I understand they were legitimate bases; our media is spinning this as though Russian troops simply poured across the eastern border of Ukraine (as opposed to simply walking out their front gate). I’m not defending, just clarifying Russia’s actions. After the invasion of Georgia a few years ago, Russia should be viewed as a potential enemy of the West (if that represents anything anymore).
“After the invasion of Georgia a few years ago”
It never happened. It was Georgian army, which invaded the South Ossetia, trying to attach it to the rest of Georgia. The SO called Russia to help, and Russia army pushed the Georgians back. Russia never “invaded” Georgia.
“During the night of 7 to 8 August 2008, Georgia launched a large-scale military offensive against South Ossetia, in an attempt to reclaim the territory ... The Georgian attack caused casualties among Russian peacekeepers, who resisted the assault along with Ossetian militia. Georgia successfully captured most of Tskhinvali within hours. Russia reacted by deploying units of the Russian 58th Army and Russian Airborne Troops into South Ossetia one day later, and launched airstrikes against Georgian forces in South Ossetia and military and logistical targets in Georgia proper.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Georgian_war
BTW, Georgia has NEVER been part of the “West”, whatever that could mean nowadays. Lately I read somewhere that Turkey is a “Western” country. WHERE does the “West” end?
“Russia should be viewed as a potential enemy of the West”
Why that? Which Western countries has the Russian Federation ever attacked?