Russia invades Georgia
I am a big fan of Russia, the Russian language, Russian culture and of course I know scores of amazing Russian people. I also do not understand the whole situation in Georgia, it seems that the Georgians were disallowing a break away province to have independence. However, the imperialistic Russian government continues to operate with ‘cloak and dagger’ politics and strong hand when it can. The Russian people have to realizes that Russia would be richer without the politics of Czar Putin. What Russia needs is free movement of labor and capital with the west and a strong middle class not imperialism which only benefits the oligarchs. I think many Russians support the government because Russia has prospered; however, if Russia did not play the these games it would be much more powerful and wealthier for all. Look at Gary Kasparov, a fairly bright man in my opinion, is he the only one in Russia that can see how badly this Russian oligarch feudalism is making most of the Russian people live on a marginal level? In Kasparov’s the Other Russian he tries to make the world aware of this.
This invasion of Georgia by Russia is out of control. 1000s have died. And if you read Pravda, they Russians say the USA is the cause of the invasion. I have no idea how this invasion of Georgia an independent nation will end, but I hope with no more loss of life.
Tags: Putin, Russia, Russia invades Georgia
2 responses to Russia invades Georgia
I am not certain why Russia chose to attack Georgia. There are, however several factors that may be examined to make an educated guess. First; I think it is important for people to understand that Russia lost more people in WWII than the total of all of the cumulative losses for all the other countries in world. Russia has always been paranoid. Perhaps Georgia drew too near to Nato and the countries around Russia were always her buffer zone. Imagine, then for a moment, how the U.S. might respond to Canada being a major power with philosophies counter to those of the U.S. We havent lost huge numbers of people to other countries, but I suspect that we would still be terrribly paranoid about that kind of issue. In addition there is an extremly strong ethnic group of muslims in Georgia. Russia has been experiencing the effects of terrorism in the last few years. I am sure that plays into it also. Then there is the oil card. Russia’s pipeline runs through Georgia. Oil is big; oil is money, oil is power. Finally, Russia was once a major player in the political scheme of the world; one of three super powers. Undoubtably there is a faction of the old guard that would love to see the glories of a great and powerful Russia reestablished. Putin came into power because Russian citizens saw him as an individual who could reawaken pride in Russian people. They voted for him and put him in office. I don’t think that he kills babies and eats them for breakfast. I think he like all of the rest of us; he loves his wife, he is proud of his children, he has headaches sometimes, sometimes he doesn’t sleep too well. I suspect that he is pretty much like the rest of the people in the world. What makes him different than others of his race is that he is a nationalist. When we, in the west, examine Russian goals and philosophies we must understand that the goals of other countries in the world do not coincide with those of the U.S. What is good for Russia is not always the same as what is good for the U.S.
@Arthur, a very good reply, for Putin, he is about Russia, he is for promoting Russia on all levels, he is a nationalist. I am not saying that is bad at all. In fact what many people like Putin, but I am not in favor of military action first, talk later. I am an American of Slavic roots so I can understand he wants keep Russian culture from being too Westernized and stick up for Russian interests, I can see Russia’s motives, but I do not agree with any action where people get killed unless perhaps its to stop a much greater bad. Arthur your insights are great thank-you.
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