The Russian-Georgian Conflict

By Broadside Opinion Columnist Brandon Cosby

The recent Russian-Georgian crisis should surprise no one. It only reaffirms Vladimir Putin's imperialistic tendencies, Dmitry Medvedev's puppet status and Georgia's complete idiocy in dealing with its titan neighbors. The conflict over two provinces the size of ant hills that no one in the West has ever heard of before was a sad event, yes. And while it was provoked by the Georgians, it was definitely a Russian trap. It will have lasting effects in Russian relations for the absurdly over-the-top response.

But it is not Cold War II, and most definitely not World War III (Or is it IV? I've lost count).

Many people are not happy with this little dose of reality, however. Robert Kagan (a neo-conservative if there ever was one) began his column in the Washington Post recently:

“Do you recall the precise details of the Sudeten Crisis that led to Nazi Germany's invasion of Czechoslovakia? Of course not, because that morally ambiguous dispute is rightly remembered as a minor part of a much bigger drama."

Now, Joe Klein has already pointed out the zealous stupidity of such Nazi claims much better than I ever could. Yet these words must still be held up as even further evidence of the neo-conservative anthem: Where you want a war, there is one.

Putin (and by extension his toy, Medvedev) is a silly man with imperialist designs, but he is no Adolf Hitler. There can never be another Adolf Hitler, not in our time of 24/7 global outrage and fresh memories of the real deal. The true appeasement (let's not forget what appeasement really is) that only worked to embolden the Nazi leader can never happen again, so let's stop pretending the foolish ex-leader and propped-up new leader of Russia are.

But this is not good enough for the neo-con agenda. The folks who have already mismanaged Afghanistan and Iraq now want to bring us into another Cold War with one of our biggest global partners. Their plans and global vision have panned out so well over the last seven years; let's give them the benefit of the doubt.

Hardly. We are as much to blame for the Russian/Georgian crisis as either side halfway around the world. Georgia initiated the conflict but did not deserve the ridiculous reaction they received. Russia may have very well wanted this conflict all along. Yet we are the ones who have made the former Soviet power- paranoid and wary of western influence approaching her borders. We are the ones who are to blame for this--or more appropriately, neo-cons and their inane foreign policy are.

If the neo-cons do indeed want to ease the rising tensions between East and West (and there's no evidence they do), they will let up on goals like our missile shield in Poland. This is one of the prime factors contributing to Russia's growing uneasiness and trepidation. If we pull back now, would we be seen as rewarding Russia and their childlike actions in Georgia? No, we would simply guarantee that the child doesn't throw any more tantrums. This isn't appeasement if we continue urging our partners in the region to keep the pressure on Russia and make them pay for their heavy-handed and deceptive actions in Georgia. Let them win on the missile shield. It won't take away the fact that they already screwed themselves over with Georgia.

As long as sane minds prevail, we will never engage in a war (hot or cold) with Russia again. There is too much economically and globally at stake to see the two greatest powers in the world rehash old bitter feelings. Yet, while war will never come, we do not have permission to continue hostilities into the absurd. Us slapping Russia in the face with continual Western encroachment will do nothing to bring tensions back to a simmer. We need to back off our influence in the region and let Russia be the ruler of its own kingdom. And yes, that means no more pulling for NATO membership for former Soviet countries.

Pat Buchanan, showing he still possesses the ability to surprise and shake conventional wisdom, made a good point just last week. Writing on the West's remarkable failure to secure any sense of global stability over the past twenty years, he raises the startling issue that if neo-cons had their way and indeed succeeded in pushing Georgia into NATO already, we would now be in a state of all-out war with the ninth most populous country in the world.

Buchanan also cited history in saying that presidents from Truman, to Carter, to Reagan all blinked when confronted with Russia's antagonism over the years. The neo-cons today urge differently. Surely they do not think themselves wiser than Truman or Reagan? President Bush even seems to recognize this. John McCain, however, and his top foreign-policy advisor/Georgian lobbyist, Randy Scheunemann, do not.

Like it or not, Vladimir Putin can do whatever his cool and calculating mind wishes and make all the abhorrent power grabs to restore Russia to its glory days, and we will remained tied. All we will be able to do is harangue and condemn and sanction. Hopefully the sting of these on the country's already faltering economy will be enough to drive Tsar Putin back from the brink again and again. I believe that global leaders (including Putin) will continue to recognize the horror of war and find ways to skirt it. There is simply nothing else we can do. We have already seen the consequences of antagonizing Russia.

This is the face of 21st century détente--countries pushed to their edge of their good conscience with only the fear of sanctions and condemning resolutions to keep them from plunging into total hostility.

Despite Mr. Kagan's most engrossing hegemonic dreams, we will never plunge over that cliff with Russia. Too much is at stake, and for the time being, I believe all sides recognize that. I think the American people do too, and it will be a cold day in hell before we subscribe to the neo-con worldview again.