Do as I say, not as I do
Should anyone be surprised that Russia would be unmoved by the words and threats from America relative to its unilateral attack and occupation of Georgia? I don’t support what the Russians have done, but I also don’t expect words from the U.S. to make a bit of difference in this situation.
Russia, in her own view, “liberated” Georgia from the yoke of oppression. And indeed, in South Ossetia at least, there seems to be some people who wanted to be liberated amidst a country at large that was occupied with their infrastructure shattered.
Furthermore, Georgia represented a clear and present danger to Russian security, and unlike other unilateral actions in the past by nations that shall remain nameless, at least this threat was right on their border.
Another striking parallel is the oil angle, Georgia has two strategic pipelines that transport the black gold and it’s a great thing to be able to “liberate” strategic assets for the benefit of the homeland, is it not?
Finally, France wouldn’t join Russia in its action either. Guess french fries in Russia will have to be свобода картофель (freedom potatoes.)
Do you think these are some unintended consequences from our actions? You bet…
“Do you think these are some unintended consequences from our actions?”
Our (including Clinton’s) anti-Serbian actions in the Balkans, yes; Iraq, no.
Pedantry: The Russian for freedom potatoes* would probably come out either “svaBOHDniye karTOHFyeli” (freedomful potatoes) or “karTOHFyeli svaBOHDyey” (potatoes of freedom) or some such, with “svoboda” (freedom) declined adjectivally.
*I think they use a slavicized “pommes frites” to describe what you get at McDonald’s, and likely consider it a tragic waste of unborn vodka.
So these are intended consequences from Iraq then?
The “tragic waste of unborn vodka” is priceless!