Domingo Soto: Because Freedom Isn't Dumb

NO "GOOD GUYS"
I watched the Jim Lehrer News Hour's coverage of the Georgia-Russia conflict Tuesday night and became convinced that we're not getting enough of the story in the Russo-Georgian Conflict. Dimitri Simes' assessment that there are no "good guys" and that we should not repeat the mistake we made in Iraq of choosing a side without knowing more or getting more concessions rang true. If you're at all interested in world politics this is really worth a read.
Just coincidentally, John Furman sent This Piece from Clear Politics that is also informative. It also makes clear that the situation over there is complex and longstanding. The article ties the Russian actions to their experiences in Kosovo and their paranoia about the "strategic encirclement and strangulation of Russia." From that experience they concluded that the United States and Europe were not prepared to consider Russian wishes even in fairly minor affairs. That was the breaking point. If Russian desires could not be accommodated even in a minor matter like this, then clearly Russia and the West were in conflict. According to the article, for the Russians, the question was more one of how to respond. Having declined to respond in Kosovo, the Russians decided to respond where they had all the cards: in South Ossetia.
Wednesday night's News Hour had former Secretaries of State Madeline Albright and Lawrence Eagleburger speaking on the crisis. Although from two divergent camps, they seemed to be of one mind in supporting Georgia.
My cousin Sixto Mendez sent me this excellent New York Times Article Taunting the Bear that sets out the history of the conflict in detail.
Good friend Steve Stokke chimes in by recommending Russia Today as a source of news.
For criticism of media coverage CLICK HERE, HERE , HERE, and HERE, that last link being commentary by Pat Buchanan!