Russia’s rulers have made their point: The Russian military can shoot and bomb its way into the sovereign territory of a neighboring state, and the world will… talk.
In the movies, this would have been the moment for the sheriff to appear, and take the risk of facing down the ruffians. But outside of Iraq and Afghanistan, America over the past five years has gone out of the lone superpower business. The cowboy has holstered his gun, and joined the crowd at the UN saloon. The watchword is soft power – whether dealing with North Korea, Syria, Palestinian terrorists or Iran. Which goes far to explain why Russia’s Prime Minister Putin and President Medvedev figured they could get away with this. More in my article today on NRO, “Georgia and the American Cowboy“… “When too many thugs cross too many lines and get away with it, the rules of the entire global game start to shift.”
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5 Comments
1. Bill Bradley:Is this a movie?
What laser brain gave the green light to Georgia to launch an offensive in South Ossetia?
The real world constellation of forces is such that there is nothing America could do militarily in this situation.
As Putin, who is a serious strategist, knew very well.
Georgia obligingly provided a pretext for Russia. To destroy a great many intellectual constructs unsupported in the real world.
Aug 12, 2008 - 9:47 am 2. Ron Kean:Russia can beat up a tiny nation. If they get rough with big ones…we’ll have a lot more to worry about.
Aug 14, 2008 - 5:08 pm 3. Formercorpsman:No, a movie I think not.
Perhaps, in the near future, a perfectly calculated move in retrospect?
Time will only tell.
Nonetheless, it appears we might just take a look at our missile defense once over, again, because it seems a little premature to allow Senator Obama to totally shelve such programs financially as he proposed.
I think what the “laser” has captured, is the blatant idiocy upon the prospect of a future Obama international policy which is disappearing as quick as the USA-193 over the northern Pacific.
I would appear, Vlad, has unintenionally checkmated a weak spot in the Democrat’s party platform for this upcoming election.
I at least hope the weather cooperates while they are on vacation.
Aug 15, 2008 - 1:51 pm 4. j green:This was so well-planned that I even think it was timed for the opening of the Olympics to make sure Bush was always within Putin’s visual range to absolutely make sure the “sherrif” didn’t do something stupid like bring a gun to a gunfight.
A hugely embarrasing blow was dealt to the United States.
Aug 15, 2008 - 3:57 pm 5. TheRider:Where is the world? Everytime the Palestinians plant a missle in Israel the WHOLE FREAKING WORLD would scream, “Appropriate Response…” which in reality meant anything more that flipping a booger at the Palistinians would mean an Israeli reprimand befitting the commiting of genocide. Now, where are all those loudmouth socialist and totalitarian bastards now? Pardon my frankness but I think they’re nothing but chicken shit morons that care nothing for truth or justice but only for positioning. The whole world is pretty much worthless when it comes to protecting the rights of someone else. ONLY the USA will stick our necks out for ANYONE. The rest of the world pretty much cowers when it comes to any sort of sacrifice unless there is a big reward.
Aug 18, 2008 - 3:34 pm