The temperature at the United Nations Security Council hasn’t been this high in years — and it’s not because the U.N. management raised the thermostat slightly to cut electricity costs. It’s due to the heated exchange of insults and accusations between Russia and the United States, which has reached a fever pitch reminiscent of the Cold War years.
U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad accused Russia on Sunday of using the Georgian incursion into Georgia’s breakaway enclave of South Ossetia as an excuse for a massive military assault against its tiny pro-Western neighbor whose ultimate goal is “regime change” in Tbilisi. He also assailed Moscow for waging a “campaign of terror” against the civilian population of Georgia, a former Soviet republic.
Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin shot back that regime change is an “American invention” and suggested it was hypocritical of Washington to talk about attacks on civilians in light of what it has done in Iraq, Afghanistan and Serbia. Churkin said Russia is only trying to defend its peacekeepers and protect civilians from Georgian “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” in South Ossetia, a small pro-Moscow province that threw off Tbilisi’s rule in the 1990s and has been managed by Russian troops since.
There’s a subtext to this dispute and it isn’t just the U.S. and European support for the declaration of independence of Kosovo, a former breakaway region of Serbia that seceded in February. Serbia and its ally Russia were both enraged by what they saw as an unjustified tearing away of a large chunk of Serbian territory in violation of international law. (Of course, the Georgian separatists in South Ossetia and Abkhazia — another Georgian breakaway region — took notice.)
Tensions between Russia and the United States have been simmering for a while.
When the United States announced it was planning to build a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic several years ago, then President Vladimir Putin was outraged. He dismissed U.S. statements that the shield was to guard against Iran, not Russia. In February 2007 at a security conference in Munich, Germany, Putin accused the United States of trying to create a “unipolar” world with Washington as its “one single master”. He made clear that Russia would not stand idly by while Washington tried to subjugate the planet. U.S. officials were taken aback at the force of Putin’s speech, which some said sounded like a declaration of a new Cold War.
Russia, richer than ever thanks to its massive oil and gas revenues, has made no attempt to hide its irritation at Washington’s staunch support for Georgia’s NATO aspirations. It views the expansion of NATO towards its borders as an encroachment on its sphere of influence.
Is it possible that when Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili decided to go into South Ossetia and try to put it back under Tbilisi’s control, he gave Russian leaders a golden opportunity to severely punish Georgia’s pro-Western leadership and show the world that Russia is no longer the weak, economically devastated nation it was in the 1990s?
Perhaps the message is — Russia is back, it’s powerful and it won’t tolerate anyone messing around in its backyard.
Or is there another message here?
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If Milosevic can be toppled by West for action in Kosovo, why can’t Russia topple Shakaashvilli for actions in South Oseetia? If Saddam can be toppled by West, why can’t Shakaashvilli? I don’t understand. This is a clear double standard.
- Posted by ZakhNATO forces need to be sent to Georgia’s capitol immediately in order to deter any imminent Russian invasion. In addition, a no-fly zone needs to be established over Georgia proper (not including AB and SO). Georgia can do what it wants in its own territory (the Russians are doing it in Chechnya as we speak). NATO needs to show that it actually has a backbone and will protect its allies.
- Posted by BusakaWhy the media is showing only citizens of Georgia injured and death? What about the citizens of South Ossetia? They are not humans?
- Posted by MikeThe wolves are circling one another again. Whatever small creatures are crushed underneath is of no concern to them. Start digging those shelters.
- Posted by BlockThere is nothing wrong with being an aggressor. It’s all about National Interest. Georgia is just a poor pawn in this game. Georgia and US, who orchestrated the attempt to reclaim territory, have failed this time. Russia won. Winners are not to be judged, as always…
- Posted by LindaAll this happening is terrible, people dying from military action for whatever reason is unacceptable. However, the big picture is that Georgia just couldn’t settle with having no control over S. Ossetia and they were very, very, mistaken in expecting little from their Russian allies. In a very wrong and fearful way this, and the Iran situation, is showing the US the world has had enough of THEIR invasions, all in the search of world democracy, for whatever that means. The bully is getting bullied, and it won’t be pretty.
- Posted by Hectoryeah i was surpise it took the US media two days before it showed up on the news. i believe this is an internal conflict and Russia went out of line when it bombed inside Georgia. Unfortunately for the Georgians, and Russia knows this, UN, NATO, and the US who is far too stretched in resources will not do anything but verbal condemnation of the attack. it makes you wonder why we need to go thousands of miles to “democratize” a country when we don’t do anything to protect an already democratic one.
- Posted by MDwell, shakashwilli was asking for trouble, when he started this conflict. It shows what an immature and stupid person he really is. Sherwanadse would never have indulged in such a crazy and ill thought out move. The georgians should realise their president’s folly and kick him out. Peace with Russia is the only answer.
- Posted by smartguyWhile two BIG countryes connot make a deal, some innocent people suffering for those who wants to get into NATO, to get a country-satelite near Russia, who want mineral resources, who want to be elected as a president, who want to make attantion to other things than a global finance, food, oil, etc. crisis. An so on. There are no price for a life of a man, but sometimes it costs nothing as we see now.
- Posted by VVRussia is the worst of Stalin and the Nazi’s reincarinated. They have run Shell and BP out after exploiting their technology. Now they are going after Georgian pipe line. This has Putin’s fingerprints all over it. Russia is the enemy of the West and we had all better wake up! Sig Heil Russia!
- Posted by JTLINGRussian Peace-making armies
Ummm…..”Peace-Making” and “Armies” are two terms that should never be grouped together in my opinion.
How can you have a peace making army?
Armies are meant for war and conflict, not for peace.
As far as I’m concerned, South Ossetia was never recognized as an independent country by the world. As far as the world is concerned S. Ossetia and Abkhazia are both territories of Georgia.
Russia obviously has an issue with this as they want those territories for themselves, so for them to get involved in what is basically a “civil war” is wrong.
But then again I’m one of those “un-educated americans” and will prbably get flamed for this opinion.
- Posted by DaveRussia wants respect in from the international community.But its going about it the very wrongest of ways.Russia was the defacto ruler of Ossetia anyway.What Georgia did by going in was not well advised, but Russias massive response was even more ill advised.Russia is like a school bully,chip on the shoulder with a complex whose family just made a couple of millions and wants everyone in school to know hes the big kid on the block.I watched the footage on TV and for all Russias explanation, they came across as a band of thugs that they are. The Russian president is a puppet, but hes a lawyer, and deep inside he knows Putins reaction to situation will have long term implications.Russia has lost a lot of trust and respect and you can not threaten and beat people into respecting you. Russia can not say ‘well, the US invaded Iraq, so this is OK’. Iraq was not right and what Russia did is even more wrong because its happening in Europe.Russians neigbours will fear, never trust or respect Russia. Putin was good for Russia, now, if his crazy definition of Russian Strategic interest and nationalism isnt checked;the 1st casualty will be Russia.
- Posted by seanWhile Russia has a history of aggression, wake up, Georgia clearly started this and Russia can not be blamed for its prompt response. What were the Georgians thinking?!? South Ossetia is just as much a part of Russia as any other faction or state making up its country. I am in favor of the cease fire, but I think it is absurd Georgia thought anything but this could happen upon their violation on international boarders and fire on a country…of all countries…RUSSIA.
- Posted by Lacy[...] Global News Blog » Blog Archive » Cold War reheated as U.S. and Russia duke it out over Georgia | … [...]
- Posted by World Conflict Today « Gray3’s ThirdsphereI’m not taking any sides here at all — but people should take into consideration these facts:
The U.S. is continuing to develop and deploy it’s anti-ballistic missile defense system. Russia has increased its Bear Bomber flights near U.S. territory in recent months, including two low-level overflights of the aircraft carrier Nimitz.
- Posted by EricThe only reason why Georgian forces attacted South Osetia is hope that survied people will flee to Russia for good.
- Posted by ttRussia is showing its true colours and imperialistic intentions by expanding their “peace keeping” role beyond the GEORGIAN conflict zones into other areas of Georgia and by their protection of “Russian citizens” (by issuing passports to the Georgians in the conflict zones who accept them). Unfortunate that because of German dissent against NATO membership for Georgia, Russia felt free to invade Georgia. Georgia will unfortunately be left to themselves to fend off the Russian aggression and this war will be further used against the Georgians in December when their bid to join NATO will be reviewed. Sure, Russia is to blame for their militancy, but Germany is an accomplice. The UN and the EU, as inept as ever, will do nothing but resort to empty rhetoric which will not solve the issue and innocent Georgian civilians will continue to die. Long live Georgia! Long live democracy! Down with Russian totalitarianism and imperialism! Let’s hope that NATO plays a role, militant if necessary, in pressuring Russia to retreat.
- Posted by DanielMr. Putin and South Osetia need to be treated like they are: War Criminals. Rebels and Violent states like Russia should not be handled lightly. The Time for diplomacy is over, NATO must show that we do not deal lightly with aggressive actions like Russia’s. I strongly support Russia’s removal from the G8 and economic sanctions.
- Posted by anoyas usual western strategists show their citizens a coloured picture. Then the aggressor [usa and willing partners] was liberator, now the aggressor [georgia] is victim and liberator [russia] is monster ! The public of west will always see glorification of wild west only.
- Posted by mohiTo all uninitiated:
1. The war was started by Georgia, not Russia.
- Posted by ira waxmann2. When you provoke a bear, do not expect a mild response from a brutal beast.
3. Learn the lessons of failed diplomacy now. It can be way too late with McCain. Being “a strong” leader he might jokingly declare an attack on Russia. Like “bomb, bomb, bomb!” Russia is not a very humorous country and the response is unlikely to be very funny.
4. Take a look at this link offered via Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/i dUKLB71416020080811?sp=true