Georgia On Our Mind

[Terri]

By Thomas Sowell
August 19, 2008

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.

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[alphonse denaye]

"If anything, we ought to be thinking about pulling out of NATO ourselves."

Great comments but wrong conclusion. If we pull out of NAT O what does that leave us with; the UN, dominated by rogue dictator nations bent on our destruction, and Russia on the Security Council -- now emboldened by our lack of action against Iran, in spite of blatant evidence they are sponsoring the mass killing of our troops in Iraq?

If anything, we should be coalescing alliances with other likeminded nations as a counter to corruption of the UN. Sarcozy of France has shown great leadership in this regard with formation of the Mediterranean Alliance, and his willingness to negotiate the Georgia withdrawal agreement with Russia. This alone demonstrates the influence of international alliances over Russia, and other nations that aspire, at least outwardly, to credibility in the international forum.

As to the question of what happens if Russia attacks a NATO member - they are attacked in turn, ostracized and isolated by the ring of NATO that surrounds them. Hence they have not previously attacked and why they have attacked Georgia before she has become a member -- as an intimidation tactic. Russia’s move is largely an intimidation tactic, to dissuade the West (and Israel) from taking any action against Russian ally and key trading partner Iran. Mr. Sowell's comments about the consequence of lack of action are apparent here, insofar as our lack of constructive action against Iran when it is apparent they are sponsoring the mass killing of American troops, is perhaps directly responsible for the emboldening of Russia to take the action they have against Georgia.

Please give me kudos for this analysis as the world media to date, has failed to do so.

[MrJLDoug]

Whatever the answer may be too contain the Russians and stop this aggression, you can bet Obama doesn't have it. This inexperienced "Know All" is going to get us in a Hell of a mess. His idiotic ideas could start an armed conflict and I remember the last time a Democratic President and Congress tried to run a war.

[FlaJim]

Mr. Sowell makes some valid points but the fact remains that we are still the senior partner in NATO and membership should have been granted to Georgia who so earnestly sought it. It's highly unlikely Russia would have dared to take this action in that case.

The Russians still haven't taken seriously their promise to pull out of Georgia, continue to occupy large areas, and have installed intermediate missiles. In fact, according to Rox News reporters on the ground there, are still ferrying in men and equipment.

Some of the things we can do, short of military action, are denying Russia entry to the WTO, that they desperately want, and imposing trade sanctions. The Russian economy may be booming with petro-dollars but it's still very fragile. Putting a hold on their bank account would get their attention very quickly and make them much more amenable to behaving as we want them to.

[Jerman]

Just another small ethnic group trying to become independent? Seems more and more, everyone wants their own little country and not a small part of the big picture.

South Ossetia has less than a 100,000 pop. and wants independence; yet allies with Russia, who has little regard for anyone wishing independence.

The only thing this little part of the world offers is a tunnel from Russia into Georgia and access for the Russian Mafia which is closely allied with the old Soviet KGB.

The Russians are kicking themselves in the pants for back when they were the Soviet Union and actually thought NATO was something to fear.

[Paulmarkar]

Bush should snidely ask Putin how he'd like it if the west supported Chechnya rebels because they were an ethnic minority who wanted to be free from Russia.

[joesixpack31]

I'm afraid I am seeing a lot of stupid uninformed comments regarding the Russian-Georgian conflict including many of the authors. Does anyone here yet realize that Georgia was the aggressor and Shaakashvili (sp?) is a bush/nato puppet who took his orders from DC? Most of you commentators apparently rely on CNN and AP to "mold" your thinking. I find it appalling that so many, including Thomas Sowell, parroting the MSM on this issue. When is the last time the MSM published the truth about anything?? Ask yourselves, why has Bush deployed several thousand US troops on the Russo-Georgian border training Georgian troops in terrorist tactics to use against Russia and NO US TROOPS on the US-Mexico border to SECURE our nation against invasion from the south?? What US National Security interest on the Russo-Georgian border out weighs the National Security threat posed by Bush's "open borders" policy??

Modern americans have not yet experienced having their neighborhoods raided by terrorist thugs in the middle of the night and have seen the elderly, women and children, entire families dragged from their homes and murdered in the streets as have the Bosnian Serb Christians, the Kosovo Serb Christians and most recently the Christians of South Ossetia (sp?) all orchestrated, supplied, trained and financed by the good old US, UN, NATO with our tax dollars. Let me tell you friend, keep your head buried in the sand, keep watching and believing CNN, FOX, AP and it's coming.

[schillerbjr]

Georgia is all about the "OIL". The new weapon on the world stage, "OIL", and who has the control of it.