Hotmail  |  Gmail  |  Yahoo  |  Justice Mail
powered by Google
WWW http://www.JusticeForNorthCaucasus.com

Add JFNC Google Bar Button to your Browser Google Bar Group  
 
 
Welcome To Justice For North Caucasus Group

Log in to your account at Justice For North Caucasus eMail system.

Request your eMail address

eMaill a Friend About This Site.

Google Translation

 

 

Moscow Times: Looking Into Sakaashvili's Caucasus Soul

posted by FerrasB on August, 2008 as Imperialism


 The Moscow Times » Issue 3970 » Opinion
Looking Into Saakashvili's Caucasus Soul
20 August 2008By Yulia Latynina

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's main aim in the war was to restore Georgia's territorial integrity. In this respect, he suffered a complete defeat.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's goal in the war was to strengthen his personal power and gratify his feelings of personal animosity for Saakashvili. In this respect, he emerged as the clear victor.

Saakashvili was more than just a president; he was a reformer. Under his rule, the police didn't take bribes, government assets were sold in fair and open tenders, corrupt bureaucrats were fired and taxes were lowered. Saakashvili pulled Georgia out of its swamp and paved the road for the country to become a part of Europe. He modernized his country much like Peter the Great. It was precisely Saakashvili's success and ambitiousness that lay at the root of Putin's strong dislike for him.

This amazing young nation had only one defect: uncontrollable revanchism. In the Georgian Interior Ministry, bureaucrats hang maps of Abkhazia in their offices. They speak of Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia, in the same way that Zionists spoke of Jerusalem: "It's ours and we must get it back."

In that sense, however, Georgia has clearly set itself apart from Europe. It would be hard to imagine German bureaucrats hanging up maps in their offices of Konigsburg, which was renamed Kaliningrad after it was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1945. Even Serbia was able to forget about Kosovo -- albeit grudgingly -- because they had a larger goal: to become a part of the European Union.

But the Caucasus is not Europe. It is dominated by a strong sense of tradition, where every ethnic group traces its historical homeland back to the 11th century.

There is no doubt that Saakashvili was provoked into taking military action against South Ossetia. Under the leadership of Eduard Kokoity, South Ossetia was heavily financed and supported by Russia with one goal: to fight Georgia.

In May, when Russia was about to initiate a military advance into the Kodor Gorge in Abkhazia, Saakashvili made every effort to avert an armed clash between the countries. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza traveled to the region countless times to try to find a peaceful solution. Moreover, U.S. President George W. Bush phoned President Dmitry Medvedev, and when a Russian Air Force jet shot down a Georgian drone over Abkhazia, the issue was discussed in the United Nations. Because of all these efforts, war was avoided. It was clear that Saakashvili had no desire to provoke a military conflict with Russia at that time over Abkhazia. Saakashvili could have done the same in South Ossetia. But this time he didn't call Bryza. Instead, he bombarded Tskhinvali with truck-mounted Grad missiles.

This was not, however, the reckless, stupid decision of a raving leader, as Russian political analysts repeatedly assert. There is no leader quite like Saakashvili in the Commonwealth of Independent States. He is quintessential Caucasus, an ancient and archaic region with a macho culture and traditional credo that "honor is more precious than life." Through the modern, newly minted exterior of Georgian statehood, these conservative national traits stick out like grass through the asphalt. The Caucasus permeates Saakashvili's soul.

Russia clearly provoked Saakashvili, and the Georgian president succumbed to this instigation. Instead of carefully weighing his response, he acted impulsively -- much like a Chechen insurgent who is driven into a corner with no other choice but to attack. But Saakashvili is not a besieged Chechen field commander. He is the president of a free country, and he must overcome the Caucasus mind-set that shapes the way he runs his country and the way he responds to Russia.

The end result is a tragedy of historical proportions for Georgia. It is as if Israel had lost the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

Yulia Latynina hosts a political talk show on Ekho Moskvy radio.

comments (0)


1 - 1 of 1

Post comment

Your name*

Email address*

Comments*

Verification code*







 RSS FEED


New Posts



Search Imperialism



Imperialism



Archive


 january 2015

 march 2014

 november 2013

 september 2013

 july 2013

 march 2013

 february 2013

 january 2013

 december 2012

 november 2012

 september 2012

 july 2012

 april 2012

 february 2012

 july 2011

 june 2011

 april 2011

 march 2011

 february 2011

 january 2011

 december 2010

 november 2010

 october 2010

 september 2010

 august 2010

 july 2010

 june 2010

 may 2010

 april 2010

 march 2010

 february 2010

 january 2010

 december 2009

 november 2009

 october 2009

 september 2009

 august 2009

 july 2009

 june 2009

 may 2009

 april 2009

 march 2009

 february 2009

 december 2008

 november 2008

 october 2008

 september 2008

 august 2008

 july 2008

 june 2008

 may 2008

 april 2008

 march 2008

 february 2008

 january 2008

 december 2007

 november 2007

 october 2007

 september 2007

 august 2007

 july 2007

 june 2007

 may 2007

 april 2007

 march 2007

 february 2007

 january 2007

 december 2006

 november 2006

 october 2006

 september 2006

 august 2006

 july 2006

 june 2006

 may 2006

 april 2006

 march 2006

 february 2006

 january 2006

 december 2005

 november 2005

 october 2005

 september 2005

 august 2005

 july 2005

 june 2005

 may 2005

 april 2005

 january 2005

 july 2000





Acknowledgement: All available information and documents in "Justice For North Caucasus Group" is provided for the "fair use". There should be no intention for ill-usage of any sort of any published item for commercial purposes and in any way or form. JFNC is a nonprofit group and has no intentions for the distribution of information for commercial or advantageous gain. At the same time consideration is ascertained that all different visions, beliefs, presentations and opinions will be presented to visitors and readers of all message boards of this site. Providing, furnishing, posting and publishing the information of all sources is considered a right to freedom of opinion, speech, expression, and information while at the same time does not necessarily reflect, represent, constitute, or comprise the stand or the opinion of this group. If you have any concerns contact us directly at: eagle@JusticeForNorthCaucasus.com


Page Last Updated: {Site best Viewed in MS-IE 1024x768 or Greater}Copyright © 2005-2009 by Justice For North Caucasus ®