Posted on 08/15/2008 10:08:16 PM PDT by libh8er
Russia’s invasion of Georgia reminded me of a conversation I had three years ago in Moscow with a high-ranking European Union official. Russia was much freer then, but President Vladimir Putin’s onslaught against democratic rights was already underway.
“What would it take,” I asked, “for Europe to stop treating Putin like a democrat? If all opposition parties are banned? Or what if they started shooting people in the street?” The official shrugged and replied that even in such cases, there would be little the EU could do. He added: “Staying engaged will always be the best hope for the people of both Europe and Russia.”
The citizens of Georgia would likely disagree. Russia’s invasion was the direct result of nearly a decade of Western helplessness and delusion. Inexperienced and cautious in the international arena at the start of his reign in 2000, Mr. Putin soon learned he could get away with anything without repercussions from the EU or America.
Russia reverted to a KGB dictatorship while Mr. Putin was treated as an equal at G-8 summits. Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi and Germany’s Gerhardt Schroeder became Kremlin business partners. Mr. Putin discovered democratic credentials could be bought and sold just like everything else. The final confirmation was the acceptance of Dmitry Medvedev in the G-8, and on the world stage. The leaders of the Free World welcomed Mr. Putin’s puppet, who had been anointed in blatantly faked elections.
On Tuesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy sprinted to Moscow to broker a ceasefire agreement. He was allowed to go through the motions, perhaps as a reward for his congratulatory phone call to Mr. Putin after our December parliamentary “elections.” But just a few months ago Mr. Sarkozy was in Moscow as a supplicant, lobbying for Renault. How much credibility does he really have in Mr. Putin’s eyes?
In reality, Mr. Sarkozy is attempting to remedy a crisis he helped bring about. Last April, France opposed the American push to fast-track Georgia’s North Atlantic Treaty Organization membership. This was one of many missed opportunities that collectively built up Mr. Putin’s sense of impunity. In this way the G-7 nations aided and abetted the Kremlin’s ambitions.
Georgia blundered into a trap, although its imprudent aggression in South Ossetia was overshadowed by Mr. Putin’s desire to play the strongman. Russia seized the chance to go on the offensive in Georgian territory while playing the victim/hero. Mr. Putin has long been eager to punish Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili for his lack of respect both for Georgia’s old master Russia, and for Mr. Putin personally. (Popular rumor has it that the Georgian president once mocked his peer as “Lilli-Putin.”)
Although Mr. Saakashvili could hardly be called a model democrat, his embrace of Europe and the West is considered a very bad example by the Kremlin. The administrations of the Georgian breakaway areas of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are stocked, top to bottom, with bureaucrats from the Russian security services.
Throughout the conflict, the Kremlin-choreographed message in the Russian media has been one of hysteria. The news presents Russia as surrounded by enemies on all sides, near and far, and the military intervention in Georgia as essential to protect the lives and interests of Russians. It is also often spoken of as just the first step, with enclaves in Ukraine next on the menu. Attack dogs like Russian nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky are used to test and whip up public opinion. Kremlin-sponsored ultranationalist ideologue Alexander Dugin went on the radio to say Russian forces “should not stop until they are stopped.” The damage done by such rhetoric is very slow to heal.
The conflict also threatens to poison Russia’s relationship with Europe and America for years to come. Can such a belligerent state be trusted as the guarantor of Europe’s energy supply? Republican presidential candidate John McCain has been derided for his strong stance against Mr. Putin, including a proposal to kick Russia out of the G-8. Will his critics now admit that the man they called an antiquated cold warrior was right all along?
The conventional wisdom of Russia’s “invulnerability” serves as an excuse for inaction. President Bush’s belatedly toughened language is welcome, but actual sanctions must now be considered. The Kremlin’s ruling clique has vital interests — i.e. assets — abroad and those interests are vulnerable.
The blood of those killed in this conflict is on the hands of radical nationalists, thoughtless politicians, opportunistic oligarchs and the leaders of the Free World who value gas and oil more than principles. More lives will be lost unless strong moral lines are drawn to reinforce the shattered lines of the map.
Mr. Kasparov, leader of The Other Russia coalition, is a contributing editor of The Wall Street Journal.
Makes me think of a girl who finds herself engaged voluntarily to a loser, but then finds herself unable to break up with him for fear of what he might do if she does. Unfortunately for her, he doesn't turn into a winner (perpetual loser syndrome), so it is a lose or lose faster scenario... assuming she cares what he does afterward.
Speaking of poison...
Yushchenko: Russia blocking poisoning probe
By Bonnie Malkin and agencies, September 12, 2007
Mr Yushchenko before and after the poisoning
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1562838/Yushchenko-Russia-blocking-poisoning-probe.html
Ok and where are those tanks now? Anyone got tv access?
Last April, France opposed the American push to fast-track Georgia’s North Atlantic Treaty Organization membership.
........................
France was right. Thank You France.
Otherwise by treaty obligation we would have been sucked into a war with Russia over a place nobody has ever heard of and can’t find on the map.
Did you think the same thing of pre 911 Afghanistan ?
How bout “ImPutinty” heh heh
been sucked into a war (...) over a place nobody has ever heard of and can’t find on the map.
Did you think the same thing of pre 911 Afghanistan ?
/////////////////
Putin is no bin laden
Right, Putin already has nukes and divisions and can choke off Europe economically just by twisting his hand.
“...a far away country, of which we know little.”
Putin is no bin laden
Right, Putin already has nukes and divisions and can choke off Europe economically just by twisting his hand.
/////////////
therefor?
I know exactly what you are trying... you want to bait me into saying that Putin is worse than Bin Laden, but you miss entirely my point.
Bin Laden is a murderous terrorist loon hiding in caves (if he isn't dead by now) ordering the murder of Americans by low-tech means.
Putin is a murderous calculating thug commanding one of the most powerful states of the world, controlling vast resources, invading neighbors, threatening nuclear strikes, slaughtering civilians and fueling international terrorism (Iran, Syria, Venezuela). What seperates him in "evilness" from Bin Laden is the fact that he (yet) has stopped short of directly killing Americans.
They may differ in their goals and means, but in the end to me Putin and Bin Laden are two murderous anti-American spawns of hell that need a hard end.
Plus dictator Putin is making sure terrorist exporting OPEC Iran will have an arsenal of nukes as well, while making a lot of $$$$ selling the Iranian Islamic tyrants whatever they desire.
“Otherwise by treaty obligation we would have been sucked into a war with Russia over a place nobody has ever heard of and can’t find on the map.”
From what little I have read, this is a very important country that the Free World cannot afford to lose.
I agree, I did’nt know anything about Georgia but I’m going learn a lot more.
With the war in 2 other places, we are not in the best position right now. If this escalates to Poland/Ukraine, think draft. We will have to increase our war party big time. Putin is running Russia and he is doing what Russia does and always has done, keep the rest of the world in the dark and do as you please in order to keep Russia strong.
Its a sad day for Georgia but it may be a blessing in disguise. Imagine the situation we would be in if the Democrats (Liberals) had their way and the clown (Obama)they are trying to force on us was the CIC.
It's called appeasement, what France and Germany did to the Ukraine and Georgia about NATO.
Perhaps it is in the short term, but "staying engaged" has given the US two very wealthy enemies in China and Russia who are building their military forces and are in alliance while securing allies all over our hemisphere and elsewhere. In the long term Europe will go down with us since they are totally dependent on the US for protection from the world's bullies.
This is not to say that Saakashvilli did not fall for Putin's trap or that Abkhazia and Ossetia should be in Georgia.
True, but the Europeans are and were. Clinton "lost" Russia, I believe, probably because like the Europeans he saw no reason for Russia to have the rule of law or individual property rights.
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.