Cracking It Open...

No doubt politically aware Americans (and others, but we'll focus on what I know) have been silently watching Russia's military exercise into Georgia with some trepidation. Most Americans may be afraid that the recent drop in oil prices will become a faint dream, and again we'll be worrying about what to sacrifice to be able to pay to drive our cars. This is perfectly natural. That was even the first thought that popped into my mind. Here's why we should be afraid...

According to the article I posted yesterday, Georgia is one of the few former Soviet republics that has managed to consolidate it's democracy, while maintaining a decent (this is Eastern Europe we're talking about here) standard of living. Even with news reports this morning, analysts are wondering if this isn't a message to other fledglings democracies trying to break away from Mother Russia. Will the West be there when you really need them?

I hate to point it out, but there are some eerie historical parallels that, if you're paying attention, should make you scared. First of all Russia has been fomenting the ethnic unrest that has plagued South Ossentia (the region in dispute) for some time. Now ostensibly the fighting came a little too close to Russia for comfort and so, the larger country decided to go in and protect her borders. After that she just kept going taking half of the country. Can we say Czechoslovakia? I'm so glad the Mr. Putin has borrowed from Adolf Hitler's play book. At least now we can see the inklings of the monster he is. "Good Morning America" this morning played a distress call from a beleaguered Georgian president with American leanings. I can't help but wonder if there was a similar scene being played out more than 60 years ago as the Lincoln-loving President Benes was hoping to maintain his little democracy to the south of a mighty menace. The world did not worry then. Given the precedents that this appeasement policy set, the world is a little more vocal now. Actions however speak louder than words. And some actions, by this administration should be alarming.

While there has been recent turmoil in the US-Russo alliance as of late, they have not been over the fact the Mr. Putin has, in his term as President of all the Russias, curtailed civil liberties, shut down and silenced the voice of any liberal leanings in the press or strengthened Russia's Communist party; but rather over the fact that Russia and Iran are trading partners. Americans are also not worried about an opaque administration that has staged a pseudo-presidential election, reduced the power of the legislature and consolidated the authority of the Prime Minister. Like most European countries the Prime Minister is the mover and the shaker in Russia. Mr. Putin (after appointing his presidential successor) is now filling the post.

Post-9/11 in the U.S. we have seen an increasingly hawkish administration invade 2 countries under wobbly pretenses. And, however justified those invasions may have been on the heels of the worst terrorist attack this country has ever seen, they have become botched ideological wars, and what I see as a grab for overseas colonies.

Americans have also seen their civil liberties curtailed in the form of the Patriot Act. Like it or not, believe it or not, agree with it or not, you are being watched. Your cell phone calls are being monitored and recorded, and can be listened to on command. Your bank accounts are being watched (should you try to buy anthrax, or ammonium nitrate, or perhaps finance Hezbollah). And as a loyal American I do see the necessity to protect ourselves, and that these measures help us to do that.

As a loyal American, I must also be a little worried. Where does it end? What other corners of my life will the authorities want to see? What if I'm going on some other list for that purchase I made at the book store? Why has our president been less-than-forthcoming about his foreign policy or the fact that a reason was fabricated to go to war? Why are more Americans not concerned that we are not upset with Russia because of her neo-Communism but because they don't agree with us on Iran. It's like not being friends with Susie because she doesn't think that Rhoda is being a huge bitch...a little elementary don't you think? Incidentally we're pissed of at the Mexicans because they still talk to Cuba. And now, that we see signs of true 1930s totalitarianism, the only thing we can do is give a Chamberlain-esq "We will stand by our allies" response and hope that Putin, like Hitler, will be content to scare the little countries around him for a while...