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August 15, 2008
Georgia on My Mind
Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian governmental figures perpetuated the attitude that all roads must lead to Moscow and if they don’t, we’ll force them to. This attitude has been sickeningly on display during Russia’s recent squashing of Georgia.
For centuries, Georgians, though having a distinct culture, were subjected to Russian oppression. When the Soviet Union collapsed, and Georgia subsequently became an independent nation, Russian nationalists were incensed. In their hearts, Russian nationalists can only be happy when the populace is so green puking drunk on vodka that it doesn’t notice that the power-crazed, egotistical, totalitarian monsters in the government are controlling whatever money the economy generates.
As Russia’s oil wealth accumulated over the last decade, its nationalist political schemers worked on humiliating Georgia. Georgia has a reputation for producing fine wines, and Russia had been the largest market for them. But then, Russia outlawed the importation of Georgian wines, and increased the pressure by arbitrarily raising the price of its oil sold to Georgia. Then, in the wake of the economic misery it had orchestrated, Russia offered Russian passports to the people of South Ossetia. In desperate straits, the people in South Ossetia accepted those Russian passports, and Russia started claiming that those in South Ossetia were “its” people.
There are grey areas in the whole argument, I know. But, basically, Russia economically manipulated the situation to destabilize Georgia, with the aim of accumulating geopolitical power for itself. The Georgians did not want to be sacrificed to that manipulation . . . they saw that Russia was through economic means seeking to gradually erase their country as an independent, democratic entity, and they took steps to stop Russia.
Russia used those steps as a pretext for smashing Georgia’s infrastructure and using overwhelming force even on non-military targets, killing thousands of civilians and injuring many more.
That is why I am so proud of America for taking serious steps to protect Georgia. As Condoleezza Rice said, “This is not 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia, where Russia can threaten its neighbors, occupy a capital, overthrow a government, and get away with it.” I didn’t necessarily expect this strong stand from the United States, but I am very pleased to see it.
The song “Georgia on my Mind” was written by Hoagy Carmichael. And this is Michael Lucas, proud to be sticking up for that Georgia over there, along with my country, the U.S. of A. against the vodka-swilling goons in Moscow.
Posted by Michael at August 15, 2008 06:29 PM
Comments
Thanks for enlightening comments on a desperate situation.
Posted by: ed at August 15, 2008 07:06 PM
Georgia has a huge and wonderful culture. George Ballanchine was from Georgia, and so was Nureyev. It is terrible what Putin & Co. are doing here, but I don't want to see us on the brink of World War III over it. I think George Bush needs to do something he's very bad at: negotiate. But it seems that the Russians don't want to alienate us that fast—afterall, there is too much money involved, and that is what is running the show now, not politcs.
Posted by: Perry Brass at August 15, 2008 09:06 PM
The medal always has two sides. M.L. is looking only at one. If the U.S.of A. are invading Afghanistan or Irak it must be something different, according to M.L. In these two countries were no Americans in danger. But Russia had a good reason to take action in Georgia - Russian people were in danger in South Osetia. Also the Russians in that part of Georgia wanted to separate their republic and unify with Russia. They only do what Americans think was the right thing to do in Kosovo.
Posted by: Yevgenie at August 15, 2008 09:54 PM
Michael,
I always enjoy reading your well-reasoned commentary on the issues of the day. Needless to say your insights and experiences far outweigh anything I could muster in "knowing" the Russian mindset and how Russia really works.
This does not mean I always agree with your views, and this is just such a case. Even thought they are not without sin in this conflict, I feel a great deal of sympathy for the Georgians (as I did for the Chechens) and believe the US Government should lend them moral and humanitarian support. Beyond that, however, I think we need to be a little more circumspect. I have yet to hear or read of anything that tells me Georgia falls within U.S. national security interests. We cannot go around offering security guarantees to all of the former Soviet republics.
Posted by: Al at August 16, 2008 02:41 PM
The history of the whole Caucasus is indeed very complicated. Over hundreds of years, frontiers changed without taking into account the different ethnic populations (Russian Empire versus Ottoman Empire). Now the Ossetians are an ethnical population quite different from Russians and Georgians. In North Ossetia (Russian Federation) we find 63% Ossetians and 23% Russians, in South Ossetia (Georgia) we find 65% Ossetians and 30% Georgians. So independently of Russian or Georgian claims, North and South Ossetia should be reunited in one state. Now the UN may insist on the territorial integrity of States, but this has always been a mistake (look at the disaster of ex-Yougoslavia). If the Russians favour an independent South Ossetia and Abkhazia, they should also grant independence to Chechenya. But looking at he Caucasian map we find more than a dozen ethnicities, should they all get their independence ? I do favour autonomy for regions and ethnicities but in a greater entity. Complicated world indeed, but the absolute UN rule that frontiers may not be changed is a great mistake and can only lead to more wars...
Posted by: Jay Karlson at August 16, 2008 03:45 PM
Hi, Michael, And the Olympics seem to be on most other minds ... OK, Russian excesses are all too frequent and often appalling, to put it ever so mildly - BUT, by and large, US media have not given a very balanced view of the current phase in Russia-Georgia relations. Read Mark MacKinnon's article and comments in today's Toronto Globe and Mail (www.globeandmail.com). Gosh, Saakashvili a US pawn?
Posted by: Peter at August 16, 2008 09:03 PM
This Georgia/Ossetia situation reminds me of the book Absurdistan, brilliantly written by Gary Shteyngart. Funny and insightful. Highly recommended!
Posted by: Sheri at August 18, 2008 05:20 PM
The coastline of Abkhazia is much longer than the coastline of the rest of Georgia. As I can see on the map of the Caucasus region.
Does that influence the discussion in the region? How long your coastline is? Your acces to the Black Sea?
Posted by: Edwin at August 20, 2008 05:34 AM
Should Ukraine join NATO?
And/or Georgia?
According to Saakashvilli in Le Figaro Ukraine will be the next 'Russian' victim.
Posted by: Edwin at August 25, 2008 05:29 PM
Herzlichen Dank für diese klare Einordnung!
Posted by: Norman at August 30, 2008 07:34 AM