Tag Archives: Russia

Scorched forests

The Russian Bear, ever diligent in its campaign to destroy little Georgia despite various ceasefire agreements, prefers to start forest fires, with incendiaries dropped from helicopters, in the southern part of the country. Smokey would be appalled, as we all are. In Afghanistan they left brightly colored mines behind to attract and punish children. Brave Russians. So manly. At least they haven’t been reported to be doing that again. Yet.

UPDATE:  Bad enough that they set the fires. Now they’re refusing to allow putting them out. The Soviet Union Russians, of course, claim innocence, all around. But don’t they always?

The shame ameliorates

Somewhat, anyhow. We couldn’t go to the nuclear mattresses with Russia over its rape of Georgia, so we did the next best things.

The land between the seas

Independent journalism ace Michael Totten is "in Baku, Azerbaijan, and heading to Georgia in two days." These are shameful times to be an American, having to sit by and watch the rape of Georgia. Totten’s work won’t change that, but at least it will give focus to it. I contribute to his work, and enjoy his eye for detail. You should consider contributing, as well, at the link above.

Via Instapundit.

UPDATE:  Totten’s first report from Tbilisi is a good ‘un. And he’s promised another one.

It’s the oil, stupid

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.

Georgia on My Mind

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.

Return of the blood libel

Russians aren’t just having trouble with democracy, folks. Passover is coming. So they’ve decided to turn back the clock on anti-Semitism and warn Christians to hide their children. Isn’t that special?

Let the games resume

The Soviets, er, the Rooskies, are at it again. Putin, it seems, wants the Cold War back in play.

Via Fresh Bilge