So The Old Russia Is Back
It will be awhile before the smoke clears and better-verified information comes in about Russia's attack on Georgia. With apparent efforts to obscure the record, we may never have an undisputed view of what really happened. But so far, this is what seems to have happened.
The situation in South Ossetia was bad. There had been considerable firing from the South Ossetian town of Tskhinvali into the Georgian villages in the hills around, killing and injuring people and destroying property. The Georgian government tried to stop it peacefully, but without success.
Although South Ossetia is legally a part of Georgia, it is inhabited by Russians who were moved in by Stalin, in an effort to tie the area more tightly to Russia. These people carry Russian passports, and have a sign outside Tskhinvali saying "Putin is our President." They would not stop firing from the city into the Georgian villages above. So Georgian troops finally went in to stop them.
That was legally justified, but probably ill-advised. In fact, many commentators think it was all set up as a provocation by the Russians, to give them a pretext to invade. There is growing evidence that Russia in fact had planned this invasion months ago, quietly rebuilding a defunct railroad to enable them to bring military vehicles and troops into Georgia, around the one tunnel connecting Russia to Georgia through the mountains.
When the Russians poured into South Ossetia last week, the Georgian troops retreated back into Georgia, and the President announced a cease fire. Apparently the Georgians observed the cease fire, but the Russians did not accept it.
With control of the airspace, the Russians bombed heavily from the first day. Their bombs cannot be well-aimed, and have destroyed much buildings, infrastructure and lives. In fact, this seems to have been done on purpose.
For instance, when the Russians neared Gori, a city 40 miles from Georgia's capital, the Georgian army vacated Gori long before the Russians arrived. Western reporters broadcast from Gori, saying that it was an empty city. No Georgian troops anywhere, and few remaining civilians. The city had been vacated. Yet the Russians then bombed it heavily, destroying much of the city - a move which seemed meant solely as punishment, as they did not have to do battle or bomb to capture the city. At this point it looks like pure brutality, without excuse of any military necessity.
Now they are demanding the resignation of the Georgian President, saying they cannot do business with him.
Georgia is a democracy, with a freely-elected government. It also is one of the few countries to send troops to help us in Iraq.
This is all too much like the way that World War II began. Apparently the old Russian KGB has had a resurrection and now seems to be running Russia. See http://www.financialsense.com/stormwatch/geo/pastanalysis/2008/0808.html)
All in all, it has become urgent to take a new look at Russia. We cannot go on relating to Russia as we have been.
The situation in South Ossetia was bad. There had been considerable firing from the South Ossetian town of Tskhinvali into the Georgian villages in the hills around, killing and injuring people and destroying property. The Georgian government tried to stop it peacefully, but without success.
Although South Ossetia is legally a part of Georgia, it is inhabited by Russians who were moved in by Stalin, in an effort to tie the area more tightly to Russia. These people carry Russian passports, and have a sign outside Tskhinvali saying "Putin is our President." They would not stop firing from the city into the Georgian villages above. So Georgian troops finally went in to stop them.
That was legally justified, but probably ill-advised. In fact, many commentators think it was all set up as a provocation by the Russians, to give them a pretext to invade. There is growing evidence that Russia in fact had planned this invasion months ago, quietly rebuilding a defunct railroad to enable them to bring military vehicles and troops into Georgia, around the one tunnel connecting Russia to Georgia through the mountains.
When the Russians poured into South Ossetia last week, the Georgian troops retreated back into Georgia, and the President announced a cease fire. Apparently the Georgians observed the cease fire, but the Russians did not accept it.
With control of the airspace, the Russians bombed heavily from the first day. Their bombs cannot be well-aimed, and have destroyed much buildings, infrastructure and lives. In fact, this seems to have been done on purpose.
For instance, when the Russians neared Gori, a city 40 miles from Georgia's capital, the Georgian army vacated Gori long before the Russians arrived. Western reporters broadcast from Gori, saying that it was an empty city. No Georgian troops anywhere, and few remaining civilians. The city had been vacated. Yet the Russians then bombed it heavily, destroying much of the city - a move which seemed meant solely as punishment, as they did not have to do battle or bomb to capture the city. At this point it looks like pure brutality, without excuse of any military necessity.
Now they are demanding the resignation of the Georgian President, saying they cannot do business with him.
Georgia is a democracy, with a freely-elected government. It also is one of the few countries to send troops to help us in Iraq.
This is all too much like the way that World War II began. Apparently the old Russian KGB has had a resurrection and now seems to be running Russia. See http://www.financialsense.com/stormwatch/geo/pastanalysis/2008/0808.html)
All in all, it has become urgent to take a new look at Russia. We cannot go on relating to Russia as we have been.
posted by Old Neocon at 3:27 PM
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