This British newspaper gives a full, detailed account of what Russia is doing to Georgia, including some agonizing photos: Georgia ‘overrun’ by Russian troops as full-scale ground invasion begin.
With reference to one of the comments on the related post yesterday, the only ones hungering for war are the Russians. The question should be, how to prevent war. Is there a way besides meaningful deterrence? Now that Europe has adopted pacificism, as far as I can see, and the USA is tied down in Iraq, I don’t see anyone checking Russia.
There ARE some non-military options in dealing with Russia: the West could recall its ambassadors; freeze Russian assets and bank accounts (which are considerable); stop trade, including buying Russian oil (which would send our prices soaring).
But we are now in very dangerous territory with old-fashioned war possibly on the horizon.
Consider this: The Baltic states are members of NATO. By the terms of that treaty, an attack against one member is an attack against all, and all other members are obliged to go to war to defend each signatory. If Russia, emboldened by its action against Georgia and the West’s inaction, now decides to invade Estonia, a NATO member, do you really think the rest of NATO would come to its defense and go to war with Russia? Would the USA? But to abandon treaty obligations would be illegal and immoral. NATO was designed precisely to contain Russia, and soon it–and we–may be faced with fulfilling its purpose.
Yes, I know we all isolationists now, fearing foreign entanglements as the father of our country advised, but are we not obliged to fulfill our NATO commitments? What do you think we should do if Russia invades Estonia?
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