I received a lot of flack for my position on the Georgia / Russia conflict and this from my friends in Russia who "thought I was their friend". The fact is that I am a friend of Russia and Russians and see this situation in Georgia as yet one more instance in which the Russian government is screwing the citizens of a wonderful people.

For all of my criticism of the Russian actions in Georgia, this is not related to my equal criticisms of the United States and Europe in relation to its actions toward Russia. The fact is that Russia has a lot to complain about and the West is not taking that country seriously. That said, Russia needs to grow up. Peter the Great is long dead and Stalin was not a Russian. He was a Georgian.

America gets itself screwed up, sometimes. This can be seen with mistakes such as the Iraq war (Right war, wrong reasons, wrong president). That said, we have a government that has to answer to a lot of critics that it cannot attack merely by assassinating journalists. When our government makes a mistake, it has to answer to voters, journalists, other powers within the government such as our congress (two parts) and our judiciary. If Russians look to the USA, today, it will see a correction: Bush isn't working, McCain (same party as Bush) is trying to distance himself. Obama is representing Democrats saying that it is time for something new.

There is a pendulum in America. Sometimes the Republicans have the answer, sometimes the Democrats. If things go too far one way, the power of the opposition grows to HELP the country swing the other way. Kill the opposition and the pendulum can do nothing other than to swing to far in the wrong direction.

It is news in our country that the US was denying Afghan deaths in an air strike. America is being forced to investigate. America will eventually acknowledge its error and will be forced to change its ways so that civilian deaths are 'more minimal' than we already make it when we go to war. The fact that we use 'smart bombs' at all shows that America is not willing to inflict the damage we have the capacity to inflict.

Why? Are we so 'weak' that we have to be careful about the civilian casualties? No. We don't. There are not enough voices in this country that care about whether there are 2 or 2,000 Afghan deaths. In a day, the news is old and nobody cares.

No. Americans push the government to care because we demand nothing less than that the government (eventually and with great effort) administers to our beliefs as people: We refuse to support a government that merely kills. We refuse to support a government that uses expediency at the cost of our beliefs. We believe that Russia and Georgian and Afghan people are just like Americans in that everybody just wants to be let alone, in peace, to raise children, to be proud, to get jobs, to earn a living that they cay be proud of. Merely that. To kill Afghan civilians, this is a big problem for the USA, not because of World Opinion, but because our own government is answerable to us. We, the people (who are not always very bright) push our government and we have devised the system in which our government, eventually (not alsways as fast as we want) has to answer to us.

Is that weakness, or is that the result of a government system in which a government cannot act (too far) without the consent of its people?

The Hope and Failure of Putin

Putin represented the hope of the West that Russia would one day be part of the West. Peter the Great and Catherine the Great wanted it. Most of Russia wanted it since that time. The West actually wants Russia to be part of the West. That said, Russia keeps acting as if its something else other than the West... better? With an 'historical attachment to land that does not belong to it?"

The West is post colonial. The days of British, French, Dutch and Spanish colonies is over. Spain is Spain, Britain is Britain, France is France. Russia is Russia. The United States, good or bad, is the United States. We have 50 States and several protectorates such as Puerto Rico, Guam and other independent states that, vote after vote, stay with the USA because they want to. Want to. Frankly, the US would be happy to jettison the protectorates. We don't WANT 'spheres of influence" and we don't want countries that are forced to support us. We really don't give a shit if Puerto Rico were to pledge fealty to Cuba. We'd cut off communications, but also a lot of our problems would also be solved if we didn't have a 'protectorate.'

In that sense, we don't get it that Russia claims Ukraine, the Balkans, the CIS Nations, etc. They are NOT Russia. Russia is Russia. We don't want Georgia to 'join NATO as against Russia' but rather we are wishing that Russia be a part of the West... just as Russians wish to be considered 'Europe' and not 'Asia.'

Russia is different. Russia sees itself as being 'attacked' because it sees the West as being antithetical to .... some goal, we don't know what. Seriously. We don't know what Russia's 'problem' is. Everybody else gets along with only minor squabbles, but Russia.... Russia's got a problem with its own identity as a European Nation. "Oh, Europe isn't accepting us. We're going to pout."

Well, how many Russian's know that the schoolboy or schoolgirl that 'doesn't get it' with regard to 'fitting in' socially is usually the person that is getting picked on at the playground? How many Russians have figured it out that when they are the 'new kid' on the block that they're starting out on the bottom of the totem pole? It doesn't matter if you out-weigh and can punch out the 'European Kids.' What matters is whether you're punching out the kid who is going to get up off the ground and say, "You know what? It doesn't matter if you punch me. I still belong and you don't. I gave you a chance to belong and work you way up to the Alpha position and, frankly, you're an idiot for being such a baby."

Let's talk about The West and Putin.

After Gorbachev and Yeltsin, Putin was supposed to be the great savior of Russia... the modern Peter The Great. He 'saw' the real democratic principles of government independent of Russian tradition. Democracy was NOT a Kleptocracy based on a lack of 'law', but rather a system that depended on a 'Rule of Law' that Putin seemed to represent.

When it was convenient.

The difference between Russia and the United States is that the Rule of Law tends to bring down our governments. It is not an expediency, but a belief. Law is not merely the creation of laws, but a law based on certain beliefs.

Does America believe in its laws and beliefs? Not entirely. However much we had the statue of liberty, we still have not accepted all of our own beliefs. We've had reason not to. Do we believe in a freedom of Speech? Yes. Even though it is easier to deny people such a freedom, we still believe in it. Even though it would be easier of our government if there was no opposition or criticism, there would be the hundreds of thousands and millions of us tht would die to protect a single journalist's right to say something that WE MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH!

Do we believe that government can become corrupt? Yes. We vote out these governments. McCain is not promoting the status quo of his party. He is leading a rebellion against it hoping to show the Americans that The Republicans are different than Bush. The fact is that I doubt he will win. Bush fucked up as a President, but I can also say that Putin messed up even more.

So, Putin? Get rid of him. He served his time as did our own presidents. He pushed the country in one direction as far as it can go. Now it is time for the pendulum to shift. When it gets too far in the new direction, then it is time for the pro-Putin supporters to make that same pendulum shift to the new course. Not before.

Conservative, nationalism has no place, now. Not in our country and not in yours. It's time for you, my dear Russians, to grow up. Be a part of Europe or even be something different and still beneficial to the world. Stop being the schoolyard bully.... and don't be the victim, either. Find the thing you believe in and demand it. Let government govern, but also be the people that does not let government go too far in any one direction.

We promise to get rid of Bush if you will only promise to get rid of Putin. Laud him, honor him, respect him, for I know that he has done more to lead your country to greatness than any other leader since before Lenin. But, now it is time to take the leap and retire Putin. His time is over. His chapter in your country closed. Tolstoy would never have allowed such a character survive to the chapter you are reading, now.

If you have the courage to push the old leader out and accept the new leader in (good, or bad), you will have done that final growing. You will then become a democracy. Is that good? No. It is only "Less bad than all the other forms of government." Nothing more and nothing less. But, if you have courage and conviction and vision of what is 'right' ... you will do well.

Remember. Your soldiers are you. Your politicians are sons and daughters and fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters of YOU. Your leaders are people who are entrusted with the task of making your country proud and strong. Your leaders are people who step in at small amounts of time to solve small tasks. They are not kings. The are not gods. They are people. They are you and me. The idea of a tsar is not something you believe in because you, dear Russian, are much wiser and more educated than the peasant that used to feed Russia. You know... you KNOW that people are the same everywhere.

So, the world begs of you: You, the people! Choose to become PART of the world and neither king nor bully nor victim of it. Stop being cowards to your own government. Stop protecting your individual selves and start standing up to what may kill you, but what may also provide for your dear children. Stalin was all about 'sacrifice for the common good' but... maybe it is time to sacrifice for the common good as against sacrificing for the leader.

Animal farm.

Stop feeding the pigs.

Tags: america, bravery, bush, cowardice, georgia, history, russia, usa

Americans like the meal of world news delivered to them in bite-sized, simple pieces that are easy to digest and very easy to care about. A plot of land past an unknown sea on the other side of a barely-known Turkey isn't high on the list of dessert items. McCain, who professes buddy-hood to his good friend, "Saskash Villy" can't even pronounce the name of Georgia's President without stumbling, despite supposedly being in frequent contact with the Columbia University graduate who spear-headed the historic 'rose revolution' which was nearly as important as Gandhi's overthrow of the British Empire.

Most Americans (maybe even you reading this) will rather throw up their hands and watch a rerun of Three's Company than to truly educate themselves on the political, legal and moral issues involved in the relationship between Russia and Georgia over the last few days. Even journalists in America have lost the art of being able to really think about things, or at least be able to report on what they think about to a country who is fast losing its importance in the world... right on schedule if the Roman Empire is to be any measure.

The Problem with America is that it's kinda dumb.

Really. It is.

For those of you who have never been here, let me tell you that the average American doesn't hold a passport, doesn't speak more than one language -- American -- and that language is spoken very poorly. A big fat minority is unable to read and I have yet to meet an incoming Freshman in college able to put two sentences together, though I've heard that such beings exist.

That said, most Americans understand the principle of 'Legal Precedent' in that, once a law is established as valid, it's valid across the board. It's valid in every similar circumstance.

The majority of Americans may understand that from watching too much Law and Order on TV, but they get it.

So, the stupidest of the idiots in this world understand something that the Russian Government and, by extension, the Russian People that endorse Putin's third term as president and first as Prime Minister, are missing. This may prove to be a big mistake for all parties: The West for not understanding that Russia doesn't get it, Russia for thinking it understands perfectly, Russians for not letting their leaders know they disapprove of nuclear war, Americans for thinking that World War II. could never happen again just as they thought World War I. could never happen again.

I guarantee you that our government is not as smart as our Kennedy Government once was. I do NOT have confidence that Bush would be able to avoid Nuclear War within 33 minutes of pressing the button as Kennedy once did. Russians need to understand this: Our president is REALLY stupid.... and may think that America can survive a nuclear war. Moscow and St. Pete are as much 'Ground Zero' as 'Washington, DC' and 'NYC' and 'LA'.

Got your attention?

Let's talk.

Law and International Law

The legal system in America (and, by extension, the typical American's understanding of 'law' as it relates to International Law) is governed by 'precedent' under a legal theory called Stare Decisis: Let The Decision Stand.

This doctrine needs to be understood because it underscores the attitudes of Americans and the West with regard to Russia's actions on the small scale and, on the larger scale, the desire for consistency within the law as it is understood by the Americans that drive American Policy.

Once a legal principle is established, the idea is that the facts of a particular case and the principles underlying it apply to all such similar cases that shall follow. Only if a later case should prove that the facts of its own case are substantially different, and thus in need of a different remedy, shall the differences between two similar cases be recognized by a court.

If the law is that "Thou Shall Not Steal", it is for the court to decide in a particular case whether a person has stolen something. A person may steal a radio from a car, for instance. That person is judged a thief. In another set of circumstances, a person may steal medicine from a pharmacy to immediately save the life of a person and that thief may be judged as 'not a thief' by way of extenuating circumstances that do not apply as the law is written.

It's easy for a judge to claim extenuating circumstances were there is none and do so for personal, political or ideological reasons. It is part of the Western System of law to remove and exact stringent penalties on judges who do such things.... and our own system is imperfect in this regard. We call it corruption. We 'judge' the Judge. We remove the judge who is not fair and legal and may yell and scream at the judge who does not agree with us, but still uphold the judges' rulings that are fair in the legal sense. We, as Americans, will strongly fight to the death for a judge we disagree with if their judgement can still be seen as fair and legal. We depend on them. We defend them.

Russians need to understand the confusion caused in the very different arena of International law when countries do not follow this very basic, common sense feature of western law. It is not a prejudice of ours if we condemn the surface similarities of two events (e.g. Ossetia and Kosovo) but rather a very strict sense of fair play that would benefit the Russian people to adopt.

Russians need to also understand that the West sees Russia with a great deal of hope that it can become as much a part of the West as America, France, Germany and even Poland. I, myself, have a huge love for the Russian people as well as the Georgian people and note very clearly the comments by Russian soldiers in Georgia, today, who do not bear any ill will toward Georgians.... there is even the sense in Russia that Georgia is a wonderful place to visit and a brotherhood between Georgians and Russians that even America would never be able to displace, nor understand in its young history.

That said, Russia is being played by its leaders.

It's ok. America is often played by its own leaders and when we catch our leaders at it, there is usually a big ousting of our leader in favor of a new one... look at Bush's approval rating: 30%. We love America, but we're still willing (1) to back Bush in his stupid decisions and (2) to get rid of him very quickly.

We're not being played.

Russians are.

Russians are not stupid, we are.

Secession

There really isn't a lot of legal theory behind the right for a people to secede from a nation. It was finally settled in Canada that if Quebec could achieve a majority vote, it would have that chance. It never did achieve the majority it needed.

Kosovo was allowed to secede and was recognized by the International Community on a wide variety of issues. (1) Kosovo was historically not part of the Serbian community except by fiat. (2) The Serbians wanted the land, but not the people. However, Kosovans had an historical place in that land and it wasn't the Serbs that conquered them and made them into a part of Stalin's Yugoslavia.... it was Stalin. (3) The country was able to secede, but more importantly, become viable in the larger world community. It was self-sustaining. Separate from any other influence.

Lastly, (4) It wanted to become its own country and not part of another and it was KOSOVANS that decided this. People with Kosovan citizenship and passports.

In a legal sense, what two parties were able to decide this? Kosovo and Serbia. Period. No matter how much the West and the International community may decide to recognize something, it's ultimately the power of the seceding nation of people to secede and demand recognition from the parent country. Kosovo did not merely have the power of allies, but also a just and legal cause.

Does Ossetia have a moral and legal right to secede from Georgia? My Georgian friends are going to be upset that I will say yes. The fact is that Ossetians have never been treated as first-class citizens of Georgians and, as much as the 'land' is considered by Georgians to be Georgian, its people have never been welcomed.... and I defy a Georgian to come up with an example in which there was a period of Georgian history in which Ossetians have not been treated as non-Georgians: How many Ossetians have YOU invited to dinner?

That said, Ossetians have created quite a problem for themselves. The fact is that Ossetians, actually and legally Georgian Citizens, have the right to secede. Russian citizens do not have that right to secede from Georgia because, frankly, they are not Georgian in the first place. Further, Georgia, as does the United States, France, Germany and every other country in the world, have the legal and recognized right to expel non-patriots from its country.... this includes Russian Citizens.

If Russia decides to insist on Ossetians' right to secede then it opens itself up to the precedent it has set: If Ossetians have the right to secede (even as illegal Russian Citizens) from Georgia, then Chechneyans have that equal right to secede by Russia's own rule. So does any other 'protectorate' of Russia.

Russia must choose.

Rule of law, setting its own 'law'? Does strength mean law? if so, the US can DEFINITELY play that game. ;) Does a law for one person or country mean it is the law for all? Is Russia prepared to back up its 'theory on law' and what its own rules may bring? Frankly, Russia is either breaking law, or setting it. If it is setting the law, then Russia must live under the condition it has described and under the theory it has laid out.

Are you, a Russian, willing to live under this Russian mistake, or are you willing to push your leaders to back down?

Was Georgia wrong in its treatment of Ossetians? Yup. I agree with that. Let it play out and you'll find the West sympathetic to that cause. If the Georgians want Ossetia, it's going to have to grow up and start selling the idea to a free Ossetian people. Tanks will not impress the West.

Frankly, Georgia would have done better to let Ossetia flee to Russia for a generation.... let them, see what it's like being a Chechneyan. Ossetia would have come back and.... frankly, Georgia might have walked away with North Ossetia to boot.

That's a problem between Georgians and Ossetians. Russians and Americans need to be above that fray and I'm disappointed that Putin -- the real president of Russia -- has allowed personal feelings to supersede his KGB training.

Tags: georgia, international law, law, politics, russia
Current Mood: concerned
Current Music: The March of the Angielsku 2 - Sean Rice

I'm not getting any news, here in the US, so I'm still trying to find out what's going on. I'm posting this from Nino C. and hope that anybody with current info and different perspectives can chime in. Note: Everybody's getting the news their country/culture wants them to hear, so don't be surprised or upset if someone's version differs from your own. That said, I'm well aware that Russia has not exactly played fair, nor been honest about its actions in Georgia nor the history of the break-away Republics.

From Nino:

Russian Invasion of Georgia

Update
August 8
1:30 pm EST

Background
During the last 24 hours military forces of the Russian Federation in
coordination with the Russian-supported and supplied South Ossetian militia
launched combined air and ground attacks on Georgian territory. This act of
aggression is tantamount to an invasion and declaration of war against Georgia
and comes at a time when Georgia has been trying to integrate itself with
Euro-Atlantic institutions and strengthen its democracy and free market economy.
Ground attacks by Russian and South Ossetian military forces have taken place
in Tskhinvali while Russian air strikes on Georgian villages include Marneuli,
Gori, Oni, Bolnisi, and Vaziani.
The Georgian air base at Marneuli and Vaziani located just outside the capital
of Tblisi has sustained heavy damage from Russian strikes that have killed
Georgian military personnel as well as civilians and destroyed Georgian military
aircraft.
Russian military forces—mechanized tank and infantry units are moving from
the Russian federation into South Ossetia in blatant contravention of
international agreements.
Russia is refusing to meet with Georgian officials to prolong the attacks and
prevent diplomatic actions that can bring a halt to the Russian offensive.
Russian President Medvedev is seeking to justify Russian actions by creating the
illusion of threats to Russian citizens living in Georgia's conflict zones.
Georgia is committed to a non-violent solution to the Abkhaz and South Ossetian
conflict regions and its peace plan offered over a year ago provides for the
widest possible autonomy and the full rights of all Georgians under the
constitution. The safety and security of all people, regardless of ethnicity,
living in these areas is paramount.
NOTE: Russia is also launching cyber attacks to disable and take down Georgian
news and government web sites.

Casualties
At this point casualties are unclear. It is known that Georgian civilians and
military personnel have been killed.


What We Have Done
Following the initial attack by Russian-South Ossetian forces and an exchange
of fire, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili ordered Georgian forces to not
respond to the hostile fire in an attempt to contain the conflict. However, As
shelling intensified against Georgian villages and civilian deaths mounted, he
was forced to order defensive strikes to prevent additional civilian casualties
and deaths. Georgian military and police units are deployed in a defensive
posture only.
The president has opened a "Safe Corridor" for civilians in the conflict
zone between Georgia and South Ossetia to escape and flee to safety. Refugee
camps are being established and Georgia is in the process of seeking assistance
from the International Red Cross to provide immediate assistance.
Georgia is demanding an immediate cease fire and halt to Russian and South
Ossetian military attacks and a complete withdrawal of Russian forces from
sovereign Georgian territory.
Georgia is asking the EU and OSCE to immediately call for a halt to these
attacks, force a Russian withdrawal, and condemn a blatant use of military force
on a sovereign country. Georgia is calling on the UNSC to issue a similar
condemnation of the attacks.
As a precautionary measure, the president has announced the call up of all
Georgian Reserve units.

Previous Russian Military Action During the Past Year

The attacks now taking place follow an ongoing series of hostile Russian acts
of military aggression that since October 2006 have included Russian bombings of
Georgian villages in Kodori (October 2006 and March 2007), and a subsequent
bombing of a village in South Ossetia (August 2007). Just two months ago a
Russian fighter shot down an unarmed, Georgian observation drone flying a
reconnaissance mission over Abkhazia—sovereign Georgian territory and a direct
violation of the UN cease-fire agreement. Moreover, during this period Russian
forces have provoked Georgian police and other units monitoring the conflict
line between both South Ossetia and Abkhazia in an effort to increase tensions
and create armed conflict.
Russia is committed to an ongoing effort to destabilize Georgia economically
and politically in an attempt to subjugate Georgia and keep the country in
Russia's "Near Abroad" political sphere.
Russia's economic intimidation and coercion of Georgia includes an embargo of
Georgian products to cripple Georgia's economy and cutting off energy supplies
usually during winter months.
Russia has also carried out a policy of "Forcible Eviction" of Georgian
nationals and those having Russian citizenship.

Why and What Drives Russian Actions

The Georgian people are dedicated to establishing a democratic society based on
individual freedoms, human rights, freedom of speech and the rule of law. The
Georgian people are set on an unalterable course for joining western
institututions that include the European Union and NATO. These member states
share the values Georgians' cherish—and Russia views this as a threat.
By using military force and attacking Georgia, Russia is sending a message to
all the countries on its borders and to Europe as well: "Bend to our will or
you will also face our force."
This aggression must be stopped by the collective will of free states—or they
will be next.

Tags: georgia, invasion, ossetia, russia, war
Current Location: Washington, DC
Current Mood: angry
Current Music: Zbigniew Preisner: Blu: Unification of Europe

Dear Mr. Ashbrook:

I caught only the last parts of your 07/17/06 show about Russia and Democracy and listened with interest to your guests and the discussions as presented.

I wanted to add that I believe it is unhelpful for Americans to understand the point that Putin is trying to make about 'Democracy' in Russia having to be 'different' than what is found in the West. To Americans, this only sounds like Russia is trying to create an authoritarian regime with a slapped-on label of Democracy.

One way in which Americans can begin to understand the difficulties posed to Russians is to point out that sometimes Democracy is not the cure-all of a bad regime: The election of Hamas being a perfect example of populations sometimes 'wanting' to elect the bad guy; wanting to democratically make official the values of the people.

When a people have a culture of freedom and laws and rights to property, these principles are reflected in the institutions of Democracy. When, as in the case of Russia, these 'words' have become 'dirty words', then institutions of Democracy at best become the vehicle for new ideas, and at worst becomes subverted to the mechanisms of the cynical.

Americans and American media are very direct in their understanding of real problems. A free media run in an environment of freedom becomes a channel for the free flow of information and ideas. In a subverted environment, it becomes a powerful tool in the hands of only a few who answer to nobody but their accountants. In a culture of laws and protected freedoms, an election of a governor results in a leader representative of the will of the people. In a subverted culture, the election of a provincial governor is a farce that results in the 'mob bosses' we remember from our own Al Capone Chicago days.

Putin does not have the luxury of 200 years to 'get it right'. America did. We went through decades of Indian War human rights catastrophes, Mafia, a Civil War, a decades long struggle for Civil Rights laws.... We had time to try out two constitutions, add several Amendments after the Bill of Rights, get rid of a couple of them that didn't work out...

We've had a Wild West where Law was whatever could come from the point of a Sheriff's gun. Range Wars in the West and Water Wars in California.

All of this with the background of English Common Law and the philosophy of Thomas Paine, Ben Franklin, Jefferson and all of the other thinkers that have guided our way. We know what we want and, eventually, we find our way to vote for it.

To talk about Russia's rollback of Democratic institutions ignores the real process of Democracy. It ignores our own experience of it. It ignores that we had Slavery, had to earn Women's Suffrage, we wrote Dred Scott opinions and entertained Japanese in concentration centers, blacklisted Communists in Hollywood, burned books, banned films, put Scopes on trial for daring to teach Darwin... and we were eventually able to find our way on many of these issues. We are still trying to find our way on others.

In general, Russia under Putin is much more free than under the freewheeling days of Yeltsin. Not always in the way that makes sense to us, but the Russians also have to overcome their own idea of freedom, which can be encapsulated with this joke:

"You are free to eat bread."
"There is no bread."
"But, you are free to eat it."

Putin and Bush are both taking shortcuts to achieve their objectives. They are bypassing procedure and law and ideals to achieve what they think is a greater good. Always, the people will eventually insist on another way... but the people come to that decision a lot sooner when they are not being harassed by foreign media and governments and authors who think they have something to say.


Sincerely,


Sean Rice

Rasa Design Studio
20 Conz Street
Northampton, MA
01060
413-253-0490
seanrice@rasadesign.com
http://rasadesign.com

Tags: politics, russia