Well, actually, the die was cast in February, when the West recognized the independence of Kosovo. It was then that we set the precedent of redrawing the boundaries of post-World War Two Europe. What happened today in Abkhazia and South Ossetia is only a natural continuation of the Kosovo case.
As in the instance of Kosovo, little will change on the ground now that Sukhumi and Tskhinvali have been recognized by Moscow. They have existed as de facto independent states for more than a decade, they have relied on commercial and political ties with Moscow, and they will continue to do so. They will not be able to achieve world-wide recognition or membership in the UN; but neither will Kosovo.
The response from Washington has been one of defeated anger. The war in South Ossetia, Mr. Saakashvili’s war, has demonstrated the limits of US power and has furthered a split in Europe. Mr. McCain’s comments that “the West ought to consider the independence of the North Caucusus and Chechnya, which suffered bloody attacks at the hands of Russia” are just plain stupid.
It remains to see what the formal reaction of Washington to this latest move will be. True, there are now American warships in the Black Sea, thought the Pentagon claims that they are on a humanitarian mission. Most indications, however, are that Washington will do little more than be angry. Enough cool heads will prevail, realizing that the United States does not need confrontation with Russia.
In other US political news, Senator Barack Obama announced his choice of Senator Joe Biden as running mate. Mr. Biden authored the resolution authorizing President Clinton to bomb Serbia and said, in 1999, that “all Serbs should be placed in Nazi-style concentration camps”. He also called Serbs “a bunch of illiterates, degenerates, baby killers, butchers and rapists” on none other than CNN’s Larry King Live.
Mr. Biden hasn’t spared words for Russia, either. After returning from a trip to Tbilisi, he said: “he war that began in Georgia is no longer about that country alone. It has become a question of whether and how the West will stand up for the rights of free people throughout the region. The outcome there will determine whether we realize the grand ambition of a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace.” He followed with promises to keep Russia out of the World Trade Organization and of other sanctions. In addition, he promised to introduce a bill approving $1 billion of emergency assistance to Georgia. That’s right, one billion dollars of your tax payer money.
So the real question now is who will be more bellicose: Senator Biden or Senator McCain?
Thanks for the info on Biden. This is why I love how Sergei Avertisev said: “The evil one has two hands. He always offers a choice and hopes you would choose from either one hand or the other. The answer is: never choose with the evil one, both hands belong to the deceiver.”
I’ll have to read your blog to keep up-to-date on this stuff.