This is an excellent brief analysis of why Georgia was invaded by Russia from Investor’s Business Daily. The guys from the old KGB have consolidated control over the new mother Russia.
“Russia‘s attack on neighboring Georgia over two tiny separatist provinces is really about something much bigger-Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s desire to restore the former USSR‘s might. Russia‘s ill intentions clearly are on display in Georgia. In a fit of nationalist fury, it wants to teach Georgia and other former satellite countries that once made up the Soviet Bloc that its pro-Western rapprochement days are over. What better way than to invade a former republic, humiliate its leaders and then taunt the West for failing to come to its aid? As if that wasn’t enough, Russia immediately began threatening its other neighbors. A top Russian diplomat ominously warned Monday that Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland would ‘pay’ for criticizing Russia’s ‘imperialist’ policy toward Georgia. Russia‘s claim to support independence from Georgia of tiny South Ossetia and even tinier Abkhazia is simply phony. Georgia, with its strategically important oil pipeline, has grown close to the U.S. -even sending troops to Iraq. Putin, furious at growing U.S. and NATO ties with Eastern Europe, wanted to emasculate Georgia‘s military while deposing its pro-American President Mikheil Saakashvili. With his attack, it looks like he’s succeeding. The symbolism of the invasion, coming at the start of the Beijing Olympics, is unmistakable. This is Russia‘s wake-up call to all of us. Communism may be dead, Putin is saying, but Russia isn’t.” (Investor’s Business Daily)
It is truly disturbing that the invasion of Georgia was obviously well planned and required much time to amass the troops, tanks, and supplies close enough to cross into Georgia so quickly. Where were our intelligence gathering services during this time that we seem to be so completely caught off-guard?
The Russian government has once again clearly proven to the international community that it cannot be trusted. We may be living in the time of a new Russia, but some things remain the same. Some on the political left have been saying that our foreign policy provoked Russia into this invasion because of our interest in welcoming former USSR states, such as Georgia and the Ukraine, into NATO. Such comments reflect the philosophy of appeasement so prevalent prior to World War II.
The truth of the matter is that the former KGB masters that rule the new Russia have never lost the historical Russian desire for empire. It is sad that we cannot give more support to the blossoming democracy in Georgia. We have forgotten what Ronald Reagan demonstrated so well: Bullies cannot be stopped by weak cries for restraint; their power can only be broken by firm moral resolve from a position of strength.
