Who Started Cold War II with Russia?

[peejay 327]

Who Started Cold War II

by Patrick J. Buchanan

Posted 08/19/2008 ET

The American people should be eternally grateful to Old Europe for having spiked the Bush-McCain plan to bring Georgia into NATO.

Had Georgia been in NATO when Mikheil Saakashvili invaded South Ossetia, we would be eyeball to eyeball with Russia, facing war in the Caucasus, where Moscow's superiority is as great as U.S. superiority in the Caribbean during the Cuban missile crisis.

If the Russia-Georgia war proves nothing else, it is the insanity of giving erratic hotheads in volatile nations the power to drag the United States into war.

From Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan, as Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, U.S. presidents have sought to avoid shooting wars with Russia, even when the Bear was at its most beastly.

Truman refused to use force to break Stalin's Berlin blockade. Ike refused to intervene when the Butcher of Budapest drowned the Hungarian Revolution in blood. LBJ sat impotent as Leonid Brezhnev's tanks crushed the Prague Spring. Jimmy Carter's response to Brezhnev's invasion of Afghanistan was to boycott the Moscow Olympics. When Brezhnev ordered his Warsaw satraps to crush Solidarity and shot down a South Korean airliner killing scores of U.S. citizens, including a congressman, Reagan did -- nothing.

These presidents were not cowards. They simply would not go to war when no vital U.S. interest was at risk to justify a war. Yet, had George W. Bush prevailed and were Georgia in NATO, U.S. Marines could be fighting Russian troops over whose flag should fly over a province of 70,000 South Ossetians who prefer Russians to Georgians.

The arrogant folly of the architects of U.S. post-Cold War policy is today on display. By bringing three ex-Soviet republics into NATO, we have moved the U.S. red line for war from the Elbe almost to within artillery range of the old Leningrad.

Should America admit Ukraine into NATO, Yalta, vacation resort of the czars, will be a NATO port and Sevastopol, traditional home of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, will become a naval base for the U.S. Sixth Fleet. This is altogether a bridge too far.

And can we not understand how a Russian patriot like Vladimir Putin would be incensed by this U.S. encirclement after Russia shed its empire and sought our friendship? How would Andy Jackson have reacted to such crowding by the British Empire?

As of 1991, the oil of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan belonged to Moscow. Can we not understand why Putin would smolder as avaricious Yankees built pipelines to siphon the oil and gas of the Caspian Basin through breakaway Georgia to the West?

For a dozen years, Putin & Co. watched as U.S. agents helped to dump over regimes in Ukraine and Georgia that were friendly to Moscow.

If Cold War II is coming, who started it, if not us?

The swift and decisive action of Putin's army in running the Georgian forces out of South Ossetia in 24 hours after Saakashvili began his barrage and invasion suggests Putin knew exactly what Saakashvili was up to and dropped the hammer on him.

What did we know? Did we know Georgia was about to walk into Putin's trap? Did we not see the Russians lying in wait north of the border? Did we give Saakashvili a green light?

Joe Biden ought to be conducting public hearings on who caused this U.S. humiliation.

The war in Georgia has exposed the dangerous overextension of U.S. power. There is no way America can fight a war with Russia in the Caucasus with our army tied down in Afghanistan and Iraq. Nor should we. Hence, it is demented to be offering, as John McCain and Barack Obama are, NATO membership to Tbilisi.

The United States must decide whether it wants a partner in a flawed Russia or a second Cold War. For if we want another Cold War, we are, by cutting Russia out of the oil of the Caspian and pushing NATO into her face, going about it exactly the right way.

Vladimir Putin is no Stalin. He is a nationalist determined, as ruler of a proud and powerful country, to assert his nation's primacy in its own sphere, just as U.S. presidents from James Monroe to Bush have done on our side of the Atlantic.

A resurgent Russia is no threat to any vital interests of the United States. It is a threat to an American Empire that presumes some God-given right to plant U.S. military power in the backyard or on the front porch of Mother Russia.

Who rules Abkhazia and South Ossetia is none of our business. And after this madcap adventure of Saakashvili, why not let the people of these provinces decide their own future in plebiscites conducted by the United Nations or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe?

As for Saakashvili, he's probably toast in Tbilisi after this stunt. Let the neocons find him an endowed chair at the American Enterprise Institute.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28087

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Interesting article.

[Ilya R. 0]

If cold war happens, millions of Russian families that split their time between America/Russia would be in a limbo. Like my family. Russia will start to use their natural resources to try to influence Europe. Military Buildup by USA/Russia, new weapon testing, probably come up with some new satellite weapons. It'll be another "Is today our last day before Armageddon" sort of thing. And for no apparent reason, I am really happy Rice/Bush and Shotgun mogul are on their way out of the office, next challenge, is for Obama to win the election ...

[IAMX 3,055]

I agree with most of the article, especially these:

A resurgent Russia is no threat to any vital interests of the United States. It is a threat to an American Empire that presumes some God-given right to plant U.S. military power in the backyard or on the front porch of Mother Russia.

Who rules Abkhazia and South Ossetia is none of our business. And after this madcap adventure of Saakashvili, why not let the people of these provinces decide their own future in plebiscites conducted by the United Nations or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe?

The United States must decide whether it wants a partner in a flawed Russia or a second Cold War. For if we want another Cold War, we are, by cutting Russia out of the oil of the Caspian and pushing NATO into her face, going about it exactly the right way.

.. but disagree with this:

U.S. Marines could be fighting Russian troops over whose flag should fly over a province of 70,000 South Ossetians who prefer Russians to Georgians.

Ossetians and Abkhazians are not Russia and not Georgia for a reason. They do NOT want to be a part of either. Their only preference for Russia was fleeing toward Russia when Georgia attacked them. They've been an independent Republic for 2'ish years.

It bothers me the fact that indeed this NATO thing would drag this country into yet another war, of course, that it couldn't win at all, or without sustaining severe casualties to the entire population. George Bush is indeed a reckless SOB, and I wish his ### was impeached when John Conyers put up the articles in the House some 4-5 years ago. (the one where Republicans refused to give him a conference room that all hearings get, because it would be broadcasted to the country on C-SPAN)

[HAL 9000 96]

We also have our own territories that were, for a time, considered colonies even to us, and whose plebiscites/referendums carried out after colonial rule 'ended' were not considered binding... so good luck with Mother Russia or Georgia respecting such results.

[peejay 327]

If cold war happens, millions of Russian families that split their time between America/Russia would be in a limbo. Like my family. Russia will start to use their natural resources to try to influence Europe. Military Buildup by USA/Russia, new weapon testing, probably come up with some new satellite weapons. It'll be another "Is today our last day before Armageddon" sort of thing. And for no apparent reason, I am really happy Rice/Bush and Shotgun mogul are on their way out of the office, next challenge, is for Obama to win the election ...

I'm not sure if Obumble is the answer. But that is another topic.

My grandparents immigrated from the Motherland just before the revolution. They were in limbo in the USA until they died in the 1960's. Too scared to go back even to visit because they might not be able to leave again. That was a real fear during the Stalinist years. For our relatives there to come here to visit in that era was impossible. So my grandparents stayed here in the USA for over 50 years and never saw their parents or siblings again. Only communicating by censored letters. Phone calls were impossible then.

My mom and American born aunts never met their grandparents or their parents' siblings in the USSR. My mom and I went in 1993 to meet our relatives that were left in the ancestoral homeland in the area of what is now Belarus. We only got to meet relatives from my grandmother's side of the family. From my grandfather's side they either perished in WW2 or fled the area never to return. Revolution, a civil war, 2 world wars, and Nazi occupation have a tendency to displace people. The totalitarian communist regime in between all that made it worst. Such is life.

I don't see that ever happening again, but who knows?

I met a Belarusian Jew that immigrated in the 1980's and told him about our family history coming from there. He told me that we were very fortunate. We missed out on a lot of bad history. Yes we did.

[eekee 182]

.. but disagree with this:

U.S. Marines could be fighting Russian troops over whose flag should fly over a province of 70,000 South Ossetians who prefer Russians to Georgians.

Ossetians and Abkhazians are not Russia and not Georgia for a reason. They do NOT want to be a part of either. Their only preference for Russia was fleeing toward Russia when Georgia attacked them. They've been an independent Republic for 2'ish years.

except that most south ossetians have russian passports... there are definitely warmer feelings towards Russia than Georgia.

Edited August 19, 2008 by eekee

[Ilya R. 0]

If cold war happens, millions of Russian families that split their time between America/Russia would be in a limbo. Like my family. Russia will start to use their natural resources to try to influence Europe. Military Buildup by USA/Russia, new weapon testing, probably come up with some new satellite weapons. It'll be another "Is today our last day before Armageddon" sort of thing. And for no apparent reason, I am really happy Rice/Bush and Shotgun mogul are on their way out of the office, next challenge, is for Obama to win the election ...

I'm not sure if Obumble is the answer. But that is another topic.

My grandparents immigrated from the Motherland just before the revolution. They were in limbo in the USA until they died in the 1960's. Too scared to go back even to visit because they might not be able to leave again. That was a real fear during the Stalinist years. For our relatives there to come here to visit in that era was impossible. So my grandparents stayed here in the USA for over 50 years and never saw their parents or siblings again. Only communicating by censored letters. Phone calls were impossible then.

My mom and American born aunts never met their grandparents or their parents' siblings in the USSR. My mom and I went in 1993 to meet our relatives that were left in the ancestoral homeland in the area of what is now Belarus. We only got to meet relatives from my grandmother's side of the family. From my grandfather's side they either perished in WW2 or fled the area never to return. Revolution, a civil war, 2 world wars, and Nazi occupation have a tendency to displace people. The totalitarian communist regime in between all that made it worst. Such is life.

I don't see that ever happening again, but who knows?

I met a Belarusian Jew that immigrated in the 1980's and told him about our family history coming from there. He told me that we were very fortunate. We missed out on a lot of bad history. Yes we did.

Kinda reminds me of that movie "Everything is illuminated"

All of my Great Grandparents from my mother side (Minsk)(Gomel`) Never made it out of WW2. I dont know if you have heard of "hatin`", apparently thats where they died.

[IAMX 3,055]

.. but disagree with this:

U.S. Marines could be fighting Russian troops over whose flag should fly over a province of 70,000 South Ossetians who prefer Russians to Georgians.

Ossetians and Abkhazians are not Russia and not Georgia for a reason. They do NOT want to be a part of either. Their only preference for Russia was fleeing toward Russia when Georgia attacked them. They've been an independent Republic for 2'ish years.

except that most south ossetians have russian passports... there are definitely warmer feelings towards Russia than Georgia.

Likely because Russia is trying to butter them up, the way a guy would to a girl he's trying to do a one-night'er with. Them having Russian passports means little, in all honesty. In fact, Ossetians only see Russia in a less bad light because Russia isn't trying to attack them. Not because (South) Ossetia is planning on re-unionizing.

Edited August 20, 2008 by SRVT

[peejay 327]

If cold war happens, millions of Russian families that split their time between America/Russia would be in a limbo. Like my family. Russia will start to use their natural resources to try to influence Europe. Military Buildup by USA/Russia, new weapon testing, probably come up with some new satellite weapons. It'll be another "Is today our last day before Armageddon" sort of thing. And for no apparent reason, I am really happy Rice/Bush and Shotgun mogul are on their way out of the office, next challenge, is for Obama to win the election ...

I'm not sure if Obumble is the answer. But that is another topic.

My grandparents immigrated from the Motherland just before the revolution. They were in limbo in the USA until they died in the 1960's. Too scared to go back even to visit because they might not be able to leave again. That was a real fear during the Stalinist years. For our relatives there to come here to visit in that era was impossible. So my grandparents stayed here in the USA for over 50 years and never saw their parents or siblings again. Only communicating by censored letters. Phone calls were impossible then.

My mom and American born aunts never met their grandparents or their parents' siblings in the USSR. My mom and I went in 1993 to meet our relatives that were left in the ancestoral homeland in the area of what is now Belarus. We only got to meet relatives from my grandmother's side of the family. From my grandfather's side they either perished in WW2 or fled the area never to return. Revolution, a civil war, 2 world wars, and Nazi occupation have a tendency to displace people. The totalitarian communist regime in between all that made it worst. Such is life.

I don't see that ever happening again, but who knows?

I met a Belarusian Jew that immigrated in the 1980's and told him about our family history coming from there. He told me that we were very fortunate. We missed out on a lot of bad history. Yes we did.

Kinda reminds me of that movie "Everything is illuminated"

All of my Great Grandparents from my mother side (Minsk)(Gomel`) Never made it out of WW2. I dont know if you have heard of "hatin`", apparently thats where they died.

Actually my relatives are Russian Orthodox, but I see what you mean. BTW...I never read the book or saw the movie. I had to Google it up.

I never got to see the memorial at Khatin, but I know what it is about. Actually Khatin was only one of the hundreds of villages that were obliterated from the face of the earth by the Nazis and never rebuilt after the war. The memorial represents all of them, but is located on the site of the massacre at village Khatin. One of my mom's cousins wanted to take me to see the memorial, but we never made it there.

My grandparents were both born in village Nesvizh and knew each other's families for generations. Some of my grandmother's relatives still live there, but many of their descendants now live in other cities throughout Belarus and Russia. None of my grandfather's relatives returned to Nesvizh after the war and my grandmother's relatives don't know what happened to them. My grandfather had no way to find them from the USA. My grandmother's relatives resumed sending letters to her in the USA after the war.

One of the few houses still standing in Nesvizh to survive the war was the house my grandmother was born in. It is still standing there today on land my mom's cousin still farms. I've been there many times on visits to Nesvizh.