A decade or two ago Americans witnessed the fall of the Soviet Union. Our number one enemy collapsed and was broken up into Russia and number of smaller countries it had gobbled up during it's rise. The world could rest easy. Russia was now militarily inept and was forced to become our friend, a democracy, and develop free enterprise. President Bush pronounced, then president and now Prime Minister, President Vladimir Putin "a good man."
Out of sight out of mind, right? Russia has taken advantage of America's war on terror and the Bush Administrations failed foreign policy to quietly rearm themselves. A year or so ago, Russia resumed flying their Bear Bomber missions which tease US defenses and force us to scramble our Air Force fighters to intercept and shoo them away from our boundaries.
While the world was visiting our "other friend," China, to focus on the 2008 Olympics, Russia boldly invaded Georgia. When the world leaders threw their arms up and cried foul, Russia said they stopped their attack. However, it soon became apparent this was a lie as news reports showed Russian troops advancing further into Georgia. Two days ago after another agreed upon cease fire, Russia blew up a key railroad bridge. This not only cut off Georgia's ability to supply themselves, but it was also a vital link for supplies and commerce to several other breakaway Soviet states. In the coming months we will see if this was a slapping of one state or an all out offensive to a return of world leadership by force.
How did we figure Putin would let his country become a lap dog? Putin is too proud of a man to settle for ineptness. The timing makes sense. The rise comes at the gap between the end of a US presidency of lousy foreign policy and the beginning of an uncertain new president. America's military is bogged down in two conflicts, flirting with a third (Iran), and therefore unable to respond to Russian aggressions. After invading Iraq against the will of the rest of the world, it is kind of difficult for us to tell Russia to stop their aggressions. It is the perfect time for Russia to use its weaker military. How did we miss this?
While the world was visiting our "other friend," China, to focus on the 2008 Olympics, Russia boldly invaded Georgia. When the world leaders threw their arms up and cried foul, Russia said they stopped their attack. However, it soon became apparent this was a lie as news reports showed Russian troops advancing further into Georgia. Two days ago after another agreed upon cease fire, Russia blew up a key railroad bridge. This not only cut off Georgia's ability to supply themselves, but it was also a vital link for supplies and commerce to several other breakaway Soviet states. In the coming months we will see if this was a slapping of one state or an all out offensive to a return of world leadership by force.
How did we figure Putin would let his country become a lap dog? Putin is too proud of a man to settle for ineptness. The timing makes sense. The rise comes at the gap between the end of a US presidency of lousy foreign policy and the beginning of an uncertain new president. America's military is bogged down in two conflicts, flirting with a third (Iran), and therefore unable to respond to Russian aggressions. After invading Iraq against the will of the rest of the world, it is kind of difficult for us to tell Russia to stop their aggressions. It is the perfect time for Russia to use its weaker military. How did we miss this?
Here's a word from a couple GOP experts on the subject. (Their CD can be purchased from Itunes, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and various retail outlets)
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