GORBACHEV: West pushing Georgian region toward war
The New York Times
August 20, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor
Russia Never Wanted a War
By MIKHAIL GORBACHEV
Moscow
THE acute phase of the crisis provoked by the Georgian forces’ assault on Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, is now behind us. But how can one erase from memory the horrifying scenes of the nighttime rocket attack on a peaceful town, the razing of entire city blocks, the deaths of people taking cover in basements, the destruction of ancient monuments and ancestral graves?
Russia did not want this crisis. The Russian leadership is in a strong enough position domestically; it did not need a little victorious war. Russia was dragged into the fray by the recklessness of the Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili. He would not have dared to attack without outside support. Once he did, Russia could not afford inaction.
The decision by the Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev, to now cease hostilities was the right move by a responsible leader. The Russian president acted calmly, confidently and firmly. Anyone who expected confusion in Moscow was disappointed.
--MORE--
Related
CSTO starts next stage of Rubezh-2008 joint exercises in Armenia [Translated for S CSTO starts next stage of Rubezh-2008 joint exercises in Armenia [Translated for Stop NATO]
-[i]ssues of providing military and military-technical assistance to Armenia in case of aggression against that country will be worked out.
Earlier, representatives of the CSTO reported that the training is conditional, but it takes into account the emerging regional political-military and military-strategic situation.
Moscow - The third phase of the joint command and staff exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), "Rubezh-2008," will begin on August 18 in Armenia, the CSTO Secretariat told Interfax-Military.
--MORE--
August 20, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor
Russia Never Wanted a War
By MIKHAIL GORBACHEV
Moscow
THE acute phase of the crisis provoked by the Georgian forces’ assault on Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, is now behind us. But how can one erase from memory the horrifying scenes of the nighttime rocket attack on a peaceful town, the razing of entire city blocks, the deaths of people taking cover in basements, the destruction of ancient monuments and ancestral graves?
Russia did not want this crisis. The Russian leadership is in a strong enough position domestically; it did not need a little victorious war. Russia was dragged into the fray by the recklessness of the Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili. He would not have dared to attack without outside support. Once he did, Russia could not afford inaction.
The decision by the Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev, to now cease hostilities was the right move by a responsible leader. The Russian president acted calmly, confidently and firmly. Anyone who expected confusion in Moscow was disappointed.
--MORE--
Related
CSTO starts next stage of Rubezh-2008 joint exercises in Armenia [Translated for S CSTO starts next stage of Rubezh-2008 joint exercises in Armenia [Translated for Stop NATO]
-[i]ssues of providing military and military-technical assistance to Armenia in case of aggression against that country will be worked out.
Earlier, representatives of the CSTO reported that the training is conditional, but it takes into account the emerging regional political-military and military-strategic situation.
Moscow - The third phase of the joint command and staff exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), "Rubezh-2008," will begin on August 18 in Armenia, the CSTO Secretariat told Interfax-Military.
--MORE--