[Peace-discuss] NG on the Caucusus and David Green's response

[Randall Cotton]

Below is yesterday's stomach-turning News-Gazoo editorial regarding South
Ossetia,
which:

1. characterizes the conflict as entirely Russia's "brazen" "invasion of
neighboring Georgia"
2. dutifully raises the specter of "cold war" in the very first sentence,
and
3. neglects to even remotely mention (innocent oversight, I'm sure 8-P )
that the conflict started with Georgia's invasion of Tskhinvali in an
attack that killed hundreds or thousands of civilians, most of whom were
probably Russian citizens.

The NG editorial board would have you believe that Saakashvili's
hare-brained, morally bankrupt military gambit never happened.

After that, David's letter to the editor on the conflict that ran today,
clarifying how the conflict started and, more importantly, pointing out
the hypocrisy of the U.S. (and others) in vilifying Russia for its
behavior.

Thanks, David, for this effort.

R

***********************************
Russian attack tests U.S. resolve
Tuesday August 19, 2008
Not since the end of the Cold War has the U.S. been involved with such a
serious dispute with Russia as the one prompted by Moscow's invasion of
neighboring Georgia.

The decision by Russian leader Vladimir Putin to send troops into the
neighboring Republic of Georgia, a pro-Western democracy, should put an
end to the naive belief that Russian/American tension stopped at the close
of the Cold War.

The Russians, no doubt stunned by loss of their empire, brazenly invaded
Georgia, cheated on a supposed cease-fire and have indicated that Georgia
can forget about regaining control of two regions, South Ossetia and
Abkhazia, that Russian troops have claimed. It remains to be seen just how
much of Georgia the Russians claim and whether its democratic government
survives this invasion or is replaced by a puppet regime that answers to
Moscow.

It's hard to imagine how the United States can reverse this action.
Certainly, a military confrontation seems out of the question. But the
U.S., if it chooses, has a number of cards it can play with regard to
economic sanctions.

Still, this is clearly a setback for peace in general and for the idea
that the U.S. and Russia had become partners working together to control
rogue nations like Iran and North Korea.

What's obvious now should have been obvious before: Both countries will
work together when it suits their purposes and work in opposition when it
does not.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, a Russia expert, indicated that the
Russians are motivated by a desire to punish Georgia for its flirtations
with the West, including plans to join NATO, and wanted to send a shot
across the bow of any of its other former territories considering similar
disloyalty. A successful invasion sends a clear and intimidating message.

Military successes aside, it remains to be seen if Russia's strike will be
successful in the long run. As the U.S. learned in Iraq, there's more to
it than just the initial attack. Will a guerilla war result if the
Russians don't leave?

In addition, there's a price to be paid in world opinion, and the Russians
may not be willing to give up the advantages, mostly economic, they've
gained through their associations with the West. So far, there's no sign
they care, and that's reason for deep concern not only in the U.S. and
Europe but all over the world.

****************************

U.S., Russia both act in same manner
Wednesday August 20, 2008
The United States recently supported Kosovo's independence, made possible
by our attack on Serbia in 1999. Serbian sovereignty was of no account. In
1982, Israel invaded Lebanon in response to an assassination in London,
not by the Palestian Liberation Organization. But the PLO was expelled,
20,000 killed and Israel occupied southern Lebanon until 2000.

In 2006, in response to an incursion that killed two Israeli soldiers,
Israel bombed Lebanon and unsuccessfully attempted to invade. In all this,
neither sovereignty nor proportion was of account. Meanwhile, the U.S. has
occupied Afghanistan and Iraq, establishing puppet regimes.

In the South Ossetian region of Georgia, concurrent referenda in November
2006 demonstrated clear divisions among the population regarding
independence from Georgia. Last month, Georgia established a commission to
develop South Ossetia's autonomous status within Georgia. Nevertheless,
with American and Israeli weapons, and with training from Israeli defense
experts, Georgian forces invaded South Ossetia on Aug. 7, killing at least
2,000. Russia has responded with overwhelming force, placing Georgia in
the category of Serbia and Lebanon as seen through American and Israeli
lenses.

Russia's behavior is outrageous, but no more so than that of the U.S. and
Israel. There were no Hitlers in Serbia or Lebanon, anymore than another
Stalin in his native Georgia. International law respects national
sovereignty, but major powers do only if their geopolitical interests are
served. American-backed Georgia is only remarkable in that it more clearly
initiated hostilities with no possibility of anything other than American
lip-service, while Israeli advisers quickly headed home.

DAVID GREEN

Champaign