Not Russia's Fault!!

Like the unruly child who whines that whatever insubordination he is being chided for is unfair and not his fault, there is Vladimir Putin wagging his denunciatory finger at the United States, claiming that the invasion of Georgia, its occupation and the military brutality that followed is America's fault, not Russia's. Not to discount his allegations completely, for there is truth to some of what he says, as far as the aggravating quotient is concerned.

But the decision to react in the way that Russia did, is Vladimir Putin's fault; no other source can be faulted. Mr. Putin's violent reaction to a neighbouring state's assertion of its territorial imperative as a sovereign nation, cannot be handily explained away by accusing another country of provocation. Not that provocation was not there, and plenty of it, but that's politics, and Mr. Putin knows how to play that game, too.

Yes, the West practised a double standard; occasionally welcoming Russia as an ally in its social, military, economic clubs, and at the very same time, poking it in the eye as it offered far greater comforts to countries that were once staunch allies of Russia during the period of the Cold War. Europe reveled in a new relationship with a de-barbed Russia, expecting the country to tread softly, cap in hand.

This conflicted relationship, exacerbated by an unwillingness to help Russia when its economy collapsed, post Soviet dissolution, and it presented as a beached whale, along with the U.S.'s unforgivable (in Russia's opinion) courting of its former satellite states, isolating Russia and leaving it bereft of geographic support, did indeed set the stage for the current rupture in international relations.

Oil-wealth has allowed Russia to regain some of its former strength and power in the region, and with it has come a resurgence in Russian pride in itself and braggadocio. Along with a propensity to exert its reputation as a bully. Why not? The United States, the world's uber-power, has never been reluctant to display itself as the super bully on the world stage...?

Russia's invasion of Georgia demonstrated that Vladimir Putin felt he could, if they did. His ally, Serbia, was humbled and forced to accept an internationally illegal truncation of its territory with Kosovo's recognized separation. Assembling interceptor anti-missile batteries on its near territory exemplified just another slap in the face for Russia, another assault on its regional dignity.

How to retrieve its reputation? Threaten Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, and by extension the European Union. Demonstrate, indisputably, that it holds the power and the right and the determination to come to the defence of a former ally which has shunned its friendship and chosen to side with the West. And just incidentally, suppress secessionist forces within its territory.

The opportunity was there, to make a point, and Vladimir Putin embraced it. Now he and his country are in an untenable position, but no less so, in a very real sense, than is Europe and the G-8 countries, which oppose Russia's reversion to its former brutal tactics. Does the European Union, NATO, the G-8 really desire the current situation to deteriorate beyond redemption? Hardly.

Sometimes - perhaps all too often - actions taken in the white-hot fire of anger result in situations beyond anyone's control; no one wants to back down lest they see themselves and be seen by the rest of the world, as intemperate losers. Which is exactly where Russia finds itself now.

Presenting itself as the conquering hero which stood up against the demands of Europe and the United States at the Shanghai Co-operation Organization. Where traditional and newly-engaged friends and neighbours would congratulate Mr. Putin and admiringly uphold Russia's right to conquest. Except that didn't quite happen. There was a surface demonstrate of solidarity, but skin-thin.

While the Shanghai Co-operation Organization, post-meeting, claimed it "supports Russia's active role in contributing to peace and co-operation in the region", it also indicated a peaceful solution to the crisis in Georgia was required. China unequivocally expressed its concern with respect to Moscow's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as sovereign nations.

A very uncomfortable precedent that, one that China, and not she alone, is unprepared to deal with, given China's own troublespots in Tibet and Xinjiang, not to mention Taiwan's independence ambitions.