Stop with the Cold War Talk Posted by The Editors

This is a post from NSN intern Eric Auner

The Nation has an article cataloging the rapid shift in US perceptions of the Georgia-Russia war.  It describes the transformation from the “Russia (evil) invaded Georgia (good) for no reason whatsoever except that Georgia was free” understanding of the situation to an understanding that recognized at least some Georgian culpability. 

“Yes, it was only a month ago that we were stupid and crazy enough to think that the United States had no choice but to launch a costly new cold war against a nuclear power, even though we still haven't closed the deal on a couple of mini-wars against Division-III opponents, and we were on the verge of bankruptcy. Ah, to be blissfully naïve--and bloodthirsty at the same time--wasn't it wonderful?”

Among the early alarmists was William Kristol, who used the war as an opportunity to condemn Russia.  Long time Russophobe John McCain said during the second presidential debate that Russia was “maybe” evil.  Certainly it was reactions like this that prompted Henry Kissinger and George Schultz to publish an editorial, which asserted that such reactions disregard “how the world looks from Moscow” and insisted that “[i]t is neither feasible nor desirable to isolate a country spanning one-eighth of the earth's surface, adjoining Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and possessing a stockpile of nuclear weapons comparable to that of the United States.”  There have also been articles from the New York Times and Newsweek clarifying the real situation in Georgia, and four former Secretaries of State agreed that the simplistic “we are all Georgians” narrative is faulty at best.  Colin Powell put it quite well:

“Now, in the current situation the Russians acted brutally. I think they acted foolishly. But it was also absolutely predictable what the Russians would do. You could see them stacking up their troops. And I think it was foolhardy on the part of President Saakashvli and the Georgian government to kick over this can, to light a match in a room full of gasoline.”

None of this is to say that the US cannot or should not stand up against Russia when it is appropriate.  Admiral Mullen acknowledged two days ago, however, that “I think it’s important that we talk when there isn’t a crisis.” This was said after a meeting between Admiral Mullen and his Russia counterpart earlier this week.  Such a meeting shows a real recognition of the need to engage with Russia, which is telling considering how schizophrenic conservatives have been with regards to Russia in recent months.  This paragraph best sums up a realistic understanding of the situation:

“As tensions have escalated, Admiral Mullen and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates have spoken in calm, calibrated terms of the Kremlin’s military decision-making and foreign policy. They have challenged the Kremlin to behave better in global affairs but have noted that Russia’s armed forces do not pose a global risk.”

So let’s stop with the cold war talk.

Comments

[Peace]

The pro-Georgia bais is due to the fact that the media and the political class in Washington took Russophobic attitudes of the Eastern Europeans and the neo-conservatives as fact, without studying the Russian point of view. I think that the media and the politicians need to study at least some Russian history so that they do not find themselves in the same predictament that they are now in.

[Peace]

The pro-Georgia bais is because after the Cold War, the media and politicians took the Russophobic view of history as fact without studying the Russian point of view.

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