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Georgia On Our Mind (Thomas Sowell)
Jewish World Review ^ | August 19, 2008 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 08/18/2008 8:35:20 PM PDT by jazusamo

What is happening in the republic of Georgia is all too reminiscent of what happened back in 1956, when Russian tanks rolled into Hungary— and the West did nothing.

An argument might well be made that, realistically, there was nothing the West could have done— then or now— that would have forced the Russians out.

But there was bitterness, then as now, that the West may have encouraged people to risk their lives, relying on us, when we knew from the outset that we were not about to risk armed conflict with a nuclear superpower over Hungary then or Georgia now.

The West has a long history of doing nothing, utilizing the United Nations, and before that the League of Nations, to create the illusion that they are doing something, when they make speeches and pass resolutions.

Neither speeches nor resolutions are going to make any difference to the Russians, to the Iranians or to any other belligerent nation. We know it, they know it and the world knows it.

Apparently Barack Obama doesn't yet know it, judging by his initial response to news of the Russian invasion of Georgia, which was to call on "both sides" to cease fire and then go to the U.N.

Later he changed his position to correspond to John McCain's more grown-up position that Russians have to pay a price if we expect them to change their behavior.

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Russia
KEYWORDS: foreignpolicy; georgia; russia; sowell; thomassowell
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To: jazusamo

Interesting column but of course the reason for NATO was that the US had in the 25 prior years to its formation had been sucked into two huge European wars. So if we leave defense of Europe to European again will we be yet again sucked into a European war?


21 posted on 08/18/2008 9:16:47 PM PDT by JLS
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To: JLS

I think you may be right. I can see his point but in reality if war broke out we’d right in the middle of it.


22 posted on 08/18/2008 9:20:20 PM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.org | DefendOurTroops.org)
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To: jazusamo

Thanks for the ping jaz. I remember the assault on Hungary also. I remember the expressions of frustration at the time. Seemed something could have been done.

Today the relations between Russia, Iran, and China urge the utmost of caution don’t they, but still one might think that putting the Bear in its place would cause the Iranians much grief, and possibly some course change.

There are so many variables, so many options to consider, but for certain we are hamstrung in many ways by our current Leftist majority Congress, and their focus for complete power that they sacrifice our Nations security and economy for their self interests.

Wondering who will be attacked by the Bear next prior to November.


23 posted on 08/18/2008 9:26:57 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Say Obama were "Pinky", Then who is "The Brain"?)
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To: rockinqsranch

Well said, RQSR. That Leftist majority Congress is scary and the number of people in our country that supports them is really scary to me.

Maybe this Georgia thing will cause some of those supporters to step back and think a little about it, hopefully anyway.


24 posted on 08/18/2008 9:34:34 PM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.org | DefendOurTroops.org)
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To: jazusamo

I don’t know if I am right about the future of course, but I am pretty sure that is why NATO exists. Maybe if Mark Steyn is right about the future of Europe, we would leave them to their own devises.


25 posted on 08/18/2008 9:39:17 PM PDT by JLS
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To: jazusamo

I don’t believe the rats will do anything to deal positively with this situation.
They will somehow attempt to use it to gain power.
They will let this country burn to the ground if they think they could gain some political advantage.


26 posted on 08/18/2008 9:42:12 PM PDT by smoketree (the insanity, the lunacy these days)
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To: jazusamo

as a member of NATO we would still be sucked into a war. Damned if we do, damned if we don’t.


27 posted on 08/18/2008 9:49:12 PM PDT by Old Seadog
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To: jazusamo
Embarrass a dictator and they find themselves swinging from a lamp post. If people (Europe and Liberals) would just stand up to these punks they would leave well enough alone.
28 posted on 08/18/2008 9:49:33 PM PDT by Dead Dog
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To: jazusamo

More forces to Tblisi!


29 posted on 08/18/2008 9:54:08 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: smoketree

I agree about the ones in office but maybe some of those that support them will start to realize that our freedom is fragile. It would help our country a great deal if the leftists base started to shrink some.


30 posted on 08/18/2008 9:55:25 PM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.org | DefendOurTroops.org)
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To: jazusamo

That would be a plus for this country if the left shrank.
However it appears they are like the Alien that once found it quickly scurries around to find another willing soul and soon thereafter pops out of some other chest and runs for President.


31 posted on 08/18/2008 10:04:16 PM PDT by smoketree (the insanity, the lunacy these days)
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To: jazusamo

btt


32 posted on 08/18/2008 10:06:36 PM PDT by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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To: jazusamo

If George Soros has as much power in the State Dept. as he seems to, he could have gotten the U.S. to intervene for his property.


33 posted on 08/18/2008 10:52:36 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: Dead Dog

Russia is quickly becoming a nation of senior citizens - and the trend is only going to get worse in the future. Time is definitely not on their side; in 20 years will grandma and grandpa (with but one grandchild between them) be manning the front lines of the Red Army?


34 posted on 08/18/2008 11:21:35 PM PDT by eclecticEel (men who believe deeply in something, even wrong, usually triumph over men who believe in nothing)
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To: jazusamo
If anything, we ought to be thinking about pulling out of NATO ourselves. European countries already have the wealth to produce their own military defense. If they do not have the will, that is their problem. What American officials can do is keep their mouths shut if they don't intend to back up their words.

Ouch. I agree with Sowell. We shouldn't be setting ourselves up as the defender of other country on the planet, especially when we don't have the will to go through with it. What Russia is doing to Georgia sucks, but they've effectively called our bluff.

NATO is our military's welfare handout to Europe, and is probably a large part of the reason they're fat, lazy and dying. Give the former Warsaw Pact countries a generation to forget, and they'll be spoiled too. We'd all be better off if they moved out and started taking care of themselves.

35 posted on 08/19/2008 12:00:21 AM PDT by MitchellC
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To: MitchellC
Make that, every other country on the planet.
36 posted on 08/19/2008 12:02:27 AM PDT by MitchellC
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To: jazusamo
The West has a long history of doing nothing, utilizing the United Nations, and before that the League of Nations, to create the illusion that they are doing something, when they make speeches and pass resolutions.

He's absolutely right, and it's gotten to the point now that our enemies know nothing is going to happen to them, or at least, not until so much time has passed that they will have had abundant notice and opportunity to prepare themselves.

As for NATO, I think it could be great: if we really meant to do more than treat it as another occasion for bloviating and empty threats. But I suspect one reason that the NATO countries are slow to move is that they are also probably uncertain of our commitment.

Iran and Russia have already learned that our commitment ranges from meaningless to non-existent, and that we are so undermined by domestic dissent that we are incapable of action in any case.

37 posted on 08/19/2008 4:06:19 AM PDT by livius
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.


38 posted on 08/19/2008 4:10:01 AM PDT by firewalk
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To: BobbyT
Sowell opposed McCain in the primaries, which might not be a show stopper - but Sowell has also said that McCain is too old - on the basis of how old Sowell himself felt when he was McCain's age.

Sowell's health leaves something to be desired, evidently . . .

My reaction to the question at the Saddleback Debate about "who is wise?" was to wish that we had a candidate who would answer that question with, "Thomas Sowell."


39 posted on 08/19/2008 4:11:09 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The conceit of journalistic objectivity is profoundly subversive of democratic principle.)
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To: jazusamo

There’s an assumption made by Sowell and a lot of us that we “need” Russia in the WOT and to help us with Iran.

I’m beginning to wonder how much Russia really is helping- and given how much military hardware they sell to Iran, do we want that kind of help?

Still- our options to affect this situation seem limited, though keeping them out of the G8 might get their attention.


40 posted on 08/19/2008 5:18:41 AM PDT by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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