This seems very end of the world, but I think we need to intervene in Georgia. This assumes that the west wishes to maintain moral the high ground.
The left is already crying that the Americans are behind this war. That the Georgians are responsible for bringing this on themselves. The the world is responsible for this because of how we dealt with other secessions. I am looking at you Kosovo.
It is complete crap.
Tensions have been rising in that area for months. Clashes between the Georgian and the Ossetian forces have been escalating in the days prior to the attack. Russian jets have flown over Georgia. Russia has been arming the Ossetians for years.
Georgia decided to act.
Georgia has overplayed their hand, perhaps they were looking for NATO protection. Russia decided to kick the Georgian's out of South-Ossetia territory. So much for their peacekeeping. They are also threatening to attack Georgia forces in another territory, Abkhazia. Opportunistic? Did I mention the forces they sea lifted in?
But now Russia has invaded Georgia proper, what possible excuse can hold that? How will this protect their so called citizens?
Will we standby and let the old Russian bear re-assert itself and put old satellite states under their thumb again? We will let Putin do this? He after all is one of the main players in Russia in this crisis. Are we surprised?
If the West is serious about supporting democracy, if the west is serious about containing threats, then they must condemn Georgia for their reckless attack, and they must condemn Russia for attacking Georgia proper.
The West must be willing to stand up, and back their condemnation with economic and military action.
2 comments:
In principle I agree with you, Russia overstepped the line, literally.
However the Georgians brought it on themselves. Attacking S.O. was reckless, knowing that Russia would, as per peace agreement, defend the territory. Letting tensions with Russia simmer over the years wasn't a good tactic either. Probably had the current President been a little more diplomatic in the past Russia would have turned a blind eye to some shelling of Ossetian forces.
Saakashvili is a megalomaniac and inherently incapable of running any kind of policy, let alone running a country. Should we clean up the mess that this idiot got himself in? Would we really trade Russia for Georgia?
I suppose the dominant feeling in Western power circles, when it comes to business, is "Georgia? Who gives a damn!". It is a sad state of affairs and Russia is now as guilty as her opponent. But intervention is a distant mirage, one which I would advise not to contemplate anyway.
I agree Georgia overplayed their hand, but attacking Georgia proper is an act of war.
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