Military historian Victor Davis Hanson succinctly wraps up the Russian bear’s aims and abilities, and why, under the present circumstances, we really can’t do anything very impressive to stop it. Grrrr.
MORE: The bear, indeed, is on the march, and we will pay for our inattention, and Bush’s amazing naivete about the mass-murderer he likes to call Pooti. If nothing else, the Georgian invasion and rape should be another nail in the coffin of Baby Barry’s soft-power ambitions.
Tank rounds, fighter-bomber ordnance and artillery shells are supposed to be used on concentrations of enemy soldiers, but the Russians have long preferred to loose them on civilians, as well. This slide show from RFE/RL Georgian News Service shows a burning apartment building in Gori from several angles, and also an interview with one of the tenants who says many were killed. It’s Chechnya all over again. The purpose seems to be to terrify the population and, possibly, demoralize the Georgian troops who must fear for their families as they fight the bear.
One more very good reason not to vote for Baby Barry. He’d just throw it all away:
"The Iraqis aren’t yet confident enough to stand entirely on their own; al Qaeda’s savagery still imposes too much fear, while Iran is training terrorists next door. In counterinsurgency, the people must know they are protected. Gen. Petraeus has proven that intimidation can be defeated by placing American soldiers among the population."
Worth the read, from fav author Bing West.
"But we will defend the freedom of our country, the independence of our country – with our teeth, to the last drop of blood. God bless each of us. God bless the freedom of Georgia. God bless our soldiers, our heroes. Long live Georgia." –Georgian president Saakashvili.
The first of many brave words we can expect to hear as the Russians, emboldened by oil and gas profits, reclaim their empire.
UPDATE: Russia will "stop" with conditions, including Saakashvili’s resignation. AP says Bush demanded withdrawal and, "hours later" Russian President Dmitri Medvedev ordered a halt. But that’s too simple, not to mention unbelievable. How long will it take for the truth to come out? Not to mention for gluing the Smiley Face back on the bear?
The best joke I’ve seen is that the Russians won’t make it past Macon, let alone enter Atlanta. But the Russian invasion of the other Georgia, our ally on the other side of the world which sent two thousand troops to Iraq, really isn’t funny. It’s quite a bit of food for thought. It seems obvious to me that we will do nothing, other than prattle about condemnation and seek meaningless resolutions from the Dictator’s Club.
Not because our military is weak, despite its being well committed already, but because our society is weak, and has no stomach for war with Russia, whatever they do with Georgia, Ukraine or any of their other former "colonies." As to all that, Richard Fernandez, author of the Belmont Club blog, and his stalwart commenters are among the best sources available on what’s happening and what it is all likely to mean in the future. See also this column by military writer Ralph Peters.
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Posted in The War
Tagged Belmont Club, Georgia, Richard Fernandez, Russia
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