Saturday, August 16, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
History of South Ossetia and its Russian "peacekeepers"
Before the creation of the Soviet Union, South Ossetia didn't exist. There was only "Ossetia," and it was NORTH of the Caucuses (Georgia is SOUTH of the Caucuses), inside of a region that we (and Georgians) know as Russia. When the Soviets rolled tanks into and seized Georgia by force, they created "South Ossetia" in Georgia, moving Ossetians in to enjoy the beauty of Georgia, which, at the time, had become usurped by the USSR. Ossetians have never been Georgian. South Ossetians are really Ossetians who moved into the region during Communism and this is why they are allied with Russia today.
Russia has used the separatist regions (that they created in the early 1920's) to continue their strategy of keeping Georgia "imbalanced," to put it nicely. They finance regular revolts in these areas, pass out Russian passports to good separatists and even allow the killing of people with Georgian last names (for which Russia is currently being investigated for ethnic cleansing at the Hague in the Netherlands).
"But Russia is supposed to be a peacekeeper in the area!" you say. Aye, here's the rub: Russia financed revolts after the fall of the Soviet Union to overthrow Georgia's democratically elected president at the time. The president fled, fearing the worst, and the Russian-financed revolutionaries instilled their own president, former USSR Minister Edvard Shevardnadze. Shevardnadze, being a Russian implant himself, had no problem agreeing to Russia as a peacekeeper in those regions.
Only since 2003 has Georgia been led by a democratic leader. From the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990's until then, Georgia continued to be under the thumb of Russia. We are now seeing an independent Georgia wanting its land back from Russia's usurpation of it centuries ago.
Russia has used the separatist regions (that they created in the early 1920's) to continue their strategy of keeping Georgia "imbalanced," to put it nicely. They finance regular revolts in these areas, pass out Russian passports to good separatists and even allow the killing of people with Georgian last names (for which Russia is currently being investigated for ethnic cleansing at the Hague in the Netherlands).
"But Russia is supposed to be a peacekeeper in the area!" you say. Aye, here's the rub: Russia financed revolts after the fall of the Soviet Union to overthrow Georgia's democratically elected president at the time. The president fled, fearing the worst, and the Russian-financed revolutionaries instilled their own president, former USSR Minister Edvard Shevardnadze. Shevardnadze, being a Russian implant himself, had no problem agreeing to Russia as a peacekeeper in those regions.
Only since 2003 has Georgia been led by a democratic leader. From the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990's until then, Georgia continued to be under the thumb of Russia. We are now seeing an independent Georgia wanting its land back from Russia's usurpation of it centuries ago.
History of the relationship between Russia & Georgia
Since B.C. times, huge empires have fought over the Caucuses and Georgia in particular. Throughout history, Georgia has appealed to greater powers for protection but never assimilation, including Rome, Persia, and Russia.
Georgia's first appeal to Russia happened in the 18th Century when Georgia needed to get out of the hands of Persia, who had installed their Shahs as leaders there. Closely tied to their Christian religion, and feeling bound by Persia's tightening grip, Georgia asked Russia (another Christian nation) to be an ally and protector of its borders. Russia agreed and they entered into a treaty wherein Russia agreed to protect Georgia and maintain control over foreign relations but Georgia could otherwise maintain its independence and autonomy. Angered by this treaty, the Muslims attacked. Russia, however, didn't come to Georgia's aid, as it was using Georgian troops elsewhere at the time.
Frustrated by Russia’s disinterest in protecting Georgia, the Georgian king started plans to appeal to another empire for protection. However, Georgia's plans were cut short in December of 1800, when the king died. Only one month later, Russia declared Georgia abolished and annexed it to Russia, using Georgians as slave labor to build their military highways through the Caucuses and through Georgia. These highways are still used today and are the main reason Russia can roll tanks into Georgia. Georgians revolted, along with many Russian intelligentsia including Tolstoy but to no avail.
Georgia struggled for over 100 years to gain independence from Russia, finally seizing their opportunity in March of 1917 when the Tsar was overthrown. They established an interim government and began their long-awaited self-governance as a social democracy. Seven months later, however, in October of 1917, Lenin's Bolsheviks overthrew the Georgian government and Russia seized Georgia again. Georgians, of course, resisted, but by that time, their soldiers had been enveloped by the Russian army and Georgia had no military defenses left of their own to stand up against Russia.
In early 1918, Russian soldiers marched into Tbilisi and forced the government to resign.
Georgia then turned to Germany for support and got it. However, as soon as Georgia could declare formal independence, Germany found itself in dire straits, losing WWI, and couldn't carry out its promises to Georgia.
Just after WWI, Georgia had another short chance to re-instate their autonomy and constitution, which they did as of February 21, 1921. Four days later, however, on February 25, 1921, the Red Army rolled their tanks into Georgia and took it for their own. Again. In December of that year, the USSR appeared on the world map, claiming four resistant nations as their own: Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
At that time, the Bolsheviks set up three "autonomous" territories within Georgia: Ajara, South Ossetia & Abkhazia. These regions are politically and geographically desirable for Russia to maintain military control of: Ajara in the Southwest on the Black Sea, bordering Turkey; South Ossettia in the North, bordering Russia and one of the only access points into Russia through the caucuses; and Abkhazia in the Northwest, also on the Black Sea, bordering Ukraine and also protecting another mountain pass through the giant Caucuses. Abkhazia is also a favorite Russian vacation spot on the Black Sea.
For over 60 years, the Georgians endured Soviet Rule, but in April of 1989, Georgia staged a peaceful demonstration against communism. In response to the uprising, Soviet troops rolled tanks into Tbilisi, killing 19 and injuring thousands more. My husband was there.
In April of 1991, on the 2-year anniversary of the demonstration, Georgia declared sovereignty and independence, reinstating the 1918-1921 Georgian State and electing their first president.
The USSR refused to recognize Georgia's independence, but was weakening. It officially disintegrated on December 21, 1991, forming a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in its place. Not surprisingly, Georgia refused to become a member.
The day after the CIS was formed, Russia again swatted their enormous hand at Georgia, financing revolts in Tbilisi and Georgia's elected president fled to Chechnya. The revolutionaries (backed by Russia) took over the government and appointed Shevardnadze (former USSR minister) as the new president.
With Russia in power again under the guise of president Shevardnadze, Russia was able to bring “peacekeepers” into the separatist regions in 1992, allegedly to keep the peace between separatists and Georgians, but instead, they formed allegiances with the separatists, passing out Russian passports to them, financing continued revolts against Georgia, and ousting anyone with a Georgian last name (approximately 300,000 people).
In Abkhazia at this time, I am told that it was acceptable for an Abkhazian or Russian to kill anyone with a Georgian last name. Thousands of Georgian refugees escaped into the mountains and forests, eventually making their way out of Abkhazia on foot to seek safety in Georgia. I know a few refugees from Abkhazia who would love to go back to their homes but, to this day, cannot, due to the Russian-backed separatists there.
Georgia finally had a successful nonviolent revolution in 2003 (the Rose Revolution) led by Michael Saakashvili, who was educated in the U.S. and vowed to make Georgia into the democratic state that Russia had never allowed it to be. The revolution occurred after an obviously (and now admittedly) rigged vote that Shevernadze won, Saakashvili and his revolutionaries gathered on the steps of parliament with roses instead of weapons.
Shevernadze’s guards were told to ward off revolutionaries, but instead, they too crossed the lines and joined the nonviolent revolt. Shevernadze, seeing he had no choice, stepped down gracefully and handed the presidency over to Saakashvili, who, much to Russia’s chagrin, remains president to this day.
Saakahsvili was recently re-elected. I was in Georgia for the campaign. A large part of Saakashvili's campaign platform rested on taking back the three separatist regions created by Russia so long ago including Abkhazia and South Ossetia and reinstating a unified Georgia. Not surprisingly, he won again.
Georgia's first appeal to Russia happened in the 18th Century when Georgia needed to get out of the hands of Persia, who had installed their Shahs as leaders there. Closely tied to their Christian religion, and feeling bound by Persia's tightening grip, Georgia asked Russia (another Christian nation) to be an ally and protector of its borders. Russia agreed and they entered into a treaty wherein Russia agreed to protect Georgia and maintain control over foreign relations but Georgia could otherwise maintain its independence and autonomy. Angered by this treaty, the Muslims attacked. Russia, however, didn't come to Georgia's aid, as it was using Georgian troops elsewhere at the time.
Frustrated by Russia’s disinterest in protecting Georgia, the Georgian king started plans to appeal to another empire for protection. However, Georgia's plans were cut short in December of 1800, when the king died. Only one month later, Russia declared Georgia abolished and annexed it to Russia, using Georgians as slave labor to build their military highways through the Caucuses and through Georgia. These highways are still used today and are the main reason Russia can roll tanks into Georgia. Georgians revolted, along with many Russian intelligentsia including Tolstoy but to no avail.
Georgia struggled for over 100 years to gain independence from Russia, finally seizing their opportunity in March of 1917 when the Tsar was overthrown. They established an interim government and began their long-awaited self-governance as a social democracy. Seven months later, however, in October of 1917, Lenin's Bolsheviks overthrew the Georgian government and Russia seized Georgia again. Georgians, of course, resisted, but by that time, their soldiers had been enveloped by the Russian army and Georgia had no military defenses left of their own to stand up against Russia.
In early 1918, Russian soldiers marched into Tbilisi and forced the government to resign.
Georgia then turned to Germany for support and got it. However, as soon as Georgia could declare formal independence, Germany found itself in dire straits, losing WWI, and couldn't carry out its promises to Georgia.
Just after WWI, Georgia had another short chance to re-instate their autonomy and constitution, which they did as of February 21, 1921. Four days later, however, on February 25, 1921, the Red Army rolled their tanks into Georgia and took it for their own. Again. In December of that year, the USSR appeared on the world map, claiming four resistant nations as their own: Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
At that time, the Bolsheviks set up three "autonomous" territories within Georgia: Ajara, South Ossetia & Abkhazia. These regions are politically and geographically desirable for Russia to maintain military control of: Ajara in the Southwest on the Black Sea, bordering Turkey; South Ossettia in the North, bordering Russia and one of the only access points into Russia through the caucuses; and Abkhazia in the Northwest, also on the Black Sea, bordering Ukraine and also protecting another mountain pass through the giant Caucuses. Abkhazia is also a favorite Russian vacation spot on the Black Sea.
For over 60 years, the Georgians endured Soviet Rule, but in April of 1989, Georgia staged a peaceful demonstration against communism. In response to the uprising, Soviet troops rolled tanks into Tbilisi, killing 19 and injuring thousands more. My husband was there.
In April of 1991, on the 2-year anniversary of the demonstration, Georgia declared sovereignty and independence, reinstating the 1918-1921 Georgian State and electing their first president.
The USSR refused to recognize Georgia's independence, but was weakening. It officially disintegrated on December 21, 1991, forming a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in its place. Not surprisingly, Georgia refused to become a member.
The day after the CIS was formed, Russia again swatted their enormous hand at Georgia, financing revolts in Tbilisi and Georgia's elected president fled to Chechnya. The revolutionaries (backed by Russia) took over the government and appointed Shevardnadze (former USSR minister) as the new president.
With Russia in power again under the guise of president Shevardnadze, Russia was able to bring “peacekeepers” into the separatist regions in 1992, allegedly to keep the peace between separatists and Georgians, but instead, they formed allegiances with the separatists, passing out Russian passports to them, financing continued revolts against Georgia, and ousting anyone with a Georgian last name (approximately 300,000 people).
In Abkhazia at this time, I am told that it was acceptable for an Abkhazian or Russian to kill anyone with a Georgian last name. Thousands of Georgian refugees escaped into the mountains and forests, eventually making their way out of Abkhazia on foot to seek safety in Georgia. I know a few refugees from Abkhazia who would love to go back to their homes but, to this day, cannot, due to the Russian-backed separatists there.
Georgia finally had a successful nonviolent revolution in 2003 (the Rose Revolution) led by Michael Saakashvili, who was educated in the U.S. and vowed to make Georgia into the democratic state that Russia had never allowed it to be. The revolution occurred after an obviously (and now admittedly) rigged vote that Shevernadze won, Saakashvili and his revolutionaries gathered on the steps of parliament with roses instead of weapons.
Shevernadze’s guards were told to ward off revolutionaries, but instead, they too crossed the lines and joined the nonviolent revolt. Shevernadze, seeing he had no choice, stepped down gracefully and handed the presidency over to Saakashvili, who, much to Russia’s chagrin, remains president to this day.
Saakahsvili was recently re-elected. I was in Georgia for the campaign. A large part of Saakashvili's campaign platform rested on taking back the three separatist regions created by Russia so long ago including Abkhazia and South Ossetia and reinstating a unified Georgia. Not surprisingly, he won again.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Let Not History Repeat Itself
I found this archive from 1924: a plea to the U.S. to stop Russian invasion of Georgia. http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/viewArticle.arc?articleId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1924-09-27-08-001&pageId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1924-09-27-08&manualTopicId=false
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Excerpt from Medvedev's remarks from a Moscow meeting 8/11. Here's the Rub:
"Russia has historically always been the guarantor of the security of the peoples of the Caucasus. This is our mission and our duty. We have never been just passive observers in this region and never will be."
Excerpt from today's Wall Street Journal:
Russia's emphasis on the right to secede by restive regions of Georgia marks an abrupt turn away from a principal of territorial integrity championed in the past by Moscow, at least with regard to its own turf. Russia fought two wars in Chechnya to halt that region from breaking away from Russia. Mr. Putin, a fierce foe of Chechen separatism, used his first full day as president back in 2000 to visit the Chechen capital Grozny and cheer Russian forces there. He handed out medals and knives to soldiers.
Russia's embrace of the right to redraw boundaries has sent shivers through countries that were born when the Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991. Russia's handling of the crisis in Georgia, is "worrisome," said Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in a phone interview. He added that he phoned Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on the first day of the conflict to express his support. "That's why we wanted to be in NATO. That's why Georgia wanted to be in NATO. And still does."
Mr. Ilves said Russia's argument that it is merely responding to a Georgian attack on South Ossetia is hard to believe. "This required a long-term, massive buildup with planning, so it's difficult to say this is a reaction to anything. This was fairly well coordinated, with ships coming from Sevastopol and 10,000 troops moved in in a matter of a day."
Russia's European neighbors, most of them former Soviet republics, have long accused Moscow of trying to undermine their independence by supporting ethnic Russians or those with Russian passports living outside Russia.
In recent years, for example, Russia has effectively bypassed Latvia as a route for its oil exports amid allegations that Riga is mistreating ethnic Russians living there. Russia sharply curtailed oil exports through Estonia last year, after the government there moved a Soviet monument from the center of the capital, Tallinn.
Ukraine, another former Soviet republic, has also had tense relations with Moscow. Ukraine's president, Viktor Yushchenko, nearly died from dioxin poisoning in 2004 while running against a pro-Russian presidential candidate -- a poisoning that Mr. Yushchenko has linked to Russia. Moscow denies any involvement.
Mr. Yushchenko has developed close personal ties with Georgia's president, Mr. Saakashvili, a relationship cemented by the feeling that they share a common adversary in Moscow.
"They often call one another, give advice to one another," said Ivan Safranchuk, a professor at Moscow's Institute of International Relations. "The personal relationship is strong."
Mr. Yushchenko has already ordered his government to provide humanitarian assistance to Georgia. Ukraine is likely to step up pressure on Russia for deploying part of its Black Sea fleet, now based in a Ukrainian port in the Crimea, off the Georgian coast of Abkhazia. The fleet's presence in the Crimea is a divisive issue in Ukraine, with some Ukrainians calling for its eviction, and ethnic Russians calling for it to remain.
After he was elected president, Mr. Yushchenko called for closer relations with Europe, and to pursue eventual NATO membership, something that Georgia also wants. But Ukraine's room for independent action is limited by Russia's clout. When Ukraine tried to hold military exercises off the coast of Crimea two years ago, ethnic Russians protested loudly. The maneuvers were canceled.
Russia's embrace of the right to redraw boundaries has sent shivers through countries that were born when the Soviet Union collapsed in December 1991. Russia's handling of the crisis in Georgia, is "worrisome," said Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in a phone interview. He added that he phoned Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on the first day of the conflict to express his support. "That's why we wanted to be in NATO. That's why Georgia wanted to be in NATO. And still does."
Mr. Ilves said Russia's argument that it is merely responding to a Georgian attack on South Ossetia is hard to believe. "This required a long-term, massive buildup with planning, so it's difficult to say this is a reaction to anything. This was fairly well coordinated, with ships coming from Sevastopol and 10,000 troops moved in in a matter of a day."
Russia's European neighbors, most of them former Soviet republics, have long accused Moscow of trying to undermine their independence by supporting ethnic Russians or those with Russian passports living outside Russia.
In recent years, for example, Russia has effectively bypassed Latvia as a route for its oil exports amid allegations that Riga is mistreating ethnic Russians living there. Russia sharply curtailed oil exports through Estonia last year, after the government there moved a Soviet monument from the center of the capital, Tallinn.
Ukraine, another former Soviet republic, has also had tense relations with Moscow. Ukraine's president, Viktor Yushchenko, nearly died from dioxin poisoning in 2004 while running against a pro-Russian presidential candidate -- a poisoning that Mr. Yushchenko has linked to Russia. Moscow denies any involvement.
Mr. Yushchenko has developed close personal ties with Georgia's president, Mr. Saakashvili, a relationship cemented by the feeling that they share a common adversary in Moscow.
"They often call one another, give advice to one another," said Ivan Safranchuk, a professor at Moscow's Institute of International Relations. "The personal relationship is strong."
Mr. Yushchenko has already ordered his government to provide humanitarian assistance to Georgia. Ukraine is likely to step up pressure on Russia for deploying part of its Black Sea fleet, now based in a Ukrainian port in the Crimea, off the Georgian coast of Abkhazia. The fleet's presence in the Crimea is a divisive issue in Ukraine, with some Ukrainians calling for its eviction, and ethnic Russians calling for it to remain.
After he was elected president, Mr. Yushchenko called for closer relations with Europe, and to pursue eventual NATO membership, something that Georgia also wants. But Ukraine's room for independent action is limited by Russia's clout. When Ukraine tried to hold military exercises off the coast of Crimea two years ago, ethnic Russians protested loudly. The maneuvers were canceled.
Excerpt from CBS Evening News from 8/11:
KATIE COURIC, anchor: So how did this fighting start and what is it really all about? We continue our coverage now with Wyatt Andrews.
WYATT ANDREWS reporting:
What's troubling about this war fought in a relatively unknown region is that none of the suffering here is about the enclave of Ossetia. This war is all about Russia and the message Russia is sending to the world.
Mr. ROBERT KAGAN (Carnegie Endowment For International Peace): This is Putin's announcement that Russia is back as a great power.
ANDREWS: Vladimir Putin, Russia's former president now prime minister, has been planning this attack on Georgia for years. Notice how Putin was at the Olympics with President Bush one minute and then on the battlefield the next.
Mr. KAGAN: We have to understand these Russian troops didn't materialize out of nowhere, this is the culmination of Putin's efforts to pull Georgia back within Russia's sphere and exert control over it.
ANDREWS: But why fight over a place like Ossetia? For that there's a bigger map. Russia's been looking to reassert its global power since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, when most of the countries to Russia's west, including Ukraine and Georgia, declared independence. In 2004, Russian pride was stung again when the three Baltic states joined NATO, the Western military alliance.
(Graphic on screen)
Estonia Latvia Lithuania
ANDREWS: And in recent years, both Ukraine and Georgia, countries with strategically important coast lines on the Black Sea, have both elected democratic governments and applied to join NATO. In 2005, President Bush traveled to Georgia, giving a triumphant speech and promising American support.
Pres. BUSH: (From May 10, 2005 file footage) The American people will stand with you.
ANDREWS: But while the president was enjoying a hero's welcome in the new pro-Western Georgia, Putin was back in the Kremlin seething. Using his control of the Russian media, he launched a nationalistic anti-Georgia propaganda campaign.
Ms. SARAH MENDELSON (Center For Strategic and International Studies): We asked young Russians who--what they thought of various different countries. And Georgia was enemy number one.
Mr. KAGAN: I think he's trying to take Georgia out of play entirely.
ANDREWS: Out of play in what sense?
Mr. KAGAN: In the sense that there won't be a pro-Western Georgian government that wants to join NATO by the time that Putin is finished with this.
ANDREWS: And so the question is: When will Putin be finished? Despite all those American and European promises of standing beside Georgia, almost nothing now stands between the Russian army and the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Wyatt Andrews, CBS News,Washington.
WYATT ANDREWS reporting:
What's troubling about this war fought in a relatively unknown region is that none of the suffering here is about the enclave of Ossetia. This war is all about Russia and the message Russia is sending to the world.
Mr. ROBERT KAGAN (Carnegie Endowment For International Peace): This is Putin's announcement that Russia is back as a great power.
ANDREWS: Vladimir Putin, Russia's former president now prime minister, has been planning this attack on Georgia for years. Notice how Putin was at the Olympics with President Bush one minute and then on the battlefield the next.
Mr. KAGAN: We have to understand these Russian troops didn't materialize out of nowhere, this is the culmination of Putin's efforts to pull Georgia back within Russia's sphere and exert control over it.
ANDREWS: But why fight over a place like Ossetia? For that there's a bigger map. Russia's been looking to reassert its global power since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, when most of the countries to Russia's west, including Ukraine and Georgia, declared independence. In 2004, Russian pride was stung again when the three Baltic states joined NATO, the Western military alliance.
(Graphic on screen)
Estonia Latvia Lithuania
ANDREWS: And in recent years, both Ukraine and Georgia, countries with strategically important coast lines on the Black Sea, have both elected democratic governments and applied to join NATO. In 2005, President Bush traveled to Georgia, giving a triumphant speech and promising American support.
Pres. BUSH: (From May 10, 2005 file footage) The American people will stand with you.
ANDREWS: But while the president was enjoying a hero's welcome in the new pro-Western Georgia, Putin was back in the Kremlin seething. Using his control of the Russian media, he launched a nationalistic anti-Georgia propaganda campaign.
Ms. SARAH MENDELSON (Center For Strategic and International Studies): We asked young Russians who--what they thought of various different countries. And Georgia was enemy number one.
Mr. KAGAN: I think he's trying to take Georgia out of play entirely.
ANDREWS: Out of play in what sense?
Mr. KAGAN: In the sense that there won't be a pro-Western Georgian government that wants to join NATO by the time that Putin is finished with this.
ANDREWS: And so the question is: When will Putin be finished? Despite all those American and European promises of standing beside Georgia, almost nothing now stands between the Russian army and the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Wyatt Andrews, CBS News,Washington.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Musings on the Conflict
As I continue to weave my way down this rabbit hole, I wonder more and more if this hadn't been planned by Russia for a very long time: a thumbbing of the nose at the West when in the most strategic position politically as an ally against nuclear weapons in Iran and North Korea.
With all of the West's posturing, Russia seems to be attempting to "call the foul" or, to put it another way, tell the West to put their money where their mouth is, and do something or stand by and watch as Russia obliterates an ally nation like Georgia. Just because they can.
Of course, who's to say that, in the end, Russia will be interested at all in continuing to partner with the West in anything, including those issues which makes our hands feel tied now?
There are no guarantees. Especially in the Russian sphere of reality. Maybe after obliterating our true allies while we stand idly by and watch, with false promises paralyzing our inclinition to get involved, Russia will have weakened us all to a point where we cannot stand up to them, because there will be no allies left. Not unlike a previous superpower less than 100 years ago.
If we don't start learning from history, grade school classrooms will have posters in 30 years that begin, "First they came for the Georgians..."
With all of the West's posturing, Russia seems to be attempting to "call the foul" or, to put it another way, tell the West to put their money where their mouth is, and do something or stand by and watch as Russia obliterates an ally nation like Georgia. Just because they can.
Of course, who's to say that, in the end, Russia will be interested at all in continuing to partner with the West in anything, including those issues which makes our hands feel tied now?
There are no guarantees. Especially in the Russian sphere of reality. Maybe after obliterating our true allies while we stand idly by and watch, with false promises paralyzing our inclinition to get involved, Russia will have weakened us all to a point where we cannot stand up to them, because there will be no allies left. Not unlike a previous superpower less than 100 years ago.
If we don't start learning from history, grade school classrooms will have posters in 30 years that begin, "First they came for the Georgians..."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
