I can't for the life of me understand how we've reached this point in world history. Of all the things that have ever been considered wrong and worthy of immediate correction by whatever means necessary was the violation of a country's border by another country's military.
The sad thing is that the organization that was formed with such ballyhoo to address this kind of aggression is the very reason the situation has reached the sorry point it's at today! The UN has done more to promote this sort of savagery than anyone else on Earth. Period.
Oh that we had the cojones to say ‘adios’ to the UN then go around the world gathering up like-minded governments who would support going into a situation like that in Georgia today and kick ass and take names. No drawn out warnings, no negotiations, no waiting and watching. The understanding is the moment you cross a border and attack another country you are the enemy. The members of this kick-ass, keep-the-peace organization would be able to decide amongst themselves that a country deserved to be invaded, but it would be on strictly subjective terms. Iran comes to mind right off the bat.
I'm afraid we're beyond the point of no return. And unless we act quickly and decisively to put Russia back in line it's only the first of a series of such escapades. They have the money now and that's the only thing that's slowed them in the past. The Cold War wasn't over, it was just put on hold by Russia until oil prices and supplies put them on top of the heap again.
Sadly, a broader and deeper knowledge of human history would lead you to agree with Rush that we live in a world that is governed by the threat and use of physical force. We’ve gotten used to the idea that our principles for the way we want the world to be are representative of what prevails in the real world, but this is not so, and never has been. Remember that diplomacy is an extension of war by other means.
Nor can I. For Putin to believe that recent wealth from the only commodity they have in surplus somehow insulates Russia from reprisals is stupid and wrongheaded. They have blown their opportunity to join, in a productive way, the community of civilized nations.
Russia has become a pariah.