As we enter into another week of conflict between Russia and Georgia, we see that Russia still has not kept its word about pulling troops out. They still hold the port city of Poti, not to mention the trenches around South Ossetia that they have dug. Yet another great example of 21st-century diplomacy.
The West is holding its breath, but for what? We don't know. Russia is proving that it can still bully smaller nations, as it did in the days of the Soviet Union. But why this sudden interest in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, just two small provinces? They don't really offer anything of value to Russia, so why is Russia trying to claim them? Provocation. Russia is trying to get the West's attention.
It's no coincidence that this happened as the United States signed a deal for a defensive missile system in Poland. The Russians know that we're now obliged to defend Poland. They want to draw us out, a plan in which they have already partially succeeded. One of five U.S. Navy destroyers has arrived at the port city of Batumi, loaded with humanitarian aid. But even as we send our military to one spot, Russia threatens another. The Russian Defense Department threatened Poland with an attack, possibly a nuclear attack, if they continued with their agreement with the United States. And nuclear warfare is the last thing that the world needs. Fallout from a nuclear attack on Poland would affect most of Europe.
What should the United States do? Nothing. If we point our missiles away from Russia, and stay out, the threat should go down. If that doesn't work, perhaps the United Nations should actually use its power for once. Resolutions are good, but backing them up with troops would actually help. It should go to a U.N. vote: Do we do what we normally do, and kindly discourage this kind of behavior? Or do we get in there and put a stop to it?
John Quinn, Augusta
Comments
Yeah, right John...the UN worked so well with Saddam Hussein, Kim Jung Il, and Iran. These missiles are defensive. The Russians are making an issue because they want to show Europe and the US that they still run things there. Never mind that they are having a hard time feeding themselves. Russia has been offered membership in NATO several times and turned it down. They don't want to join us because Putin can't control NATO. Its just that simple.
Yeah we could pay them money to stop. Or perhaps we could go over there and teach them cumbahyah and sing songs. All those negotiations have worked so well in the past. NOT! Where is Truman or Roosevelt when you need them.
Amazingly John sounds just like JIMUH Carter. Sadly the "surrender at any cost" attitude created a waste of rescources from 1947 to 1989. Then when Ronaldus Magnus faced the Soviets (and thats is what the leadership of Russia is today) down the caved.
They are just bluffing with nuclear threats. They are not just hellbent on starting a nuclear war. They are just bluffing.
This is what happens when the US forced Kosovo upon the world and the corporate war in Iraq. Russia is trying to reasert herself in the world.
Russia is an ally to both Europe and the U.S. She is our eastern guard. She will defend Europe from the east and south.
We need to respect her more and allow her to bind with us. She cannot be cast aside. The U.S. (a soon to be third world country)
is intent on ignoring her.
The heck with cooling them down. Heat them up,Nuke them first.
The heck with cooling them down. Heat them up,Nuke them first.
No we will not nuke them first. Not now not ever. I will not genocide my fellow Europeans.
Russia is just flexing their muscle since they haven't much else. Remember all of the "Bear" bombers flying down from the North Atlantic? Russia is just showing that they can still be a thorn in someones side, they are mad because of the Deal with Poland..
I's kiddin. NO NUKES................
Justus4, yeah, we all know that Obama would sit down an talk with the Russians and they would apoligize and withdraw from Georgia. Of course, they wouldn't have to threaten Poland any longer as Obama would have already promised them no missiles there. (And Obama wants to unilaterally do away with our nuke capability-sure makes sense to Justus4 and other such fools).
Brbararoses, tell me where to get some of that stuff you are smoking.
Ya'll are so branwashed it's not even funny anymore. As Europe's as well as Americas White population shrinks the last thing that we need is a war between us. Like it or not most of the Russians are white and we need as many as them as we can get.
He got it at the last McCain political rally, Jack. Maybe you should have gone instead of the planning meeting for the citizens to keep W for 8 more years.
I think obama yo momma should head over to the russkies with a platter of fried chicken and a mess of collards. He can set em down and ask em nice to leave. Take em some curb feelers for the tanks
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