Letter To The Editor: More On Russia And Georgia

I got these bon mots in the letters to the editor section of the Montreal Gazette. It was in reference to Russia's defiance of American pressure to withdraw from Georgia:

"Finally there is someone who seems to be putting an end to the expansion of the American empire."

Of course, I wonder if this person wonders how dangerous this situation can really be.

Funny how some are prepared to accept the bullying of big powers over small nations so long as it serves the purpose of challenging America. It doesn't matter Russia is an oligarchic dictatorship. They serve the purpose of thwarting the United States; though I have no clue what he means by "expansion."

Russia has found it hard to find its place in the post-Communist world. Its former republics seem to prefer the American way and this poses a geopolitical problem for Russia for a few reasons. One, many are being courted to join NATO - interpreted (not entirely wrongly either) as Americans antagonizing Russia. The U.S. seems to be ok with Georgia acting this way. Two, they can lose their own oil monopoly in the region. Three, on the psychological front, many of these states served as protective barriers from the rest of Europe. Four, it makes it hard for Russia to prove they exist as a power.

The last point is important since it also means Russia is having a hard time accepting the independence of many of its former satellites it forcefully and violently subdued not so long ago.