Posted by
reasonmclucus on Monday, August 18, 2008 4:31:03 AM
What was Georgian President
Mikheil
Saakashvili thinking when he
attacked
the former Georgian provinces of
Abkhazia and
South
Ossetia? Did he really think he could conquer those areas
without
a Russian response?
As the oldest of three boys he should have been aware of what can
happen when big brother decides to get even with little brother for
some provocative action. As the oldest of four kids I learned
that parents don't take kindly to an older child taking advantage
of size when dealing with younger siblings. Those who don't have
siblings probably have seen the following scenario on a tv
show or movie. Little brother teases big brother until big
brother responds by hitting little brother. Little brother then
complains to dad who, depending upon when the program or movie
was made, takes off his belt to punish big brother or sternly lectures
big brother.
Saakashvili thinks Georgia should be able to control the provinces
because they were historically part of Georgia. However,
Russia can make the same claim about Georgia being historically a part
of Russia long before Russia started calling itself the Soviet Union.
In fact, native Georgian
Joseph Dzhugashvili (aka
Joseph Stalin) helped turn Russia into the Soviet Union
The provinces left Georgia during the same period when Georgia left the
Soviet Union / Russia. If Georgia can justify retaking the
provinces by force, then Russia can justify retaking Georgia by force.
Georgia needs to abandon all claims to its former provinces and try to
find a way to peacefully coexist with the Russian bear. That is
if it isn't already too late.