Air Force, which is more than interesting, and it was unopposed, which was a very good decision by the Russians. We don’t have a lot of overt options, frankly, but it doesn’t mean we’re sitting on our hands. I’d suggest letting this play out for a bit.

[matthew fuller]

"And where is George? Oh yeah, last I heard he was over to Bayjing for the Chinese olympics....... "

Retraction, I just read that GWB is issuing statements from the WH, as I read the thread.http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2060377/posts.

[LibertyRocks]

Just as a point of fact, Bush flew back yesterday very early in the morning to DC to “handle the situation in Georgia from there”. It was also reported that he had an “animated” discussion with Putin while in China as well - no words on what exactly was said.

[LibertyRocks]

So sorry... I didn’t see your retraction before my last post to you...

[backhoe]

While America sleeps, or watches American Idol, the lights are slowly going out in Eastern Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa. Our manufacturing capacity. that once mighty Arsenal of Democracy, has been sent overseas. Our financial markets are subject to Chinese whims. Our energy is in the hands of seventh century bedouins who wish us dead. Like the 1930’s, the scripts and obituaries are being written now for millions of dead Americans and a new demography more suited to the culture of Mexico than Main Street. Enjoy it while you can. One day you will be able to watch the American surrender ceremony on your 60-inch wide screen made-in-China HDTV just before your illegal alien lawn care guys who now number in the majority says hell with that and throw you out of your home.

Yep...

[livius]

I think we’re facing something new, a Hot/Cold War on two fronts, which will actually become one. Russia is no friend of the Islamists, but it believes it can ally with and use them in its struggle for dominance. It will find out eventually that it can’t.

Other non-Muslim nations or rulers in the past have tried to ally with the Muslims, who are known for their viciousness and ruthlessness, not to mention numbers, to destroy domestic or regional enemies. . But it is always they themselves who end up getting invaded and destroyed by Islam.

Then we will have a situation where it is only a tiny handful of free peoples against a huge Islamic monster that has devoured and come to control the weaponry and technology of the former Communist countries. This seems like a long-term scenario, but things happen much faster now than in the past.

[livius]

I agree. Russia has been preparing for this for a long time, and while we seem to have been expecting something similar, it is important to figure out exactly what is going on before we rush in. If we go in, it’s got to be a major commitment, and that’s not something to do lightly.

However, it would be nice to see a little more vocal condemnation of Russia by other nations outside of Eastern Europe. So far it seems to be mostly the French who are involved.

Also, there’s a curious silence from Iran and other anti-American countries or blocs.

[snowrip]

Don’t forget: Saakashvili was backed by $45 million from none other than George Soros. I suppose you can say that a socialist lite government is better than communism, but with Pooty-poot’s ulterior motives this is one hell of a mess no matter how you cut it.

The manner in which Bush handles this affair will be one of the hallmarks of his presidency.

[Canedawg]

” I think too many folks demand instant gratification in this television age.”

You mean, we can’t push a button and instantly land thousands of troops and vehicles there to zap the bad guys, a la Space Invaders?

How disapponting. /sarc

[Huck]

Jeez. Take a hot shower. Take a walk. Relax. We've had tough times before. No sense whining about challenges today. I believe America and the American way will survive and thrive.

There is still manufacturing done in the US, large and small. We still have the know-how. It's done by multinational companies like Toyota and small shops.

Our banks have been bolixed up before. We'll survive. And I think now is the most ripe time we've seen in decades to finally get some kind of a solid energy initiative going. We'll see if Americans go back to sleep on that issue.

Maybe we're not as tough as we used to be. Not as tough as the old pioneers on the Oregon Trail. We are victims of our own success to some extent. But look at all the brave soldiers who volunteered and serve us in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Plus we have the internet, which is the most people-empowering invention maybe ever. We're BETTER informed than we used to be.

[rogator]

“Enjoy it while you can. One day you will be able to watch the American surrender ceremony on your 60-inch wide screen made-in-China HDTV just before your illegal alien lawn care guys who now number in the majority says hell with that and throw you out of your home.”

All the more reason to get up off your dead a$$, turn off the TV, and get out and mow your own lawn.
Keep your rifle clean and have a good reserve of ammo.

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Maybe we're not as tough as we used to be. Not as tough as the old pioneers on the Oregon Trail. We are victims of our own success to some extent. But look at all the brave soldiers who volunteered and serve us in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Prosperity tends to dull and even demean the mortal fortitude and instinct for survival that brings on prosperity in the first place. But the tough times that this hubris contributes promotes tend to reawaken the old virtues. We have people in our armed forces who still understand the facts of national life, but there are many among us at home who are fat and happy and might require a call of reality to wake us up from TVland and the perpetual ball field.

[weegee]

Our Cold War against the Soviets ran hot a number of times and came to the brink of nuclear exchange several times.