Russia v. Georgia?
Is there a history of Russia knocking down smaller states that launch a bid for independence? Think Cold War...1954 and 68.
In this case how are geo-politics connected to Russia's commitment to crush the movement? If you get the New York Times (your parents might) there is a great piece on this on August 11th.
Are you watching the Olympics? Any event you are really interested in?
Hope Fall sports kicked off well today.
MZ
5 comments:
Russia has been known to take over countries which are seemingly weak. During the Cold War they invaded and took over Poland, Czech, and Hungary. Georgia, Russia's newest focus, is also subject to Russia's hope for reconstruction. Once again, Russia is hoping to rebuild it's power and size.
After World War II, the US agreed to give Russia temporary control of Poland if they promised to hold free elections at a later date. Though at the time, Russia agreed to this, they later refused to keep their end of the bargain. Thus began Russia's quest to claim small nations around them in the hopes of spreading communism and creating a buffer zone that would prevent the suffering caused by World War II from ever happening again. Russia's newest target is Georgia. Georgia, like the targets before it, is weak both economically and politically. However, it is a body of land and a mass of people that Russia believes, if obtained, can only be beneficial. The US has responded by placing defensive missiles in Poland to both protect and power flex.
Russia enjoys the spreading of communism, an awful form of government found mostly in the far east. They are enforcing this form of government as well as using this land as a buffer to the suffering initially caused in World War II. We should help Georgia before communists take over.
Russia has proven throughout history to seek out better political power and recognition. The Georgia conflict is another example of this. Their attempts to succeed in S. Ossetia shows how Russia is trying to establish itself in the military world.
Now let's be clear...Russia is not spreading communism now...but her interest in hegemony is clear. Historically, Afghanisatan in 1979. Czechoslavakia, 1968, Hungary-1954. In these cases it was a mixture of geo-politics and the advancement of communism. Today one must consider the grip Russia has on Europe due to her energy resources. And since our adventure in Iraq do we really have any moral authority to tell the big nation not to step on the little guy? This recent case also reminded me of how Hitler was making a case for Austria and the Sudetenland (minority group with a common heritage "trapped" in another nation. Was Russia protecting its fellow Russians in Georgia? Or should Russia accept that the policies of Russification made imperfect demographic lines?
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