Russia shows Georgia and the World the bear has claws!
Ian Brockwell
August 10, 2008
What on earth was the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili thinking when he ordered the attack on South Ossetia? Did he honestly think Russia would not respond in the way they did?
Apparently, Alexander Lomaya, secretary of Georgia´s National Security Council was surprised at the intensity of Russia´s response and said "What we didn´t expect was that Russian troops themselves would enter Georgia, that Russian military equipment would bomb our cities in various parts of the country, that Russian soldiers would be shelling villages and positions of Georgian forces". I guess he knows better now!
Saakashvili almost certainly realizes the potential danger he is now in, after inviting the wrath of Russia with this attack. He can consider himself fortunate if Russia don´t take control of the whole of Georgia and force his resignation before they leave (and they still might).
Maybe Saakashvili thought the United States would send troops to support him (along with all the weapons they have been supplying), but even Bush is not crazy enough to have a war with Russia (even if he thinks about it in his dreams).
Georgia have perhaps learnt their first lesson in having an alliance with the US, the partnership has serious limitations. The deal only benefits the high level officials in the country, not the people. The Bush administration don´t care about the "democracy" in Georgia or the people who live there, they just want countries with oil, countries that can carry oil pipelines and places as close to Russia as possible (to make that "dream" come true in the future).
Bush has not helped matters by saying "Georgia is a sovereign nation, and its territorial integrity must be respected". Putin and Russia absolutely hate receiving criticism from a man who illegally invaded a sovereign nation himself (Iraq) using lies to do so. Unlike the US, Russia is defending its citizens in South Ossetia, not invading some far away country in order to steal its oil!
Russia´s response to Georgia is just as much a message to the rest of the world, and that message is "If you mess with us, you will pay a price"
The US and Europe have pushed their luck much too far with Russia, and they are tired of being insulted, robbed by oligarchs who seek refuge in other countries (when the heat gets turned up), companies dictating terms to them in their own country, being accused of murders, being told how to run their country and having foreign backed activists causing political disturbances.
If the rest of the world truly wants Russia to be friendly and helpful, they need to show a lot more respect than they have just lately. Putin has made it very clear that he is willing to be reasonable, but this has to be a two-way deal.
The alternatives are not very attractive for those who are unwilling to make some effort. This could include Russia reducing (or even stopping) gas supplies to Europe. New missiles bases might appear in European areas and countries much closer to the United States. Alliances with other countries (like China, India and maybe even Iran) may grow stronger, and this will change the economic and military balance in the world.
Perhaps Bush and leaders of other countries might give this some thought the next time they speak about Russia, or try "bribing" a Russian neighbor into stabbing its old partner in the back!
Apparently, Alexander Lomaya, secretary of Georgia´s National Security Council was surprised at the intensity of Russia´s response and said "What we didn´t expect was that Russian troops themselves would enter Georgia, that Russian military equipment would bomb our cities in various parts of the country, that Russian soldiers would be shelling villages and positions of Georgian forces". I guess he knows better now!
Saakashvili almost certainly realizes the potential danger he is now in, after inviting the wrath of Russia with this attack. He can consider himself fortunate if Russia don´t take control of the whole of Georgia and force his resignation before they leave (and they still might).
Maybe Saakashvili thought the United States would send troops to support him (along with all the weapons they have been supplying), but even Bush is not crazy enough to have a war with Russia (even if he thinks about it in his dreams).
Georgia have perhaps learnt their first lesson in having an alliance with the US, the partnership has serious limitations. The deal only benefits the high level officials in the country, not the people. The Bush administration don´t care about the "democracy" in Georgia or the people who live there, they just want countries with oil, countries that can carry oil pipelines and places as close to Russia as possible (to make that "dream" come true in the future).
Bush has not helped matters by saying "Georgia is a sovereign nation, and its territorial integrity must be respected". Putin and Russia absolutely hate receiving criticism from a man who illegally invaded a sovereign nation himself (Iraq) using lies to do so. Unlike the US, Russia is defending its citizens in South Ossetia, not invading some far away country in order to steal its oil!
Russia´s response to Georgia is just as much a message to the rest of the world, and that message is "If you mess with us, you will pay a price"
The US and Europe have pushed their luck much too far with Russia, and they are tired of being insulted, robbed by oligarchs who seek refuge in other countries (when the heat gets turned up), companies dictating terms to them in their own country, being accused of murders, being told how to run their country and having foreign backed activists causing political disturbances.
If the rest of the world truly wants Russia to be friendly and helpful, they need to show a lot more respect than they have just lately. Putin has made it very clear that he is willing to be reasonable, but this has to be a two-way deal.
The alternatives are not very attractive for those who are unwilling to make some effort. This could include Russia reducing (or even stopping) gas supplies to Europe. New missiles bases might appear in European areas and countries much closer to the United States. Alliances with other countries (like China, India and maybe even Iran) may grow stronger, and this will change the economic and military balance in the world.
Perhaps Bush and leaders of other countries might give this some thought the next time they speak about Russia, or try "bribing" a Russian neighbor into stabbing its old partner in the back!
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