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Thursday, August 28, 2008 |
RussiaBlog: "The war in South Ossetia and Georgia, though appalling, resulted in fewer deaths and damage than originally reported. It is still not 'over' and probably won't be for some time. Meanwhile, it definitely did serious damage to Russia's relationship with the West. In some ways, relations are worse than at any time since well before the collapse of the USS - in other words, in roughly a quarter century.
Meanwhile, before the war we wrote a report on Ten Reasons Americans Should Care About Russia. It follows, and, as you will see, it remains valid. Perhaps as tempers cool, people of good will can consider what is at stake; what there is to gain, and what there is to lose."
MoD: "Russia is unlikely to threaten its Western neighbours with direct military force, although its wealth in energy resources will give it substantial strategic leverage. Its military strategic priorities are likely to remain concerned with maintaining high capability and quality nuclear and defence forces and the ability to respond to instability internally and around its periphery, particularly in the Caucasus. Russia may develop and favour a twin track approach whereby it emerges as a strategic partner with Europe and a strategic competitor in Asia. In all cases, it will seek to exclude Western, especially US, influence and investment in Central Asia and its near-abroad.
Russia's significance and influence in Europe is likely to increase, reflecting its extensive natural resources, particularly in oil and gas, but its ability to exert direct leverage or leadership will be limited by its internal tensions, not least its acute demographic crisis, threats to stability from radical Islam and severe regional instability on its southern periphery.
The US is likely to sustain its international leadership until at least 2020, after which a more multipolar world will challenge its hegemonic status, with China, Russia, India, Brazil and Indonesia and a host of alternative, possibly rival polities weakening its grip on certain regions and the international system. US strategic power will also be
progressively diluted by its integration within an increasingly globalized economy and the
need to address large budgetary imbalances and deficits."
It is in the interest of Europe to have a good relationship with Russia. The US is a dwindling power. Tying our future to an irresponsible and destructive America is counterproductive. Britain's and in particular New Labour's clinging to an outdated and immoral 'special relationship' with the paragon of the New World Order will have severely negative effects on the British economy. It is very likely that Britain will split up and Scotland will demand its independence.
The West should stop moaning. It has been caught with its pants down and has incontestably been seen to be hypocrite and inconsistent. Russia has the right on its side.
Russia's intervention was quick, resolute and proportionate. If the Russians had followed the Western example of 'shock and awe', they would have destroyed the pipeline, destroyed Tbilisi and occupied the whole country. This intervention was over in a few days. America and Britain can take this kind of intervention as an example. Russia can seriously disrupt the war drive of the US and Britain, by using the same methods the US and Britain used. The West should for once use reason and common sense. Now the West sounds like a child that has started crying, has forgotten why, but still continues in the hope of getting something out of it. Get real!
12:43:28 PM 
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© Copyright 2008 Hetty Litjens.
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