How much does Georgia deserves the blame for provoking the Russian Bear out of its slumber?
I’m not convinced it should bear any of it. There are a number of things going on here. I believe Georgia did escalate it’s military activity in South Ossetia the other day. I may be wrong about that. That could have driven this. I doubt Russia just out of the blue mobilized though. This had to have been in the works IMO.
Russia has been cruising for a bruising after the Bosnia/Kosovo bombing and recognition of Kosovo’s independence.
I don’t think we should completely ignore the fact that it chose 08/08/08 as the day to start it’s military campaign either. What that says about it’s willingness to steal some of China’s thunder I just don’t know. Was China privy to these plans?
This is kinda strange, what is taking place. Russia bombing the people it was trying to save sure speaks volumes. Destroying that hospital was sheer genius if you’re trying to convince folks Georgia was abusing the South Ossetians, and so Russia had to go in to stop it.
I doubt Russia has any idea how badly it just shot itself in the foot, but then again China seems to skate any responsibility for it’s actions. Russia probably thinks it will too. And I’m having a hard time thinking it won’t.
I’m sure our business folks will be back to business as usual on Monday, as it relates to Russia. No big deal. Lots of money to be made. What’s a few thousand deaths and a sovereign nation taken over worth on the world markets these days?
Zip.
No doubt, Russia armed the separatists.