There is little doubt that a new Cold War would be devastating for people around the world, yet it seems that the United States is pushing the world closer to the brink of another Cold War.
South Ossetia is a semi-autonomous area of Georgia with about 70,000 people, located in central Asia. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, the state was designed to be part of the newly founded nation of Georgia. However, ethnic and political tensions between the South Ossetian and Georgian people resulted in a bid for independence, in which 95 percent of South Ossetian people voted for separation from the Georgian state. In response Georgia attempted to reassert control of the province, an act that resulted in the declaration of the province as a neutral peacekeeping zone.
This was the status quo until just a few weeks ago, when events that are still unclear led to the outbreak of war. Georgia, in an attempt to suppress the South Ossetian militia (which may or may not have fired on Georgian troops) invaded South Ossetia. In this invasion, numerous Russian peacekeepers, Russian civilians, reporters and Georgian citizens were purposefully targeted by the Georgian troops. Russia called for a Georgian withdrawal, but to no avail and, after a few days, responded with force. The Russian military swept into the area to defend the South Ossetian people from the Georgian invaders, sparking an international controversy that could determine the face of U.S.-Russian relations for decades.
A few days ago, presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain, R-Ariz., who, like most policy makers, came to age in the Soviet era, brazenly told the world that "today we are all Georgians", referring to the Russians as "Soviets" repeatedly and even insulting Vladimir Putin personally several times. Meanwhile, President Bush authorized the provision of military hardware and humanitarian aid to be delivered to the Georgian government and has also demanded that Russia not recognize any breakaway states in former Communist block nations. This is ironic, since the United States was the largest supporter of Kosovo's independence only a few months ago. Unfortunately, by using such hostile rhetoric and even providing aid to Russia's enemies, the United States is placing itself in a position where we have to face yet another enemy; one that could very well have been an ally, and one that we really cannot afford to fight.
As early as 2000, then-Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his hand to America in friendship. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Putin, recognizing links between terrorism in Chechnya and the Middle East, offered help to the U.S. in the form of extensive intelligence, diplomatic support and even the use of Russian troops. An ally like Russia, a recovering but powerful superpower, and a member of the U.N. Security Council, would have been invaluable and could have helped bring stability to Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet, in the minds of America's middle-aged leadership, Russia is and always will be the "Evil Soviet Empire," and so we turned down their offers of aid and instead attacked them on domestic issues of free speech, press and their handling of Chechan terrorism.
It's time to evaluate our priorities and decide who we really want on our side. If we are to take advantage of Russia as a tremendous and powerful ally in these uncertain times, we must stop treating them as we traditionally do; either as a naughty child that needs to be reprimanded, or as an evil empire bent on world domination. If there was a nation that bordered the United States in political turmoil, where numerous American citizens and peacekeeping troops were being killed, would it not be reasonable to expect American intervention? It's time we made the Russians a powerful ally, rather than start a new and totally unnecessary Cold War.
You can reach this columnist at edpage@theeagleonline.com.
