Maybe the Cold War never really died, maybe it just took a twenty year break. Russia certainly is behaving much like the old USSR, rather than a country intent on embracing freedom.
Instead of pulling its forces out of Georgia, as they agreed to do, Russia looks to be digging in. Now, NATO is stepping up and vowing to strengthen its ties to Georgia.
European and American diplomats are saying they will “cut to the chase” with a U.N. Security Council resolution that stresses the need for an immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgian territory.
The move, which diplomats say is sure to result in a Russian veto, came as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization announced plans to strengthen its ties with Georgia. Russian officials responded by heaping scorn on the West’s newly confrontational tone and putting several new conditions on promises they made a week ago to withdraw their troops from Georgia.The Georgian government yesterday accused Russia of taking 20 Georgian troops hostage, and Pentagon sources said Russian troops stole five military Humvees that America dispatched to assist the humanitarian efforts in Georgia.The British ambassador to the United Nations, John Sawers, said Russian troops stopped a British military attaché in Georgia and turned him away from a Russian-controlled zone. Rather than withdrawing from Georgia, the Russian soldiers — whom Mr. Sawers said are now serving as “an army of occupation” — appear to be deepening their entrenchment in Georgia, according to press reports from the region.
A very perilous position Russia has put us all in. I think the West must put their feet down now. Admit the Ukraine and Georgia into NATO, and let Russia know that its current behavior will, in no way, be tolerated! Perhaps the best weapon we could use is economic warfare. Ed Morrissey at Hot Air makes an excellent argument fir that approach. It surely worked in Reagan’s time, and would be very successful now I would think.
Update! Russian general says Rusia is not pulling out of Georgia. Oh Boy!
A ranking Russian military official today said Moscow plans to establish 18 long-term checkpoints inside Georgian territory, including at least eight within undisputed Georgian territory outside the pro-Russian enclave of South Ossetia.
The checkpoints will be staffed by hundreds of Russian troops, with those in Georgia proper needing supplies that would be ferried to them from South Ossetia.
The bad news gets worse
Gatordoug
darcprynce
