Posted by
flagwaver on Friday, August 08, 2008 10:08:21 PM
Seemingly lost amid the reporting on Brett Favre's trade to the New York Jets, John Edwards's infidelity, and the opening of the Olympics is the shooting conflict that has erupted in the Republic of Georgia. Earlier today the Russian Army sent a column of tanks into a breakaway province of Georgia in an effort to support the "independence" of a group of ethnic Russians living inside of Georgian territory. It seems that the Russians have had "peacekeeping" troops stationed in Georgia to "protect" their ethnic bretheren for some time, and now with the attention of the world diverted they have decided to help them gain their independence.
What is bothersome to me is the attitude of the conservatives that I have heard speak about it, epsecially noted columnist Charles Krauthammer. On tonight's edition of Special Report with Brit Hume, Krauthammer stated that this situation is why it was a good idea to exclude Georgia from membership in NATO; according to Krauthammer, it is a good thing that no other nation is obligated to come to the aid of the Georgians, and that the situation will eventually resolve itself because, "Georgia is weak and Russia is strong." The only way that Krauthammer can see anyone taking an outside interest in this situation is if the Russians, after securing this "breakaway province" for themselves, advances into the capital of Georgia and tries to take control of the entire country; then the world should finally raise its voice and protest the Russian's advance.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought we as conservatives were all for supporting the governments of free nations, especially nations that have allied themselves with us. And I thought that we generally were opposed to foreign armies invading their neighbors and seizing their sovereign territory. But if Krauthammer is correct, we should do nothing more than allow the Russians to take this Georgian territory and hope that they don't advance into Tblisi, or we might have to take some sort of action. But if we allow the Russians to get to Tblisi, won't it be too late for the Georgians at that point? Don't we owe the Georgians more than this, especially since they are one of the many small, newly independent Eastern European nations that stood with us in our efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, even going so far as to send troops to help in the effort?
And why would Krauthammer, or anyone else say that Georgia being excluded from NATO is a good thing in this instance? For my money, this is the very type of situation that NATO was created to prevent. There is a reason that NATO nations are not being invaded, and that is because any potential invader understands that a move against one NATO affiliated nation is interpreted as an attack against all of the NATO nations. Does anyone really believe that Putin would have sent his Army across the borders into Georgia, or would have approved bombing sorties over Georgia, or even helped to support the separatists in Georgia if they (Georgia) were a NATO member? Does anyone honestly think that Putin would make this powerplay knowing that Georgia had willing partners to back her claims of independence and sovereignty? I seriously doubt it.
And why should we sit back and allow this to happen simply because Russia is strong and Georgia is weak? Is that what we have devolved to, a world where social darwinism reigns supreme? Georgia should not have to simply accept the Russians meddling in her internal affairs, fomenting rebellion, laying claim to her territory, and invading her borders simply because "Russia is strong and Georgia is weak!"
And does anyone believe that Putin is going to be willing to stop with grabbing part of Georgia if he knows that no one will stand against him? Why should he? Vladimir Putin is a product of the KGB, and rising to a position of power in the old KGB was not done without having a strong belief in the Soviet system. Putin seems to be one of those people who have no love of democracy, but who uses the democratic process to gather power into his own hands, which is exactly what he has attempted to do as President of Russia. He has set himself up in a position of power that will last even after he is constitutionally bound to step down as President. Putin also seems to be a devotee of the old Soviet style, and would like nothing better than to bring the fomer Soviet satellites back under the sway of Russia. This move is just his boldest play yet in making his true intentions known.
I don't know exactly what the United States can do in this situation, but there has to be a way to let the Russians know that we are very displeased with their invasion of the sovereign nation of Georgia, and tepid calls for the two sides to "resume negotiations" sends a message that the true independence of our Georgian allies is not that important to us. What exactly is there for Georgia to negotiate? She has been violated, her territory is the object of Russia's expansionist lust, and she is being asked to "negotiate"?
I wonder if Mr. Bush ever saw this move coming when he "looked into his [Putin's] soul" some years ago? If he didn't, it had to be one of the best pieces of tradecraft that Mr. Putin ever pulled off.