Despair and growing Isolation
Following a pretty optimstic visit to the SCO - the organisation of Asian countries (as a counterwight of NATO) including omong others China, Khazakstan, Uzbekistan, Tadsjikistan (BBC World), Medvedev brought a rather preliminary victory to the media: "Heavy support for Russia", "something for the west to take notice of"! But when the resolution hit the road it instead stated a BIG worry for the situation, and no recognition for Abkhazia and South Ossetia. China also found it neccesary to further elaborate on their worries in a separate statement saying that conflict MUST be solved through discussions and negotiations (BBC World, Echo Moskvy). That means isolation for Russia. I might add that Australia also joined the west in condemning Russia (BBC World)
So what's the Russian scores then? Well Hamas and Belarus have supported Russia together with Cuba and Chaves in Venezuela. Quite a team. I guess Lukasjenko had no option, being already isolated with Russia as his most friendly naighbor. Naturally desperation increases as Kouchners hints about EU-sanctions against Russia. Putin therefor tried changed the story of genocide and the heroic liberation of the innocents, and went for the usual Big Conspiracy: US rigged the conflict as a favour to presidental candidate McCain. And finally Lavrov has managed to give "Russian Diplomacy" a face.
Besides that Finland today assured the world that it has the ability to defend it self, contrary to their NATO neighbors (Aftenposten).
posted by Eistein G. at 9:07 pm
3 Comments:
Thank for your Clear Voice Eistein !
The World Reacts to Russia
By Victor Davis Hanson
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/08/blame_everyone_but_russia.html
Farewell, NATO
In the last two decades, the safety of a rich Western Europe also spawned a new continental creed of secularism, socialism and anti-Americanism that embraced the untruth that the United Nations kept the peace while the United States endangered it. But if a disarmed continent counted on continued expensive American protection, then it was suicidal to mock its protector.
If NATO dissolves, Europe will at least receive a much-needed reality check. It might even re-learn to invest in its own defense. European relations with America would be more grounded in reality, and the United States could still forge individual ties with countries that wished to be true partners, not loud caricatures of allies.
Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/08/farewell_nato.html
Finland: Vi kan forsvare oss
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article2624039.ece
http://carlbildt.wordpress.com/
Boris Nemtsov agree whit you Eistein.
Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014 will be cancelled on security grounds due to proximity to a permanent conflict zone.
A mistake we will all have to pay for
by Boris Nemtsov*
Translated from the Russian by Dave Essel
Today’s recognition by Medvedev of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is a strategic and long-term mistake, the consequences of which will be felt by practically all of Russia’s citizens.
1. This marks the beginning of an arms race. Georgia, it is obvious, will very shortly become a member of NATO. Next, NATO bases will of course be established in Georgia. Military and political tension on our borders will increase. This will inevitably lead to a rise in military expenditure, this at a time when we are already spending about $40 billion. Clearly, this extra money for the armed forces will be found at the expense of social programmes – pensions, teachers’ and doctors’ salaries, child benefits, etc will be raided. The impending bankruptcy of the pension system has already led to Putin making revolting suggestions that social security payments and income tax for the young be raised from 13% to 16%. Teddypoot [TN: “Медвепут” in Russian, from Медве(дев) and Пут(ин)] will not of course be cutting back on the civil service.
2. Extra spending on the armed forces will not mean that they will be modernised. Teddypoot does not want a professional contract army. Meanwhile, corruption among high-ranking officers together with the monopolisation and backwardness of the military-industrial complex will make it impossible for modern weapons to be purchased.
3. The world community will obviously not recognise Russia’s decision. What this means in real life is: the decision to hold the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014 will be cancelled on security grounds due to proximity to a permanent conflict zone; ubiquitous discrimination against Russian business abroad; visa restrictions in the first place for civil servants and businessmen connected with them and possibly for all our country’s citizens; Russia’s expulsion from the G8. And of course forget about any joining of the WTO or other international organisations.
4. By his decision today, Medvedev has placed himself beyond the pale of international law by breaking a UN Security Council Resolution that speaks of Georgia’s territorial integrity for which Russia had previously always voted. This looks positively awful when set against the refusal to recognise the independence of Kosovo. What this means is that since we refuse to recognise international law, then international law will not be applied in others’ dealings with us. Everyone knows that the arms race and the Cold War brought the Soviet Union to its knees. Russia is no USSR (less than 3% of world GDP compared to America and Europe’s combined total of 50% of world GDP.)
We need to realise that we may actually lose Russia thanks to these adventurists.
*First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, 1997-1998 and author of the Nemtsov White Paper
Thanks ole and anonymous for your much valued contributions!
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