Threat Axis Log

nato russia georgia

Previously, we posted commentary about the ironies in the Georgia-Russia situation.  In August, ThreatAxis pointed out that we should not necessarily assume that Russia was the bad guy in that conflict – something we are prone to do because of past history – but that we should rather take an unbiased, courageous look at both sides of the equation – that perhaps Georgia might even actually be the aggressor here!  With world opinion headed the other way, it was an aggressive stance for us to take.

Interestingly, as time passes, it’s looking more and more like we were dead right.

Today the International Institute for Strategic Studies said that the “balance of evidence suggests that Georgia started this war.” The comments were made by Dr. John Chipman, the Director-General of the IISS.  For a long time, NATO has been considering whether to offer membership to Georgia – something that this writer is strongly opposed to – and something which now the IISS and others are also suggesting might be bad.  To unilaterally accept Georgia into NATO would accomplish very little positive.  It would, however, antagonize Russia, and plunge NATO into what is barely a step away from a civil war.

But, the west loves to antagonize Russia.  In another previous post, ThreatAxis outlined the ongoing problems in perceptions with Russia, and took the stance that maybe the Cold War really was over (imagine that!).  Now, it seems that others are noticing this glaring truth as well.  In the same speed, Dr. Chipman said that “There have been major errors of presentation of policy towards Russia. The US and Nato have in the past told Russia to accept whatever was happening. There was no give and take.”

What?  Hasn’t that always been our complaint against Russia – that they just tell the world to “accept whatever was happening?”  They may be guilty of that… but so are we. And if we are doing it (and we are) – then we have no right to be critical of others doing the same thing!  To believe otherwise is to adopt a Mafia-esque view of the world, in which “we are always right, no matter what we do, and they are always wrong, even when doing the same.”  Clearly, this is anathema to civilized society.

And when we can’t “win”, we use another inappropriate “tactic” – we stir the world up with fear… saying things like “Oh no, it’s a return to the Cold War!”  Rubbish!  Dr. Chipman stated – as we have – that they “are disappointed at the way some Western leaders pushed the Cold War button after Georgia. The events of August 2008 do not signify fresh steps towards a new Cold War.”

Indeed.

The Institute went on to address other NATO-related issues that we may touch on in future posts.  For now, the message here is clear.  Know your enemy!  Or, more to the point, how about just trying to know who the enemy is, rather than letting fear and “tradition” dictate your answers for you.

Stay with us for more in the coming days!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 at 03:20 UTC and is filed under Editorial, Global. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.