Pot calling kettle black

We have seen Russia get condemned for invading Georgia. People have likened this to the new start of the cold war. The US and NATO stand behind a pro-western Georgia claiming that innocence has been trampled on. There is also a cry of going back on what has been promised and the undermining of established political procedure. It’s a strange issue of a pot calling a kettle black.

The US invaded Iraq in a unilateral move that sparked a wave of uncertainty and plunged America even further into deficit with a war that has no end and only negative implications. There were notions of a pull out and giving back the prized sovereignty back to the Iraqi people. Any similarities? Yes. Any differences? Yes. The difference is the fact that the Americans can go around being the policeman and removing threats they believe to have potency. They went half way around the world just to make a point. And they believed what they were doing is right. Even though there is colossal damage and loss of life.

The Russian-Georgian conflict in the area called the caucuses is more of self defence rather than colonial quest for power and the recapturing of former soviet territories. The issue is about Tbilisi’s rule of governance over 2 breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Both states prefer Russian backing to go independent so as to remain a former soviet state as well as having backing by a powerful giant in Russia. If there is a South Ossetia then there is a North Ossetia. It’s a bit like Kashmir if you ask me. This particular state would rather go back to Russian administration. Abkhazia would rather just be independent.

Therefore, they are considered rebel states by Georgia. Russia would rather not start off a fire fight with former soviet territories for the simple reason of just not wanting trouble on their hands. The caucuses have long been difficult to tame ever since Russia has tried to claim it as its own. It would be better to maintain good relationship with them rather than having situation like this. Why? Because these states, whether or not they are pro-western, have no choice but to work with the Russians in order to run their country because of a shared common like the Black Sea. By doing so the Russians get to establish trust and can profit form the relationship just like the other party.

So when the Georgian army does attack its own 2 states to the extent of entering Russia then Russia is willing to pick a fight. This is where the question of sovereignty is asked. Did Russia have the right to retaliate what it seems to them as a border infringement by their neighbour who they don’t trust given Georgia’s pro-western agenda and Russia’s long standing agitation to the US. With the Russians sending in a full retaliatory strike full with APC, artillery shelling and heck even MiGs to bombard the crap out of Georgia. Yes the retaliation was rather exaggerated but then again a country is allowed to practise self defence when infringed upon by a person they do not trust.

How is it that America can do so when there are no apparent infringements against them but attacking when attacked is called unbecoming? It is exactly this kind of stances that made Russia want to stay in Georgia even more. They have nothing to gain really. Their army would probably wipe out the Georgian army without much hassle. So then what is this about? Its politics rather than national security. The fact that the Russians are willing to make a point with Medvedev going all out to protect his borders, is 3 fold.

Firstly, the Russian people do agree in having this conflict as they see it as an infringement on territorial sovereignty. Secondly, its for the new president who used to be the intelligence head and armed forces committee member at a certain point, to stand out. He is and probably will always be in the shadow of Putin. So this is his way to bring his term to light by having the same strong arm tactical stance as Putin.

Thirdly and I believe the most important reason, standing up on Russian pride. The Russians believe that they should be allowed to defend themselves in a similar way to the US. I consider the two of them as the yin and yang. Both act as a check and balance. With the US in decline in terms of political bite, Russia has been making room for itself. Dominance at the 6 party talks as well as the Iran issue has brought back its famed tenacity remnant of its soviet past.

Yeaps its all about calling others black