The Bear's Bullish Behavior

An old aggressor has reverted back to its old ways. Russia, in its entry into Georgia, has not only raised questions about its motives, but its future plans. The cold war may have ended but with each new action taken by Russia it becomes harder to dismiss their actions as anything but an attempt to reassert control. The news cycle has focused on the conflict since it started and many eyes have turned to a relatively unknown territory who plays the role of David to Russia's Goliath. The story has developed to sides as observers note the military aspect of Russia entering its former satellite but also how the world community has responded to such actions.

The first part of the story is fairly simple to evaluate. You have a country with leaders that long for a previous time when its borders reached farther latitudes and longitudes and power was not challenged. This pre-fall of the wall mentality is what has become a critical issue in a world besieged by evil and evildoers people. The increased threat comes as dangerous people with competing agendas to the rest of the world link-up and work against the world's interest. The question comes to who controls Russia? President Medvedev is the designated leader but his Prime Minister is Vladimir Putin who recently held the job. Medvedev may seem to control things but one would wonder if he is used to directed as if manipulated by a puppeteer. One can not fully know what lies beneath in regards to Putin, the Communist Party member and KGB agent. Perhaps what is longed for is a renewed action by Russia to assert dominance of the region in a return to the time of the Czar.

Looking at this story there is also the issue of how the world has responded. The United States appears to have taken the lead to come to the defense of Georgia. A condemnation of the act committed by Russia was sadly lacking from much of the world. This movement to be tentative has real consequences. Russia historically has been slow to change its actions apart from a strong rebuff by the rest of the world. The world should know better then to appease for it can lead to a side strengthened with a new resolve to proceed further without fear of punishment. Perhaps an unintended consequence of Russia's invasion was to galvanize many of Georgia's neighbors and former Soviet states in rebuking Russia's actions.

It has not been a long time since that wall came down and with it a renewed warmth. What has taken place since could caution some that foresaw a new day for Russia. But it is the Cold war remnants of leadership with that mindset that appear to wish for old days and times. The result of which could be a potential for such disorder to harken to days of real and present fear for the world. These are the times when the world needs one voice to call out against aggressors and actions that threaten true stability. I fear this may not be possible from world organizations that are routinely found to be idle when their action is needed most. I do not believe we are of imminent threat to be caught in another Cold War but the atmosphere has cooled. Russia's present action in Georgia and its possible future actions should send a chill up all of our spines.