Pushing Russia’s Buttons

Well said by Mr Hirsh

And by the way, his point of view was voiced by Mr P Buchanan and many other conservatives when the US started to push for NATO membership 10 years ago? Having an ABM system in their backyard was a short sighted idea. I always wondered from the day Bush started to talk about the ABM, at which point would the Russians attack? I mean, we would not like to have an ABM system in Venezuela would we?

The only thing that surprises me is that the Russians didnt go fully into georgia and took over to prevent NATO or ABM.s or American advisers.

What is most important is the human tragedy that is happening in these very moments as a result of brutal military intervention. Actually there are presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine and Estonia in the capital of Georgia Tbilisi protesting against Russian invasion on the independent, democratic country. It is serious blow into the current peace and stability in the whole region. Russia is taking control over the area also because of its significant importance as oil transit route to CEE region and Western Europe. Energy supplier hegemony is being created in the 21st century by brutal force and greed of a Russian government. CEE region governments have already been threatened by the Russian ambassadors against taking any action and promised to pay consequences for their harsh rhetoric.

Mr. Hirsh,
If you were walking down a street and you saw an 18-year-old beating up on a 10-year-old would you try to do something about it? I bet you would. Especially if you'd been encouraging the ten-year-old to stand up for himself for the last few years, and advised him to stop giving the bully all his milk money. Don't pardon the bully. It's not good for your soul, sir.

The Neocons are losing the old stuff. They haven't blamed it on Jimmy Carter yet.

Yes, indeed, Emperor George and His Ministers have acted with hubris at practically every turn, not only in purposefully trying to alienate Russia, but in impoverishing millions of the citizens of the nation they rule over, murdering countless persons in their "War of Liberation" in Iraq after lying to US citizens about just why they were forcing this war upon them and the hapless Iraqis. Where are the impeachments? Where are the indictments? I am aghast that this gang of thugs in Washington, D.C. dare to take the "moral high ground" tone of voice with anyone, anywhere.

I can't beleieve US keeps such good relationship with China but tries to elbow down Russia. Georgia was used as a pawn and they got hit for that. Now I think we should just back down a nd mind our own interest, rather than feed an arms race.

You haven't said the half of it. By destabilizing the Middle East and pushing up the price of oil, W. has also financed Russia's recovery and rearmament. And Americans seem profoundly unaware that Vladimir is a very, very smart guy. They seem to think that it irrelevant in a leader. At least those who voted for W. do.

Stupid, stupid are we willing to break out the Nukes children? The Gop is so stupid with all there tough talk! All they do is talk trash and do nothing. Our country is so broke and our Military is so beaten up from that War in Iraq. And these guys are talking more trash, and making more threats Russia knows we are not going to do anything.

Oh I know lets take out another loan from China and lets fight Russia. Just think back during Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 just think if McCain was president. You would all be dead and all of your children would be dead. Thank God Obama has a cooler head than hot headed Mcwar; that thru his first wife under the bus!

Just think back during Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 just think if McCain was president we would all be dead your children and my children.

I am less than convinced. The solution of the Obamaites was to pass ''a stern resolution in the UN''[Richardson],forgetting that Russia has the power to veto this resolution if they cannot[and will not be able to anyway],base it within a Chapter VII framework. McCain is right. Of Putin he remarked,''When I look in his eyes,I see three letters. ''K'',''G'' and ''B''. Obama would talk the deal to death,or go scrambling to the already ineffective UN.
But if Putin visualizes a return to Russian might,there will come the time when his policies do act counteractive directly to our own.[Red boomers off Alaska or California,bomber installations in Cuba, further goading in Iran, fishing rights, or other territorial squabbles , all quite possible realties].
Then we should also consider where Hirshs realpolitik lay when he blames the West in the area of Russia,but jumps on an Obama bandwagon in sending troops to China-sponsored Sudan, or keeping the lid on a fractious Kosovo/Serbia. Hirsh is too obtuse to acknowlage that playing ''honest broker''in a post-Bush America means absolutely nothing to dictatorial regimes. He is a dreamer in this important respect. If we must endure another cold war with Russia,I would more like to have a McCain at the helm,who knows his man,[two speeches in 1999 and 2000 specifically addressing Georgia attest to this and also has a solid history of deeply distrusting Putin],rather than an Obama,who is also a dreamer in the Carteresque tradition.

US educated, suave, champion of democracy outsmarted by Moscow scholars. Top knowledge is at Lomonosov not US univeristies. One free lesson form Lomonosov: keep out from the Russian backyard. Cheers.

Hirsch & Newsweek are being normal Liberal Democrats; Blame America first.

I can"t help but wonder what the DNC pays these representatives for their PR services?

Putin is probably shaking in his boots because McCain is threatening him. With what, I don't know. Maybe McCain will run some nasty attack ads comparing Putin to Paris Hilton or administer some equally horrible punishment.

Not only has Hirsch totally gone over the edge by suggesting that democratization of other nations should be avoided at all costs (sorry that's the gist of his article) because it might bruise the ego of some megalomaniac (how Chamberlanian of him...), he also is totally ignorant of the 80-years of so of history between Georgia, Russia and the two semi-autonomous regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Let alone recent events which led to this current outbreak of violence.

If you were to blame anybody, it would probably be the attack by the nationalist Georgia unit on the Russian peace keepers, which sparked a predictable response from Moscow. And there isn't any question that Georgia has acted very harshly and in a very nationalistic (Balkan-like) manner towards these formerly independent nations, who are simply trying to restore their own rightful autonomy over their own homelands.

Mr. Hirsch,

Go to your room.