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 ...
You make good points. Putin knows NATO will do nothing but make a little noise, especially when the country involved is not in Western Europe. Also Putin knows if we have the amount of domestic dissent here over going after terrorists that murdered 3000 Americans we’ve really got a problem trying to help other countries militarily in a situation like Georgia.
Yes, for over a year it’s been fairly clear that Russia isn’t helping with Iran. Now with this Georgia thing there’s no doubt in my mind Russia is on their side.
They should be told to take a hike on the G8, if for no other reason maybe it’ll tick them off.
Thomas Sowell for McCain’s VP!
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