International Political Hypocracy

The abundant hypocrisy from around the world is painfully apparent in the current Georgia-Russia conflict. Russia itself has had a breakaway province conflict that has raged for years in the Caucuses, Chechnya, which happens to border Georgia. Russia has fought bloodily to keep control of Chechnya and deny them independence while asserting now South Ossetia´s independence. The latest reports are that Georgia has withdrawn its troops and asked for a cease fire, but Russia is continuing to bomb targets in Georgia, outside of S. Ossetia, even in the capital of Tbilisi, has blockaded oil and wheat in Georgian sea ports and even sunk a Georgia navy ship (note that Georgia is outgunned by the Russian military by 100 to 1). The EU and NATO have tried to mediate, but since the EU has expansion interests in the Caucuses and NATO´s mission is essentially to counterbalance and control Russia (with it's own expansion interest in the former Soviet states), is it any wonder that Russia is not swayed by their arguments. Then the Bush administration has laughably said that Russia should respect the sovereignty of Georgia and not act unilaterally with militarily invasion. Has Bush forgot about his administrations actions in Iraq? What about recognizing Kosovo? Where was the outcry from Bush when Israel bombed Lebanon? When it comes down to it, Bush has squandered his credibility and intervention should come from a country or international organization without obvious mixed motives. The Ukraine may be a shining light in this growing morass. A surprise move from the Ukraine is their statement that they may bar the Russian Black Sea fleet from returning to its port in the Crimea (Ukraine). The Ukraine has had its own political struggle with breakaway provinces (Crimea, albeit less so than Georgia and Russia) and has already suffered punitive actions from Moscow with oil supplies and attempted assassinations. It's a long shot against horrible odds, but perhaps the former Soviet Republics can stand together and pressure Moscow to rein itself in.

(Disclaimer - In general I am all for self determination and minority independence, what I don´t like here is the apparent land grab by a bully Russia for essentially an additional Russian province from Georgia.)