Action in the Caucasus
I find myself greatly disturbed by all the 'sabre-rattling' our politicians are doing over the Russia-Georgia confrontation in the Caucasus. I think in this instance we're going overboard and are largely wrong in our criticisms. I know some of our politicians would like to feed the great U.S./Russian rivalry, but in this case the Russians aren't altogether wrong. A few little inconvenient facts/parallels on the situation over there:
1. Russia didn't instigate hostilities-- Georgia did, by first crossing the border into their "breakaway" province, and then by deliberately opening fire on Russian 'Peacekeepers' in the area-- yes, that's right, *Georgia* started the shooting. Whether or not we want to believe the Russians over-reacted or not, the Georgians STARTED IT, not the Russians.
2. So, in a way John McSame is right in that there isn't a real parallel between what we did in Iraq and what the Russians are doing in Georgia, but not the way he thinks-- we went after and took out a "sovereign nation" without an armed attack by that nation to use for an excuse-- Russians drove Georgian troops out of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, bombed Georgia, and occupied a few Georgian towns close to the border of those breakaway provinces *AFTER* their troops were fired on by Georgian forces. Georgia is still largely intact (other than missing two provinces which broke away AND have been autonomously governing themselves ever since Georgia itself broke away from the Soviet Union)-- Saddam Hussein's Iraq is completely destroyed, dead, and gone-- who knows what the new Iraq is going to end up like?
3. The real parallel to draw is that South Ossetia, its relations with Georgia, Russian involvement, and the whole situation there looks very much like Kosovo, its relations with Serbia, and US/NATO involvement in the former Yugoslavia. What do y'all think would happen if Serbia (which still insists that Kosovo is a province of Serbia and has no right to break away, and objects to US/NATO 'Peacekeepers' in Kosovo) sent armed forces into Kosovo (again) to enforce their right to keep the province, and those Serbian forces deliberately opened fire on US & NATO forces in Kosovo-- just think about what our reaction would be. And we're surprised/shocked/appalled that the Russians decided to blow the fuck out of Georgia for messing with them shoot back, with a healthy dose of overkill (genuine US-style)?
4. There's way too much hypocrisy going on in general-- When Georgia broke away and declared independence from the Soviet Union, their provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia essentially right then and there broke away and started seeking independence from Georgia-- this isn't a new situation. We talk a really good game about democracy, self-determination, etc.... well, as near as I can determine after sorting through all the sources, propaganda and bullshit on all sides, the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia really do NOT want to be part of Georgia, and really truly would rather cast their lot in with the Russians instead-- self-determination does indicate that they should be allowed to separate from Georgia (whether we like it or not, IMO it should be their decision, and the rest of Georgia should not be allowed to force them to stay if they don't want to). Now, given these inconvenient facts:
A) If Georgia can decide to leave the Soviet Union, what right does Georgia have to decide that some of "their" provinces that did NOT want to leave the Soviet Union/Russian cannot subsequently leave Georgia? The precedent for being allowed to exit a Union has already been set.
B) Serbia, Bosnia, et al, were allowed to dissolve the former Yugoslavia-- so, why is it that Russia and Serbia insist that Kosovo cannot leave Serbia, even though an overwhelming majority of Kosovars want to be independent? And why is it that the Russians hold the position that Kosovo cannot be independent, but South Ossetia and Abkhazia can be?
C) On the other hand, the US and NATO say that Kosovo can be independent, but seem to want to insist that South Ossetia and Abkhazia cannot break away from "sovereign" Georgia territory-- it's a very inconsistent, hypocritical position that appears to be solely determined by misguided self-interest... and whether or not Russia is in the wrong here, I do not think we can defend any 'moral' position by giving the excuse that "the other guys are doing it too".
If I were in American politics-- I might be pressing for the Russians to go a little easier on the Georgians, but I'd acknowledge that the Georgians started the fighting instead of just pointing at the big bad Russian bear as the root of all conflict over there. That kind of accusation is IMO counter-productive. Since South Ossetia and Abkhazia do really appear to want to be independent, I'd probably also use this as an opportunity to point out the parallels between Kosovo and these two provinces and invite the Russians to rethink their position regarding events in the former Yugoslavia-- we might actually gain some ground and make both these regions more stable by our acknowledging some changes in the Caucasus while convincing the Russians to accept the new status quo in the Balkans.
Meanwhile, responses to these events-- and John McCain's utter inability to see that yes, our actions in Iraq do leave us on very shaky moral ground as far as questioning "Russian Aggression" goes-- continues to convince me that John McSame is an utter fucking idiot, and I'm ashamed to have to acknowledge that he is a fellow veteran (while I do honor his past military service-- what he seems to have learned from his time in the military, at least what he brought to congress, is lies, politics, and treachery while putting on a good public face-- not honor, integrity, duty... of course he was an officer.... should I be surprised?). One can also look at his voting record-- I'd love to stand with a fellow veteran in this election, but when the candidate who has spent time in the military is the same son of a bitch who's betrayed the military and his fellow veterans almost every time he votes.... I cannot stand with him. I am furthermore appalled that the American Legion's leadership appears to have endorsed him for President, when he has betrayed the American Legion's membership.
I am a VFW member, and a former Legion member-- I am going to be very disappointed if the VFW makes the same mistake the Legion apparently has-- Mr McCain cannot rely on being "one of us" when he turned his back on us in office.
1. Russia didn't instigate hostilities-- Georgia did, by first crossing the border into their "breakaway" province, and then by deliberately opening fire on Russian 'Peacekeepers' in the area-- yes, that's right, *Georgia* started the shooting. Whether or not we want to believe the Russians over-reacted or not, the Georgians STARTED IT, not the Russians.
2. So, in a way John McSame is right in that there isn't a real parallel between what we did in Iraq and what the Russians are doing in Georgia, but not the way he thinks-- we went after and took out a "sovereign nation" without an armed attack by that nation to use for an excuse-- Russians drove Georgian troops out of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, bombed Georgia, and occupied a few Georgian towns close to the border of those breakaway provinces *AFTER* their troops were fired on by Georgian forces. Georgia is still largely intact (other than missing two provinces which broke away AND have been autonomously governing themselves ever since Georgia itself broke away from the Soviet Union)-- Saddam Hussein's Iraq is completely destroyed, dead, and gone-- who knows what the new Iraq is going to end up like?
3. The real parallel to draw is that South Ossetia, its relations with Georgia, Russian involvement, and the whole situation there looks very much like Kosovo, its relations with Serbia, and US/NATO involvement in the former Yugoslavia. What do y'all think would happen if Serbia (which still insists that Kosovo is a province of Serbia and has no right to break away, and objects to US/NATO 'Peacekeepers' in Kosovo) sent armed forces into Kosovo (again) to enforce their right to keep the province, and those Serbian forces deliberately opened fire on US & NATO forces in Kosovo-- just think about what our reaction would be. And we're surprised/shocked/appalled that the Russians decided to blow the fuck out of Georgia for messing with them shoot back, with a healthy dose of overkill (genuine US-style)?
4. There's way too much hypocrisy going on in general-- When Georgia broke away and declared independence from the Soviet Union, their provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia essentially right then and there broke away and started seeking independence from Georgia-- this isn't a new situation. We talk a really good game about democracy, self-determination, etc.... well, as near as I can determine after sorting through all the sources, propaganda and bullshit on all sides, the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia really do NOT want to be part of Georgia, and really truly would rather cast their lot in with the Russians instead-- self-determination does indicate that they should be allowed to separate from Georgia (whether we like it or not, IMO it should be their decision, and the rest of Georgia should not be allowed to force them to stay if they don't want to). Now, given these inconvenient facts:
A) If Georgia can decide to leave the Soviet Union, what right does Georgia have to decide that some of "their" provinces that did NOT want to leave the Soviet Union/Russian cannot subsequently leave Georgia? The precedent for being allowed to exit a Union has already been set.
B) Serbia, Bosnia, et al, were allowed to dissolve the former Yugoslavia-- so, why is it that Russia and Serbia insist that Kosovo cannot leave Serbia, even though an overwhelming majority of Kosovars want to be independent? And why is it that the Russians hold the position that Kosovo cannot be independent, but South Ossetia and Abkhazia can be?
C) On the other hand, the US and NATO say that Kosovo can be independent, but seem to want to insist that South Ossetia and Abkhazia cannot break away from "sovereign" Georgia territory-- it's a very inconsistent, hypocritical position that appears to be solely determined by misguided self-interest... and whether or not Russia is in the wrong here, I do not think we can defend any 'moral' position by giving the excuse that "the other guys are doing it too".
If I were in American politics-- I might be pressing for the Russians to go a little easier on the Georgians, but I'd acknowledge that the Georgians started the fighting instead of just pointing at the big bad Russian bear as the root of all conflict over there. That kind of accusation is IMO counter-productive. Since South Ossetia and Abkhazia do really appear to want to be independent, I'd probably also use this as an opportunity to point out the parallels between Kosovo and these two provinces and invite the Russians to rethink their position regarding events in the former Yugoslavia-- we might actually gain some ground and make both these regions more stable by our acknowledging some changes in the Caucasus while convincing the Russians to accept the new status quo in the Balkans.
Meanwhile, responses to these events-- and John McCain's utter inability to see that yes, our actions in Iraq do leave us on very shaky moral ground as far as questioning "Russian Aggression" goes-- continues to convince me that John McSame is an utter fucking idiot, and I'm ashamed to have to acknowledge that he is a fellow veteran (while I do honor his past military service-- what he seems to have learned from his time in the military, at least what he brought to congress, is lies, politics, and treachery while putting on a good public face-- not honor, integrity, duty... of course he was an officer.... should I be surprised?). One can also look at his voting record-- I'd love to stand with a fellow veteran in this election, but when the candidate who has spent time in the military is the same son of a bitch who's betrayed the military and his fellow veterans almost every time he votes.... I cannot stand with him. I am furthermore appalled that the American Legion's leadership appears to have endorsed him for President, when he has betrayed the American Legion's membership.
I am a VFW member, and a former Legion member-- I am going to be very disappointed if the VFW makes the same mistake the Legion apparently has-- Mr McCain cannot rely on being "one of us" when he turned his back on us in office.