A New Russia: A New Reality
By Mumia Abu Jamal at Aug 18, 2008 |
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The conflict between Russia and Georgia gives us some idea of things to come.
It shows, more than conflicts in Eastern Europe, the extra costs of the Iraqi Imperial adventure.
For America, though it would dearly love to intervene, hasn't the troops nor the material to engage the Russians on Georgia's behalf.
Instead, it is relegated to the sidelines while French President Nicolas Sarkozy mediates a cease fire between the two sides, while the US issues press releases.
The US media has, once again, echoed the administration line, which points Russians as the side which provoked the conflict. But most media can only do so if it ignores news reports from early August, which stated that Georgian troops attacked rebel fighters in South Ossetia, an impoverished mountainous region which won independence from Georgia after a bloody war in the early '90's.
The Russian incursion also shows that the country, now flush with cash, is a far cry from the debtor nation of a decade ago. This was a demonstration as much to Georgia as it was to the world, of a new Russia, aggressive, armed and willing to enter its former territories of the Soviet era.
Russian aggressiveness was made possible in part by its recent oil wealth. As a major oil power, it has profited from the rise in prices since the Iraq invasion, which sent prices soaring worldwide.
The actions of one state influences the fate and actions of other states.
And where was US outrage at military attacks on neighbors when Israel bombed Lebanon from coast to coast? When the Arab League begged the US to mediate peace between the two warring sides, America's Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, said what people in Lebanon were seeing weren't bombs, death and destruction, but "the birth pangs of democracy."
But that was then -- this is now.
Russia saw an opportunity, provided a justification; and seized it.
Sound familiar?
[Source: Schwirtz, Michael, "6 Die as Georgia Battles Rebel Group," Sun. New York Times, 8/3/08, p.12.]




Georgian Sacrifice
By Andrews, John at Aug 19, 2008 23:56 PM
Mumia
I agree with your comments but I think there is more to this than meets the eye. I was convinced from the onset that Bush / Nato encouraged Georgia\'s act of stupidity but could not fathom why. The best that I could come up with was to see how Russia would respond but today I heard something on the news that sent a chill down my spine.
NATO and Poland will, today, sign an agreement allowing US / NATO Missile Defence Shield to be constructed in Poland. Before the Georgian event, the majority of Poles were against the installation of US / NATO missiles in Poland; now, supposedly, 65% of the Polish population approve of the installation.
Were thousands of Georgians / Ossettians / Russians sacrificed in order to ease the passage of missiles into Poland? Was it a case of "Toe the line or you will be next"?
The US / NATO scares the hell out of me a damn sight more than the current bogeymen of the world - Russia / Iran / China etc.
Thanks for all the great articles you have posted on Z-Net over the years; I look forward to the day when you are free.
Best wishes
John Andrews
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Re: Georgian Sacrifice
By Carl, Susan at Aug 24, 2008 07:46 AM
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