The Caucasus in flames again

     The Russian response to the Georgian punitive, offensive against rebel forces in South Ossetia, was quick and intense. It is estimated that there have been over 2000 military and civilian deaths. The Russians have targeted not only Georgian forces in South Ossetia, but also Georgian military sites. As Russian troops and tanks roll into battle, many thousands have fled in the opposite direction.  Russian war planes rule the sky.

     Georgian President Saakashvili, gambled in launching the attack, thinking that Russia will not respond. He is either naive or stupid. The Russians have  been very supportive of the Ossetians in their drive for independence from Georgia. They have aslo expressed grave concrern over the pro- western and close American drift of Georgia and they are very aware of the Black Sea and its oil potential and the building of a pipe line across the Caucasus. Furthermore, the Russians have always suffered from what former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt referred to as " psychiological paranoia of insecurity, of being hemmed in "With NATO expansion, the Russian fear is palpable

     This war will grow to include Abkhazia. another region in Georgia that is opposed to Georgian rule. The Russians have even closer relationship with this more developed area. All in all,  this has played into Russian hands. It has wanted to teach Georgia a lesson and now that the opportunity has presented itself, the Russians will take it and move to consolidate its hold on South Ossetia and Abkhazia, while at the same time deal Georgia a fatal blow. The world, with an American Administration that has lost all credibility and prestige, can only wrings its  hands in collective  futility. Russia can reassert itself on the " near abroad ", and  send a message that it has regained its confidence and its superpower  status. For this they can thank George Bush and his oil buddies..... the war in Iraq has not only drained the USA militarily and economically, but has reduced America's prestige, clout and its credibility, and has allowed Russia to gain strength economicallyand militarily. Nikita Kruschev was once asked what make a superpower's clout and he answered that " a superpiwer clout is based on its prestige. When a superpower loses its prestige, it becomes no more than an old whore "...It gets no respect" as Rodney Dangerfield would say.

     In 1956, while the world was focused on the Suez Crisis, the USSR taught Hungary a lesson, In 1968, with the Olympics and turmoil over Vietnam, and the French Govt, under seige etc., it was Czechoslavakia. In 1979 with the hostage situation in Iran, the Soviets moved to prop up its friends in Afghanistan. Now with the Olympics ,and Iraq ,and a diminished America , it is Georgia/ Ossetia.   The Russian bear is on the prowl.