Contretemps

Amazing how swiftly world events take shape that shake international complacency. Never a dull moment has never been as relevant in the world as it is today. One catastrophe after another, both natural and of human causation. The Chinese in their traditional and ancient wisdom know how to deliver a meaningful curse. We are, all of us, "living in interesting times", including China.

The world lived for so long in the shadow of fear, feeling that the potential of an outright war of a kind that would leave the world devoid of hope might erupt at any time. Reason prevailed, although two great world powers viewed one another with hateful antipathy, both in possession of nuclear weapons, each ready to commit to the ultimate destruction in suspicion that the other would attempt pre-emption.

Reason prevailed, in the end. Populations held in thrall by a totalitarian union thrust upon them by a conscienceless tyrant whose power, whose breadth and depth of depraved and self-empowering control over hundreds of millions of people knew no equal, found themselves free at last. An humiliating and self-involved power dissolved in the acid of its extreme inhumanity extruded for far too long.

The world celebrated in joyful disbelief as the United Soviet Socialist Republics dissolved, as countries held within the grasp of Soviet Russia freed themselves and their people from the alliance and the ideology that had held them in its iron grasp. The failed experiment in human social conditioning was over, and Russia began to take on the aspects of a normal country, bereft of its controlling aspirations.

Russia humbled and feeling itself the target of the derision of those it had once controlled, lamented its lost destiny. Yet it was prepared to begin again, to emulate those aspects of the successful democracies that found fulfillment in social freedom and the capitalist system of economics. A process which disappointingly did not accommodate itself seamlessly to the traditions of the country.

Its experience with a sad succession of inadequate and troubled administrators, allied with a tradition of corruption spelled failure. Until the ascendancy of a crafty and skilled secret-service-agent-cum-president who resolved that his country would no longer tolerate the neglect and disrespect meted out to it by its former satellites in lock-step with its former adversaries.

Here's Russia resurgent, refreshed with the salve of steady economic growth of a kind that gave it a new kind of clout over its tormentors. Now, with a newly enhanced armed forces equipped with the machinery of war, the country will no longer tolerate second place in any international scheming. Recognize an independent Kosovo? Place missile silos too close for comfort with former allies? Be prepared to pay the price.

Russia is now prepared to debate, briefly, Abkhazia's appeal for help, for Russian recognition of its sovereignty from Georgia. Right alongside South Ossetia's determination to declare likewise. As far as Russia is concerned, these two breakaways are now their new allies; separate countries complete with Russian citizens whom they have pledged to support and to keep safe from harm.

While the other side of the scale is balanced by the international community, determined to support Georgia's declaration of sovereign territorial integrity rent asunder by separatists to be legally null and void. Russia may have signed 14 UN resolutions confirming Georgia's oversight and ownership of those provinces, but that was then. It is no now longer prepared to honour that dispensable obligation.

Not too surprising, after all, since Russia has long encouraged separation, has supported the rebel separatists in every way. The situation is particularly worrying to countries like France and Germany who would far rather this unwholesome situation hadn't arisen, who chafe at unpleasant relations with Russia upon whose good graces they do rely in some small part. Former relationships still resonate, still rankle.
The dissolution of good relations are lamentable.

As for Russia's glowing and warm relationship with its former satellites, who chose to abandon her, and to ally themselves with NATO, they have reason now to worry. And for NATO, which was willing to accept a casual yet not-too-close relationship with Russia, all bets are off. Just as NATO has pronounced itself reluctant to resume that relationship in the wake of the Georgian invasion, Russia has returned the compliment, removing itself from future military co-operation with NATO.

This is all too dreadfully unfortunate. It is not a good thing by any stretch of the imagination, that resurgently assertive Russia is on the cusp of alienation and isolation from the rest of Europe and North America. It's nastily miserable that Russia has reverted to type, citing its declaration of support for breakaway groups, while brutally suppressing the desire for some, like Chechnya, to break free of Russia's influence.

Russia has balefully and brutally put Georgia in its place, destroying its military emplacements and much of its civil infrastructure. History coming back to haunt the world on the anniversary of its march into Prague, responding to a plea for help from the "true communists" within Czechoslovakia, resistant to a dilution of communism. Just as it responded to a plea for support from its "citizens" and allies within Georgia.

On that occasion, Russia invaded Czechoslovakia with a force of 200,000 Warsaw Pact troops, representing East German, Polish, Bulgarian and Hungarian friends and colleagues in the collective. This time around, the 10,000 troops that invaded and occupied Georgia were Russian, assisted by Chechens. The mighty have not fallen, merely stumbled.