August 17, 2008... Confronting Moscow Central.

Except for a privileged few, it is barely twenty-years ago that for Russians to travel beyond Russia's (the former USSR's) borders was almost impossible without Moscow Central's permission. As of the start of the 21st century, in 2008, Russians who choose to, can spend leisure and/or professional time in New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Paris, etc. But, as a result of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's policies--unchallenged by President Medvedev--towards Georgia as part of Putin's and others' desire to see a resurgence of a Stalinist-cum-Nazi style authoritarian regime, holding influence over near-abroad states by way of fear and annihilation, Russians who enjoy the freedoms they currently do in the west, are in grave danger of finding their options limited to behind the borders they prefer to travel beyond because of the unavoidable response to Russian aggression.

For instance, Russia, as in the Russian Federation under Vladimir Putin, has now taken notice of the utter feebleness of the western response to the Georgian invasion, and has concluded that, to take down the Ukraine will be a snap. And, as a response to Poland seeking to bolster its own fragile security by way of the Polish-US Missile Shield agreement in lieu of EU guarantees, has threatened to reequip the Baltic Fleet stationed in landlocked Kaliningrad with nuclear warheads. It has also been mooted that Cuba could, yet again, become a launch pad for nuclear missiles, like it had been in 1963. This may be very moot now that Cuba is enjoying its own renaissance due to the withdrawal of Fidel Castro from the political scene. But, like it's not over until the fat lady sings, it's not over until the Fat Controller dies.

Whilst political pundits may argue about the legitimacy of Russia's invasion of Georgia for geopolitical gain, it must be remembered that the Georgians VOTED in free and fair democratic elections for an administration which would align and integrate Georgia with the west, and NOT Russia. Democracy does, of course, have limited legitimacy. But, when democracy doesn't exist in places like Russia and Zimbabwe, its less than perfect virtues are a welcome relief to the alternative dictatorships in which, to protest, is to invite malign forces or death, down upon one's head.

Like their Georgian counterparts, the citizens of Russia must make a choice about the quality of life and happiness they wish to enjoy. Vladimir Putin and his cohort will certainly be enjoying their stashed away Billions, as Russia' sons and daughters get to die, to secure them. As history has shown many times before, no administration, no matter how despicable, can endure without the consent of the people. When the EU and US support the Georgians at this vulnerable time, they must also be getting the same message across to the citizens of Russia, so that they will be more confident about challenging the thugs of Moscow Central.

Russia had the option to join NATO, become an EU member, and participate in the Missile Shield project. But Vladimir Putin figured because such a path was not in His interests, it was not in Russia's interests. Likewise, it is absolutely not in the interests of Russia's citizens to support him and his cohort. The US and EU must get busy with persuading Russia's citizens.

P.S. A useful start to better persuasion, since the citizens of Russia are not idiots, would be to get away from the an inane line of rhetoric populated with such guff as: ethnic-cleansing, genocide, etc. Such hysterical hyperbole is a much overvalued currency, as Israel recently discovered with regard to Sderot, and which Israel now refrains from.