From an editorial on the breakdown of peace talks between Georgia and Russia in Japan's Asahi Shimbun.
The fact that Georgia triggered the military clash by sending troops to retake South Ossetia doesn't justify Russia's decision to recognize the two pro-Moscow regions in Georgia as independent states. Russia, which had been issuing passports to residents in these regions, responded to Georgia's attack on South Ossetia by deploying military units under the pretext of protecting its own citizens. Such heavy-handed tactics should not be tolerated.
At the same time, it is important for Russia and the West to establish channels of effective diplomatic dialogue to prevent further conflict in former Soviet republics. Russia has no right to regard former Soviet republics as part of its sphere of influence. But the West would be wise to pay more attention to Russia's traditional sensitivity to security issues, rooted in its past traumatic experiences of being invaded repeatedly by foreign armies.From this point of view, there is no denying that the United States and other countries made a strategic blunder by rushing to make countries like Georgia and Ukraine members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization without first consulting Russia.
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Wouldn't it also be appropriate to observe that "Russia would be wise to pay more attention to America's traditional sensitivity to security issues, rooted in Russia's past traumatic assaults on democracy and capitalism including repeatedly making imperialist attacks on Eastern Europe and Central Asia."
Why is it that America must "pay more attention" but not Russia? Often Russia is spoken about as if it were a helpless child and America were a responsible adult -- exactly the patronizing attitude that most infuriates Russians!
Posted by La Russophobe![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.robertamsterdam.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2008 6:02 PM
Posted on October 17, 2008 18:02
The question that no one seems to discuss is how having NATO member countries on your border can be a good thing for Russia.
It's not as though just because Estonia is part of the alliance that all of a sudden the West will want to invade. It's totally illogical to only see it as a threat, and many countries end up pursuing NATO membership because it is good for their economy and international relations. If places like Georgia and Ukraine become more stable because of such a partnership, and end up with higher GDP growth rates, Russian businesses and trade would strongly benefit.
Posted by James![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.robertamsterdam.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 17, 2008 6:36 PM
Posted on October 17, 2008 18:36