Russia, Georgia, Why?

Georgia used to be under Russia's thumb with the old Soviet Union. It is a matter of pride that the Georgians are not just independent, but making a go of being a member of the international scene and competing with Russia on a couple fronts.

A pipeline for natural gas  from Azerbaijan to Europe through Georgia. Russia wants it to go through Russia. Russia invades Georgia to show, regardless of where the pipeline goes, Russia will have influence over it. Remember, you can't put natural gas in a tanker and ship it where you need it. You pretty much have to use a pipeline. Russia wants to control the heating fuel supply to Europe so Russia cannot be as easily intimidated by Europe. Something about 'short hairs'.

Georgia asked a while back to become a member of NATO. NATO said no for the time being. Russia does not want a NATO country on her border. If Georgia had indeed become a member of NATO, the US and other countries in NATO would be obligated to respond militarily to an invasion. This would kill the Russian influence mentioned above.

Those two provinces in Georgia that are 90% Russian citizens have Georgian troops running around doing bad things. The Russians have 'peace keepers' protecting the Russian citizens. Some of those peace keepers got killed in the process. This is when the tanks started rolling.

Georgia sent troops to Iraq. This makes them a friend of the U. S. in a way. I heard the U. S. flew the Georgian troops home. The act of loaning troops to the U. S. lead effort pissed Russia off because Russia has influence in the region and doesn't want the U. S. or Georgia for that matter tipping balances.

The Russians have insisted that they do not want to use the term 'regime change' calling it an American term, but that is pretty much what they are after. The current democratically elected leader of Georgia is a prick as far as the Russians are concerned and needs to go.

The message Russia wants to send with this invasion is "If you piss us off and we do something to you, the West will not come to your aid." So far Russia has been proven 100% correct. The West, including the U. S., is sitting on it's hands for the moment and watching the Olympics.

Who is next for Russia? I have no idea where things will go from here. If Romania and Ukraine fall, the old Soviet Union is pretty much reborn.

Russia has never, and I mean never given a rat's tits what the rest of the world thinks. Russia is out for Russia and hell with those who get in the way. I respect that.  Putin and Medvedev are currently considered heroic for kicking the crap out of some pipsqueak country with a prick leader who is hurting Russian citizens and Russian peace keepers. The Russians may elect mob bosses, but the people have the leader's back when it comes to matters of national pride. I respect that too.

Georgia is a puny country with a couple of natural resources. One of their biggest resources is their positioning on the map. They cover the entire area between a sea and Russia. If someone needs to get a pipe from the middle east to Europe, they need to talk to Russia, or Georgia. Remember, that pipeline can be turned off on a whim.

Georgia is getting its ass kicked by Russia. I respect that Georgia is taking on Russia. I'm not so happy with how the West is encouraging Georgia to be a thorn in Russia's side and then not backing Georgia directly. Oh, I know there are advisers and some supplies turning up in the right places. I'm talking a line drawn in the Slavic Soil.

I've already heard some podcasts where collage professors blame the Bush administration for setting up Georgia for a fall. That didn't take long. I must say, it has been great having one man to blame for everything wrong in the world for the last eight years.

News casters on the scene are calling the Russian presence an "occupation". Things are looking permanent. The Georgians held a concert. Good PR move. Nothing like a celebrity to bring people to your cause. Good thing celebrities are for sale on every street corner in the West.