This is not some faux-conflict that was ginned up by John McCain and the neoconservatives as some kind of electoral season strategy. And, even if it was (and it’s not) it’s gone far beyond that now.
I can hear the Left now laughing at Asmus and Holbrooke’s audacity in accusing Russia of neo-imperial policies. Isn’t this conflict taking place in Russia’s sphere of influence? Hasn’t the West been relentlessly provocative? Didn’t Russia warn us about the eastward expansion of NATO, anti-missile defenses in the Czech Republic, and the independence of Kosovo?
Yes, yes they did. And it doesn’t matter an iota to our bi-partisan foreign policy Establishment.
Obama will defend that policy, no question. However, the US can huff and puff all it wants, but unless the Pentagon sends in fighter planes and tanks (which they won’t) then Russia will continue invading Georgia. This will be a huge loss of face for the US which in turn might well make US foreign policy seriously more belligerent.
What happened on the night of Aug. 7 is beyond comprehension. The Georgian military attacked the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali with multiple rocket launchers designed to devastate large areas. Russia had to respond. To accuse it of aggression against “small, defenseless Georgia” is not just hypocritical but shows a lack of humanity.
Quite possibly true, but Russia is now invading areas outside of South Ossetia, and that’s hardly justifiable either.
Before this thing veers totally out of control, maybe everyone needs to take a chill pill?