Georgia on My Mind

I was going to write another blog about illegal immigration, but the Soviet invasion of Georgia is on my mind.   

Why did Russia invade Georgia now?  I heard one pundit blame Georgia’s president Mikhail Saakashvili because, according to the pundit, he “tweaked” Russia’s nose, but I have another theory.  Do the words “Eastern European Missile Defense Shield” mean anything to you?

If not, here’s the Cliff Notes version.  During the last year the US forged agreements with at least two Eastern European countries (former Soviet bloc satellites) to put missile defense systems in their countries.  (The first country that agreed backed out when the Soviets complained.) The missiles are not to be directed at the Soviets, but rather at the Iranians to prevent them from using their missiles loaded with nuclear warheads from attacking Europe.  Nevertheless Putin didn’t want them there.  It’s hard to know what Putin’s fears were, if any.  Did he really fear the missiles were directed at him, was he trying to protect Iranian interests, was he trying to reassert Soviet dominance in the region and eliminate any further surge toward democracy or was there another reason?  (This morning’s pundits are agreeing with my theory and advancing yet another one which I didn’t know.  The only oil pipeline to the Caspian Sea not under Russian control goes through Georgia.)

Whatever the reason Putin may have put the fear of the Soviet military might into Poland and any other country that may be contemplating letting the missile system be put on their territory.  He may also be trying to prevent them from entering either NATO or the EU.  Why?  Simple.  The more closely aligned they become to the west, the less likely he is to be able to resurrect the old USSR.  Putin’s an ex KGB guy.  Nuff said. 

Unlikely, you think, because Putin isn’t the Soviet premier anymore.  The only people who think he’s still not in charge are Barack Obama or some of Obama’s minions.  Putin is already supposed to have his sights trained on the Ukraine.    (The Ukrainian President is the only world leader who’s gone to Georgia’s aid.  Maybe that was because he was poisoned by the Russians in an effort to keep him from taking office, and he almost died. )  It was after all the Soviet breadbasket before the break up of the old Soviet Union.    If you think the Soviet Union hasn’t been rattling it’s sabers recently, then you haven’t been paying attention.  Soviet bombers have invaded the airspace of several countries including over flying the US in Alaska and the Soviet navy is threatening to take over US territorial waters in the Artic in a blatant attempt to get seabed oil located there.  Still think Russia is now an ally?

The only things that are going to make this invasion successful are a weak-kneed response from NATO, the EU and the US.  That’s already happening.  Should the US go into Georgia with guns blazing?  Ummmm maybe not, but how about a program similar to the lend lease program that FDR and Churchill used to keep the Nazis at bay.  Only if US interests are directly attacked (Pearl Harbor and September 11, 2001 come to mind.), should we respond with a direct military attack, but we shouldn’t leave Georgia hanging out to dry either.  By training their military, and providing them with equipment, we’re giving them the ability to protect their own land.  At the same time we’ll be protecting US vital interests abroad.  (Maybe we should aim some missiles at the Russians.  After all Ronald Reagan won the first cold war with star wars, which the media assured us would never work and dubbed star wars.) 

Might doesn’t make right, but it sure keeps your enemies on the straight and narrow.  We should keep that in mind.

Is the water hot enough for you yet?