Pushing Russia’s Buttons

It may appear America is sitting on it's hands due to our worldwide effort for peace and justice , The Russians would do well to remember that we armed the AFGAN Muja whatevers to help them defeat their Army and we could do the same in Chechyna another of their wannabe provinces much like the Georgian regions of Ossetia and Abkhazia. They need to be reminded .... Fair is Fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The placement of missiles was unnecessary as was if you are correct the constant lobbying for all these former satellites to be part of NATO. Nevertheless you can understand their fear of the Russian bear in wanting it as well. But his crisis has its roots in Georgia. The Georgians needed to let these two areas go independent like Kosovo, What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Certainly the Russians smarted at the loss of empire, as did the French, Spanish, and British. This was and is inevitable. The more profound question is why does anybody need empire? Why has man not progressed so he doesn't constantly need to subjugate and rule others. Seems to be part of the species' genetic makeup which has yet to be modified. But the way out of this mess is to let them go independent and for the US to quit interjecting itself in everybody's affairs. Troops in 130 countries? Why? We need to evaluate our defense needs with a contingency for unforeseens and pare down the US military budget, bring all these people home. Fat change that will happen because politicians of both parties and the military and the industries that feed off them like being the big dog, like spending money like water, and like lapping at the public trough. Enough already. Obama won't change it. Neither will McCain. Trapped and helpless are the American people.

These statements ignore the reality of the human desire for individual and personal freedom. Our Forefathers called it "...the inalienable right..."

It continued with our efforts to encourage the former Soviet satellites and republics to come and join the West's party, both as members of NATO and, prospectively, the European Union.

With each push into the old Soviet bloc, we aggravated anew the raw nerve of Russian paranoia about Western intentions.

It is difficult to exaggerate the sense of dismemberment and existential dread that Russian elites felt especially at the loss of the Ukraine, the breadbasket nation that has always been central to their concept of a "Greater Russia." Georgia

Once you've driven a bear into a cave, it may be wise to stop poking him with a stick. We seemed to delight in it.

that Georgia, Ukraine and other former Soviet satellites and republics were all simply choosing democracy and NATO on their own???doesn't really wash.

Remember the Berlin Wall, Hungary in 1956, Cuba in 1962, Chechoslovakia in 1968, Poland, Afghanistan in 1979, Chechnya. The Russians are, and always have been about power and control. Now, Mr. Hirsch, you are asking your readers to believe that this whole affair is the fault of the United States? You demonstate Hubris with a capital H.

You wrote: "the seeds of Russia's aggression lie in the sense of humiliation that Moscow's proud power elites have felt at the hands of the West going back to the Clinton administration's unceasing efforts to bring what used to be the Soviet bloc???and post-Soviet Russia itself???into the West's sphere of influence." This sounds like you believe the pride of the "proud power elites" is worthy or important. Just why do you think that every non-Russian citizen of every former USSR "state" lives in fear of the Russian boot? The people of the United States of America are not personally or collectively responsible for Russian paranoia that is documented in thousands of writings for more than a century.

NEWSWEEK HAS IT RIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME. WORLD WILL REMEMBER KOSOVO FOREVER. BEGINING OF AN END HAS STARTED. BUILDING DEMOCRACY WESTERN STYLE WAS DOOMED TO FAILURE. OUR LEADERSHIP HAS LED US DOWN THE WRONG PATH AND PERHAPS THERE IS NO WAY BACK. OUR ECONOMY IS BROKE DUE TO AMBITIOUS EMPIRE BUILDERS WHO HAD AN INTELLIGENCE OF A BOX OF ROCKS. IT TIME TO MOVE OVER AND LET SOMEONE ELSE TAKE A STAB AT IT.

THE WORLD WILL REMEMBER KOSOVO. BEGINING OF AN END HAS STARTED.

Mr. Hirsch,

Your "analysis" is nothing more than the usual accusation: The United States (you really mean the current President of the US) is responsible for the whole mess. Your analysis ignores the realities and complexities of the situation. It is hopeless to expect more from people like you who have not studied the history of Russian paranoia and brutalism. Have you noticed that they always pick on someone who is smaller and weaker?
Marty N.

The United States and its leader George W. Bush has no credibility!..The invasion of Iraq is the example our leadership has left the rulers and leaders of other countries. Putin follwed Bush lead now we/he have no crecibility.

The United States-President George W. Bush you are correct has no credibilty when it comes to this situation.. The Invasion of Iraq is a statement all to itself and Putin and Russia are following The Presidents lead....Sad day for the world sad day for the United States and Russia.

There are quite a few frantic people around here. If they were the leaders of big powers, the human being on the earth would not exist within a minute.

There are quite a few frantic people around here. If they were the leaders of big powers, the human being on the earth would not exist within a minute.

Nothing is free in this world, not even peace. This article is dead on, how far east does NATO intend to expand, how many countries does the EU need, and more importantly why ? The russians are no saints, but if placed in their position, the Americans would have started a war a long time ago. They certainly have lost all moral high ground when it comes to criticizing the use of force and the violation of international treaties and boundaries.
If the US and Israel are above international laws and the EU can make its own rules as in Kosovo, why not the Russians. How many nuclear weapons does it take to be taken seriously ?

Somehow no one ever notices how many innocent children and men and women die and get displaced from their homes by all such wars whether its started by Georgia or Russia or USA and whether it takes place in South Ossetia or Afganistna or Iraq, Sudan, Somalia.... USA government in particular sounds very hypoctitic and seems like a champion in not bothering about killing and getting killed so many innocent children in the name of providing democratic governments to so many people). It only counts as abuse when such things take place..no one is spared - children, civilians and soldiers and the power hungry hypocritic politicians of the world seem to rejoice in all this ! And by the way, no body seems to care about that the land actually belongs to south ossetians.....everyone just wants to take over them in name of democracy and what so ever. Particularly if USA is so much for democracy how can they overlook communism in Uzbekistan where civilian abuse is not uncommon and has everyone forgotten the US supported dictator Pinochet in Chile ????
Imagine little children becoming orphans, missing homes, losing school education..just because of just wars ! This is utter failure of humanity.

Somehow no one ever notices how many innocent children and men and women die and get displaced from their homes by all such wars whether its started by Georgia or Russia or USA and whether it takes place in South Ossetia or Afganistna or Iraq, Sudan, Somalia.... USA government in particular sounds very hypoctitic and seems like a champion in not bothering about killing and getting killed so many innocent children in the name of providing democratic governments to so many people). It only counts as abuse when such things take place..no one is spared - children, civilians and soldiers and the power hungry hypocritic politicians of the world seem to rejoice in all this ! And by the way, no body seems to care about that the land actually belongs to south ossetians.....everyone just wants to take over them in name of democracy and what so ever. Particularly if USA is so much for democracy how can they overlook communism in Uzbekistan where civilian abuse is not uncommon and has everyone forgotten the US supported dictator Pinochet in Chile ????
Imagine little children becoming orphans, missing homes, losing school education..just because of just wars ! This is utter failure of humanity.

Somehow no one ever notices how many innocent children and men and women die from all such wars whether its started by Georgia or Russia or USA. US in particular sounds very hypoctitic and seems like a champion in not bothering about killing and getting killed so many innocent children in the name of providing democratic governments to so many people). It only counts as abuse when such things take place..no one is spared - children, civilians and soldiers and the power hungry hypocritic politicians of the world seem to rejoice in all this ! And by the way, no body seems to care about that the land actually belongs to south ossetians.....everyone just owants to take over them in name of democracy and what so ever. Particularly if USA is so much for democracy how can they overlook communism in Uzbekistan where civilian abuse is not uncommon and has everyone forgotten the US supported dictator Pinoshet in Chile ????

Qutoe: "Putin well knows that NATO is bogged down in Afghanistan, America is stretched thin in Iraq "

Imagine that both were not the case, Afgahanistan was peaceful and all troops had been withdrawn from Iraq. Now, neither would have made a single bit of difference.

Get out of the cold war, open your eyes, and you'll understand Russia better...I'm glad I'm not a diplomat, I wouldn't know how to talk to someone like you.

For some reason everyone is glossing over the fact that Georgia launched a massive military strike against civilians they were trying to bring into their fold. Where was that outrage at that? From reports it sounds like Georgia killed thousands of civilians in their raid and committed war crimes in the process. If the same happened in the US we would have utterly annihilated the regime which launched it.

It's tiring to see the same arguments over and over about the "Russian bear" and how Russia is always evil. The real criminal is president of Georgia who needlessly attacked an independent province and endangered his own civilians... he should be hung.