Publius Pundit

« Previous · Home · Next »

Georgia, Burning

Filed under: Georgia

bush-saakashvili.jpg

In March, we reported on how Russia was seeking to destabilize Georgia's breakaway republic of Abkhazia. In fact, Georgia accused Russia of going even further, seeking to directly foment a coup d'etat against its elected government. After Georgia arrested and expelled the alleged conspirators, Russia launched a massive set of economic sanctions and racist pogroms against Georgians living in Russia. When Georgia shrugged off the sanctions, Russians became desperate.

In August, we told you how Russia had been caught red handed escalating the conflict by making incursions into the territory of Georgia proper. These military incursions clearly have the purpose of disqualifying Georgia for NATO membership (as an unstable state). Again, Georgia exposed Russia's actions and prevailed in the court of public opinion. The Kremlin became more desperate still.

Last month, a discredited defense minister came forward with wild-eyed charges about Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili ordering mob-like hits, accusations the minister soon retracted. It almost seemed like the Kremlin was laying the groundwork for a Ukrainesqe attempt to fill the streets with "protests" led by this "minister."

According to Reuters: "Last year the World Bank named Georgia as the top economic reformer in the world. Gross domestic product grew by 9.6 percent in 2006 and officials forecast 2007 growth of 14.5 percent. The government has boosted tax revenues and private investment is up. Per capita income has risen from $700 a year in 2003 to $1,500 now." Its scores on quality government and respect for human rights from international ratings organizations routinely exceed those of Russia despite having been victimized by decades of Russian oppression and constant, ongoing Russian efforts to destabilize its government and prevent it from ascending to the ranks of NATO. The political opposition in Georgia has its own TV station, Imedi, while in Russia the opposition is barely even allowed to exist.

By now, the Russian Kremlin is almost pathologically committed to bringing the country back into its orbit as a slave state, and has no hesitation in attempting to use Georgia's democratic impulses against it in the most calculating manner imaginable. Again and again it has failed to achieve its objectives, and each time it grows more frenzied and more desperate to preserve its shabby dreams of empire.

And now, Georgia is in flames. A hoard of protesters, obviously supported by Russia and weirdly similar to the freakish group that attempted to unseat the pro-West government in Ukraine, was driven into the streets to call -- nobody knows exactly why -- for Saakashvili's ouster. MSNBC reported: "Andrei Kokoshin, the head of the Russian parliament's committee for Commonwealth of Independent States affairs, said the west should take note of 'mass violations of human rights and democratic rules in Georgia.'" Vladimir Socor of the Jamestown Foundation reports that during the demonstrations:

speeches by opposition politicians described President Mikheil Saakashvili and the government as "terrorist," "criminal," and "bandits" -- language they have used throughout this campaign -- and demanded their resignation. Demonstrators erected a gallows outside the parliament building, with Saakashvili's effigy suspended on it, along with the image of a rose, the symbol of the 2003 Rose Revolution that brought Saakashvili to power.

How long would such activities be tolerated in Russia? What is the reason for them? What outrageous action has Saakashvili suddenly taken against the people of Georgia? Nothing leaps to mind. But Russia, of course, is another matter.

So get this: When the U.S. tries to impose economic sanctions on Iran, it's an unworkable outrage according to Russia -- but when Russia feels like it, it's perfectly free to impose sanctions on Georgia. When the U.S. criticizes Russia for assaulting peaceful marches by opposition political groups, Russia says that is its own internal affair and the U.S. should mind its own business -- but when Georgia takes action against those who are seeking not to prevail in elections but to unseat the government by force, Russia feels free to condemn that action. Chechnya is none of the world's business, it's an internal Russian matter, but Russia has every right to intervene in Abkhazia. And so on, and so on, and so on. It's the Soviet Union, all over again.

But the world cannot allow Russia to swallow Georgia the way the USSR swallowed Hungary and Czechoslovakia. If we do, history will issue us its most horrific sanction -- reliving it. Saakashvili has declared a state of emergency in order to try to bring the situation under control, and the only reason this has been necessary is because he trusted us to guarantee Georgia's sovereignty as he opened it to our democratic models. So far, we've palpably failed to deliver on that promise, leaving him largely alone to struggle against his giant neighbor.

Our indecision and timidity must stop now.

Social Bookmarking:
Del.icio.us this del.icio.us | digg this digg | Add to Technorati technorati | StumbleUpon Toolbar stumble upon | Furl this furl | Reddit this reddit

Comments


Robert Mayer says:

It raises very significant philosophical questions about democracy itself. I don't think that democracy is possible in a state constantly destabilized and without territorial sovereignty. Perhaps this is why NATO membership is so important to Georgia -- it would protect the country against any form of aggression by other countries in the region, mainly Russia, that are hostile to it. And for Russia, once Georgia joins NATO, it would leave Russia's orbit forever. So time is of the essence for both sides. Undoubtedly Russia has been doing everything it can to destabilize Georgia before it can join.

And what are the comparisons and legitimacy of these protests? I think it is important to note that many of the members in the opposition are former members of Saakashvili's administration and are generally reform and Western oriented. This can't be such a bad thing, and because of it they have been a pretty interesting - though largely ineffective -- opposition. But some of the radical opposition parties are a bit kooky. Some want to bring back the monarchy for instance. And the whole "terrorist" thing? Wow.

Definitely not up to the par that the Rose revolutionaries set. And besides that, the activists that were trained and the people who came out at that time were protesting against election fraud and a stolen election. What is this? They want the duly elected president to unconstitutionally be removed by either resignation or sacking. It's simply not the same situation.

Besides that, this alarmism in these many countries about emergency laws is ridiculous. This isn't Egypt where emergency has been in effect for decades. This will last a couple weeks at the most I think. The use of rubber bullets and water cannons is nothing different than what I've seen in Chile, Europe, or the United States. Move on... there is a lot of weird shit going on here, but not as bad as it's being made to look.


Russian bear says:

"The use of rubber bullets and water cannons is nothing different than what I've seen in Chile, Europe, or the United States. Move on... there is a lot of weird shit going on here, but not as bad as it's being made to look."

Yeh, yeh. Rubber bullets, water cannons are not worth to talk about. They are much better and safer than the clubs of Russian police dispercing the marches of a couple of hundreds of Kasparov's fans.
That was real cruelty.


Russian bear says:

When the U.S. tries to impose economic sanctions on Iran, it's an unworkable outrage according to Russia -- but when Russia feels like it, it's perfectly free to impose sanctions on Georgia.

You know what is the difference, girl?

Russia imposed her sanction on Georgia, and did not call the USA and the whole world to join those sanctions. That was Russia-Georgia business.

The USA also is free to impose her own sanctions on whoever she wants. Who cares? But the USA insists the whole world must join and do what the USA wants.


Concerned Citizen says:

Russia would have been laughed at. More than it already is.


jibs says:

"but when Georgia takes action against those who are seeking not to prevail in elections but to unseat the government by force, Russia feels free to condemn that action."

"But the world cannot allow Russia to swallow Georgia the way the USSR swallowed Hungary and Czechoslovakia."

you got it all wrong. If you are trying to comment on what is happening in Georgia, then mind this: the tales of Russia staging the coup are believed only by a few. And its not a hoard, but people who were demonstrating. If you have something against Russia, then write a diffrent story, leave Georgia out of it.
If you care about the democracy in Georgia, then mind news from Human Rights Watch, www.civil.ge, think how it would be if your favority party in the states would close down independent media and blame it all on Bin laden.


Aris Katsaris says:

If you have something against Russia, then write a diffrent story, leave Georgia out of it

Russia has troops on Georgian soil and has de facto annexed two large pieces of Georgian territory, ethnically cleansing hundreds of thousands of Georgians in the process

I don't know if the allegations of Russian involvement in *these* specific protests are true or not, but I do know that Russia's been wanting to shallow Georgia whole, and been willing to use a variety of methods towards that goal.

So, honestly, it's way too late for Russians to be playing the innocent bystanders.


David M says:

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 11/08/2007 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.


Artfldgr says:

While i didnt think that they would heat things up in pakistan, i did say that the corridor for weapons on land passes through georgia, and what other country?

one only needs to look at the major military actions over the past 50 or so years to realize that weapons and destabalization is the game they have constantly played.

i for one could believe a coupe attempt as they are desperate to save Iran from not being their conduit for weapons anymore... (goes up their with their ultimatum as to the caspian).

As i pointed out when i figured the goals out by looking at a map, everything was going to heat up and go nutty and its all going to be around the goals of plugging the weapons holes, that would plug the major sources of easy destabalization.

given that in the past, proximity of soviet soldiers have kept the US at bay several times, this is the goal. when isreal was attacked (one of many), the US could only really listen in since there were too many russian soldier advisors. same thing happened in the vietnam war... we stopped bombing so as not to accidently hit a soviet that was there. then resumed them later.

so if one were desperate to this goal, then one would turn on every tap and faucet one could. EVERY one of them. so we have terroris van from sweden to turkey. we have communist revolutionary troops hitting turkey... turkey haveing to respond... pakistan another part of that system, is under sudden crazy stuff... some in the congress have decided to drum up a meaningless proposal to help the russians by offending turkey by calling them genocidal in a regime that was prior to whats there now... you have TONS of stuff happening in georgia... lots happening in ajerbaijan...

think about this for a second... look at the size of russia... look at the amount of reasources and such... now look at the size of georgia... georgia, armenia and ajerbaijan have nothing they want in and of themselves. they have the sad misfortune of being in a very strategic place.

why the heck should these states matter otherwise? well i said that everyone is going to be on turkey.. so if russia had control of georgia, then turkey would find it harder to be independent, and would be forced to think twice about helping the US... turkey may find it advantageous to burn the candle at both ends and let things pass through, and so forth.

the thing is that its an alternative for them if iran is going to drop. this means that tactically the situaiton in iran has to start up BEFORE the elections. there is no way to be sure that this stuff would be continued till the goal is met after that date.

the game is to push in ways that will not really cost them anything. no one in the world is really willing to call russia on the games here. for them georgia is too small, and so are the others. so unless russia pushes too hard in the open, they pretty much can pull any stunts.

these three little states only have certain tactical value. they are not sources of gold, oil, riches and wealth... they dont dominate the banking world, or anything like that. georgia happens to be between russia and a state it wants to influence directly and potentially sell it on a mutually wealthy making plan...

there is no way to argue against that point because russia is a major producer of war weapons for export to the states that are at issue here and even farther into africa through these russia freindly states.

they make weapons, they need to sell them. even more, they need the instability to keep wearing down the west, which is what its doing. how tired are we that the issues around isreal have never calmed down?

so its known that they make weapons for sale, that the vast majority of their customers can be reached by land through that area, and the success of doing this gets them cash, control, and creates a situation that keeps those resources out of the hands of the west.


another way to see it is to think what would be the outcome if the west succeeds and what would be the outcome if they dont.

if the US and other countries efforts dont succeed, then the area will remain unstable for a long time. weapons will continue to move for a long time. eventually overt attacks would build up over time as the unstable situation is more conducive to such extreme things.

if the US and other countries succeed, then there is little reason to bother with ajerbaijan... the conduit is closed, they are no longer strategically of interest till the state of iran gets handed back to them and are back in play.

georgia would still have strategic interest given that turkey may be willing to let shipments pass through their state unhindered.

turkey is not a unsuccessful state, a look at a map shows that it has done better than most around it and its not a controlled economy. its an oddity and beautiful. such a state in such a level of existence favors stability. since they have relatively free markets, those markets perform most efficiently if there is long term stability, otherwise things make costly swings (worse than the ones they do). ultimately, the more solid that turkey is, the less strategic georgia is, which is why its in georgias interest to favor the west and want nato as well.

while these states were more bacwards, the disruptions were less damaging, but the more progress forward and the more their merkets integrate the less their interests aline with russias, since russia has less to spend, and isnt spending its time building effective economy (they think they need so much protection. like a paranoid gun nut that thinks everyone is out to get them. of course if you have NO protection many people will be out to get you, but there are very valuable states with a lot less protection that no one is invading, so it is out of wack and proportion).

the kicker is that the way these games are played, they are played outside the view of the average person who is too busy listening to arguments and discussions and not looking at the map and how things move around the way leaders do.

when we argue down in the area of the average person, we will argue some inanity that its for oil, or this simple thing or that. but thats not something that is played that way.

most of these arguments may appeal to somes vanity of the situation, but they explain nothing and they assume a profound level of stupidity on the part of the top level of state games. i doubt its that easy.

does the argument oil really explain anything going on? who is closer, has a lot of oil, and is more threatening to the US? (and has now started to terrorize givne that they had shots laid into a crowd to stop protests). chavez...

iraq isnt a great member of opec, nor is it a shattering producer, nor is anyone apropriating oil during the war (when it would be easiest and not questioanble). nor would it be apropriated after things are done and settled there, it would be bought at market, as it is now from everyone else that sells it.

for 50 years a constant stream of russian weapons have gone to the middle east. at one point isreal took the weapons from another state after a war, and gave them to another state. within a few years they were invaded again by that same state that they beat, it had been rearmed.

weapons caches are constantly being found and destroyed, and they make more.

while it might be nice to think it, these people are not nutty... they are tactical, and strategic, and this is the way the ideology has set the premises that blossom into their actions.

hopefully i see china realizeing that the more stable things are, the more business flows back and forth, and the more productive and the better and healthier things are as all that extra output makes it feasable to waste some on whats right.

russia doesnt want to do this because the state cant siphon off that much to these people. and without this system, they have absolutely no way to make a living. their ONLY skill is this nasty paranoid game they have ideologied themselves to (to the point where they now believe their own propaganda).


Russian Bear says:

To: Artfldgr

Mmmm... Interesting thoughts...
So, the whole thing is about a corridor for russia's weapons on land shipment to somewhere and farther to africa?

You know, buddy, I too looked at the map. AND IT OCCURED TO ME: those bloody commies have dug a tunnel under the caucasian range, under georgia to iran and it opens in damascus.
Now they may dig a continuation in direction of your house.


Russian Bear says:


There is no serious Russian involvement in the present turmoil in Georgia. The opposition there is not pro-Russian. Yes, Russians are happy to see Saakashwilly loosing. They like it like you may like to see your nasty neighbour having problems in his household.

Russia does not need Georgia. She is not going to swallow this useless land.
In opposite, Georgia needs Russia as a market for Georgian fruits and wines (they do not have anything else to sell) and the place to go for Georgian "gastarbeiters".

Russia let all the former Soviet republics go in 1992. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia... Why would she wanted them back?
Russia even rejected Lukashenko efforts to have Belarus joined with Russia in the same status she had in the USSR. When the USSR was disbanded, Russia left some territories where Russian population consisted 70-90% to Kazakhstan and the Ukraine.

Russian-Georgian enmity is purely of emotional nature. This two nations had been living together for 200 years. To protect Georgians from being exterminated and assimilated by Turkety and Persia, Russia had to conquer the North Caucasus in a bloody and costly war (today's war in Chechnya is the problem inhereted from that time). Georgians and Russians complemented each other by many features and were getting along rather well. Russia deafeted Turkey and gave a lot of lands to Georgia. Georgian noblmen were equal with Russian nobilty at the zar's court. In Soviet time Georgians were too a priveleged nation. They gave such leaders as Stalin, Orjonikidze, Beria, Shevarnadze. Georgian artists, writers, movie directors, actors were loved in Russia. So, it was a rare case of interethnic harmony.
And what than?

Georgian nationalists' leader and the first Georgian President Zviad Gamsahurdia crossed whatever was pozitive in the relations in 200 years and called them colonial ones. (But being so "anti-colonial" he was not ashamed to strip Abkhazia and South Ossetia of their autonomy inside Georgia and got separatist movement there). Than Mikhail Saakashvilly was installed by the USA with his plans to join NATO. And they open The Museum of Soviet Occupation of Georgia in Tbilisi?!
So, Georgians, in simple words, spat into the well from which they and the Russians drunk water together. That was unthankfulness. Betraial of the friend.
Any proud Russian can not stand such an attitude.
This is why Russians do not like the regime in Georgia and start unliking the Georgians too. Russia feels like a husband who figured out that his former wife appeared to be a whore.


elmer says:

Wow- there it is again - magnanimous, generous, charitable loving rooshah, that "let the former sovok republics go," and "gave so much to other countries - torture, famine, repression, gulags, NKVD, KGB, poverty, corruption. The list goes on.

And here I thought everyone in the sovok-russkie paradise was equal.

Seems to me that "Russia feels like a husband who figured out that his former wife appeared to be a whore" is not a valid analogy at all.

It's more like ---- russkie-land feels like a vodka-drinking, wife-beating husband, who can't figure out why his beaten wife left him.

After all, russkie-land husband was beating his wife so generously and magnanimously.


wow gold says:

publius





jordan shoes says:

we prefer to buy a pair of cheap nike Shoes if they'r the same of brand.we can feel it comfortable what brought
by Air Jordan Shoes,but also relaxing from Jordan Kicks.once u wear Jordan Shoes,even u think u'r the NO.1,
you'r be more confident than before .i like Jordan Shoes.


Post a comment


(will not be published)



Remember Me?

(you may use HTML tags for style)




TrackBack

TrackBack URL: http://publiuspundit.com/mt/contages.cgi/470