Posted on 08/19/2008 11:51:36 PM PDT by james500
THE acute phase of the crisis provoked by the Georgian forces’ assault on Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, is now behind us. But how can one erase from memory the horrifying scenes of the nighttime rocket attack on a peaceful town, the razing of entire city blocks, the deaths of people taking cover in basements, the destruction of ancient monuments and ancestral graves?
Russia did not want this crisis. The Russian leadership is in a strong enough position domestically; it did not need a little victorious war. Russia was dragged into the fray by the recklessness of the Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili. He would not have dared to attack without outside support. Once he did, Russia could not afford inaction.
The decision by the Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev, to now cease hostilities was the right move by a responsible leader. The Russian president acted calmly, confidently and firmly. Anyone who expected confusion in Moscow was disappointed.
...
A bipartisan commission led by Senator Chuck Hagel and former Senator Gary Hart has recently been established at Harvard to report on American-Russian relations to Congress and the next president. It includes serious people, and, judging by the commission’s early statements, its members understand the importance of Russia and the importance of constructive bilateral relations.
But the members of this commission should be careful. Their mandate is to present “policy recommendations for a new administration to advance America’s national interests in relations with Russia.” If that alone is the goal, then I doubt that much good will come out of it. If, however, the commission is ready to also consider the interests of the other side and of common security, it may actually help rebuild trust between Russia and the United States and allow them to start doing useful work together.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I’m thinking the red blotch on his head has finally eaten into his brain. Either that or it means “Ding! coffee’s ready!”
Cue glorious Gorbasm theme for Mikhail Sergeyevich!
God we need Reagan. Times like this I miss that man. He knew how to deal with Russia.
I always thought it was his brains leaching out. ;-)
why did Georgia attack Ossetia? Was it not because Russia was launching attacks and moving alot of troops in there, a country that is not theirs to occupy.
Gorbachev apparently has been bought by Putin. And of course the NY Times is more than happy to give him a forum.
Something weird. Years ago I was watching the news and they cut to a meeting with Ronald and Gorby. When they first went to the meeting the blotch was on one side of his head and the news suddenly dropped the live feed. When they came back I swear the damn blotch was on the other side of Gorbachev’s head. I kid you not. I always wondered if anyone else caught that.
Nice. The NYTimes gives Gorbachev the opportunity to shill for Russian expansionism, but won’t publish a McCain opinion piece regarding his candidacy to become POTUS (after they’d already published Obama’s opinion). Big surprise.
“Gorbachev lies.”
Perestroika was a ruse.
Rush was always on the money with Gorby.
He was, is and will always be redder than my Brandy Boy tomatoes.
“A bipartisan commission led by Senator Chuck Hagel and former Senator Gary Hart has recently been established at Harvard to report on American-Russian relations to Congress and the next president.”
LOL! Having Chuck RINOHAGEL makes it bipartisan. Hah!
“If, however, the commission is ready to also consider the interests of the other side and of common security, it may actually help rebuild trust between Russia and the United States and allow them to start doing useful work together.”
How is that “consider the interests of the other side” working in Moscow these days, Gorby?
This area has seen conflict for many years and in the early 90’s Russia and Georgia agreed to a ceasefire allowing Russian units to keep the peace. Now Georgia always wanted to retake or re-establish control over South Ossetia and there were numerous negotiations. However, in the weeks leading to military action there were a number of skirmishes and the Russians had warned Georgia over any military action outside the ceasefire agreement.
What surprised the Russians was the intensity of the Georgian military action against their peacekeeping units in the civilian populated areas. A number of Russian peacekeeping sites were wiped out by artillery barrage and the peacekeepers were certainly no match against Georgian tanks and artillery.
This only infuriated the Russians and they responded with their own intense military action.
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