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Last Updated: Aug 26, 2008 - 1:19:36 PM |
The Russian media is full of brutal abuse, aimed at opponents
of the invasion. State-sponsored propaganda has implied that the West
is not only supporting Georgia against Russia, but has sent mercenaries
to the fight. It was reported that on August 10 in South Ossetia a
"black U.S. citizen" was captured together with a group of Georgian
special forces planning subversion. It was reported that a captured
pilot of a Georgian Su-25 attack plane shot down over South Ossetia
"could not speak Russian or Georgian" (Nezavisimoye Voyennoye
Obozreniye, August 15). These reports have not been substantiated.
In a display of Cold War rhetoric, the Kremlin-controlled daily
Izvestia has called the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a "war
hawk" and "a single old skinny lady that likes to display her underwear
during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov." The daily
called Rice "insane" and described her statements criticizing Russian
actions as "colloquial diarrhea" (Izvestia, August 20). Lavrov has in
turn publicly used heavy language, accusing NATO of bias and of trying
to save the "criminal regime" in Tbilisi as a suspension of military
cooperation was announced by both Moscow and the Alliance (www.mid.ru,
August 19).
Comments by leading Russian political and business leaders explain to
the public that the West needs our oil and gas, that Russia may ignore
a suspension of WTO entry or the exclusion from the G8 club of leading
industrial democracies. However, presidential foreign policy aid Sergei
Prikhodko has praised "the constructive dialogue" with the French
President Nicolas Sarkozy on finding a solution to the crisis over
South Ossetia (Izvestia, August 20; Newsru.com, August 24).
The explicit difference in the Kremlin's approach to critics lead by
the U.S. and our traditional friends - France, Germany and Italy - may
be an attempt to split the West and weaken any possible future
punishment for invading Georgia. At the same time presidential adviser
Gleb Pavlovsky has said in a radio interview that there is a "party of
war" inside the Kremlin - a group of high officials that are pressing
for a direct attack on Tbilisi to overthrow the Georgian government.
Pavlovsky states the alleged "party of war" wants to use the conflict
with Georgia to undermine President Dmitry Medvedev's plans of
modernize Russia, that "they say we must go further than Tbilisi,"
apparently indicating possible plans of further military action to
subdue other pro-Western Russian neighboring nations like Ukraine.
Pavlovsky stated that by signing a ceasefire agreement brokered by
Sarkozy, Medvedev has defeated the "party of war" (Ekho Moskvy, August
12).
There may indeed be intense arguments within the ruling top bureaucracy
in Moscow on what to do next: To march our tanks on to Tbilisi, or use
more subtle means. On August 22, the Kremlin announced "all Russian
troops withdrawn from Georgia" (Interfax, August 22). Some Russian
troops have apparently indeed been moved back to Russian territory, but
the bulk has remained in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, while others are
manning outposts and roadblocks deep inside Georgian territory within a
self-proclaimed "security buffer zone." The Russian Defense Ministry
has in fact proclaimed its right to deploy Russian troops in any part
of Georgia "if the situation requires action" (RIA-Novosti, August 23).
It’s clear that Moscow and the West interpret Sarkozy's ceasefire deal
differently. The parties of presumed "doves" and "hawks" may differ on
means, but their end goal seems to be the same: the destruction of
pro-Western Georgia and inclusion of what's left within Moscow's sphere
of influence. As Russian troops continue the occupation, the Kremlin
has announced it will not discuss the possible replacement of Russian
troops by international observers or peacekeepers (Interfax, August 23).
On Monday, the Russian parliament is expected to call for the
recognition of the sovereignty of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the
creation of a special tribunal to punish Georgian officials, including
President Mikhail Saakashvili, whom Moscow has already declared to be a
war criminal (RIA-Novosti, August 25). Recognition of Abkhaz and
Ossetian sovereignty could help legalize Russian permanent military
presence in Georgia.
A Moscow defense weekly connected to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's
former KGB associates and published by the state corporation
Rostekhnologiy has admitted that the invasion of Georgia was prepared
well in advance. The troops that crossed the Georgian border on August
8 were concentrated in attack positions in full readiness for immediate
action under the cover of military exercises Kavkaz-2008 that ended on
August 2. Massive troop reinforcements were also ready to follow up the
initial attack (VPK, August 20).
Russia invaded Georgia with no intention to retreat and our leaders
seem to be ready to pay the price. Last week Russian foreign currency
reserves have decreased by $16.4 billion as some $20 billion foreign
investment has fled because of the war. Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin
expressed optimism at a Cabinet meeting that the worst is over, but
Putin replied by ordering, "To be prepared for further negative
developments" (Kommersant, August 22). Surely Putin knows better.
Source:Ocnus.net 2008
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