PUTIN DELIBERATELY DESTROYS REPUTATION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Daily Georgian Times
Aug 19 2008
Georgia
The entire world the last week was shocked by Putin’s regime’s invasion
to Georgia. More importantly, since the collapse of the Soviet Union
it was the first incident when the world was able to see the true
face of current Russian FSB establishment. What transpired did not
come as anything new for those who were born in USSR or students of
Soviet history. Nonetheless, for those who were born in early 80th or
those who forget about the existence of the so-called Evil Empire there
were no surprises. Many now argue why this hot war started in the first
place and the contributing factors. Could it have been the pay back for
US plans to install anti missiles defense system in east Europe? Was
it an attempt to improve Russian army’s image among those who still
think that Russia is part of the civilize world? Was it a payback
to Saakashvili for calling Putin liliput? Could it possibly been an
attempt to oust the Saakashvilis regime? Persuade Georgian people to
change their orientation and say no to NATO aspirations? Did it have
anything to do with seeking an independent South Ossetia? A lessen for
other countries in Eastern EU and the Former Soviet Union? And last but
not least to settle scores over international recognition of Kosovo?
I believe none of the above is quite true.
Polish people as well the rest of the civilized world are now convinced
that were from the true danger comes in terms of missile threat
coming from Iran or Russia. President Saakashvili said in his speech
during the press conference with Secretary Condoleezza Rice – "Two
days ago, they used weapon of mass destruction, missile SS-21. This
is upgraded version of SS-20 that was withdrawn from Europe under a
Reagan-Gorbachev agreement. They are now using them again against the
neighboring countries". However, he did not mention that the Tactical
Operational Missile SS-21 (OTR-21 Tochka) was used at least 5 times by
Russians during the second Chechen war, something that the media failed
to report. These missiles targeted a marketplace and a maternity ward,
resulting in at least 143 fatalities, and a Russian spokesman said
the busy market place was targeted because it was used by rebels as
an arms bazaar (!!?). Now, Russian occupants targeted SS-21 on the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the rocket was launched from Russian
territory but fortunately missed the target. In spite of all denials
it did not evade the surveillance radars and published reports in
the world media. According to some sources Russians still have 140
missiles left and since they started using it outside of their own
territory there is no guaranty that they will not target and use it
to other neighboring countries to protect those who "hold Russian
passports". Thus, installing missile defense systems, at least for
those countries that are located in 100 miles from Russian territory
became a question of life and death. Here we all should remember that
Russian army is equipped with even more dangerous missiles (SS-23
Spider, SS-26 Stone and many other medium and short range missiles).
2. If someone can defend the Russian invasion as an attempt to improve
image of Russian army, it would be the grave mistake. Soldiers and
officers were stealing the boots from dead Georgian soldiers (there are
several pictures in internet that provides evidence), stealing their
clothes as well as about anything they could get their hands on. Some
can consider the blowing up of hospitals, theaters, swimming pools,
bridges, churches, schools, the killing of innocent civilians and
journalists. Their body count included children and elderly people,
etc. as just collateral damage and a normal part of war. Regardless,
this is not an argument that any normal person would buy. When Putin’s
gangsters and hired killers (Kazaks, mental patients, drug addicts,
etc) return as victors it will be the biggest mental disaster for them-
militants will tell to their comrades how regular soldiers live in the
NATO standard army in Georgia, what they wear, what are their living
conditions, weapons, etc. Consequently they would realize that they
attacked another civilization and a modern army that is far advanced
that the Red Army stylish Putin’s storm troopers. The psychological
war that Russian is running in Georgia by rolling their tanks up
and down will backfire, sooner or later; Russian and its minions are
ill-prepared to resist the reality of modernization and the need to
reform their army. After all, even today Russian soldiers and officers
eat separately in separate buildings and soldier’s food is much worse
than officers, though all of it not fit for human consumption.
However, how well the army is fed is not the good news at all, since
they possess weapon of mass destruction. In addition, it is always
dangerous to see how slowly the army is devastating physically and
mentally. This would blow back in their faces sooner or later, and
this reality is threat not for only Russian people or the EU but is
a problem that the entire world must address.
3. If one of the reason for invasion was revenging to Misha for calling
putting liliput, than Putin failed again. As it stands now, he should
wish only Misha calling him liliput – millions of people are using this
nickname now towards him and Medvedev and even such nicknames Russian
propaganda websites would not dare use or publish against others.
4. Then, did he attempt to discredit the Georgian president among the
Georgian public and make all necessary steps that Misha is ousted? He
truly did, however, he again failed here as well. Public support that
Saakashvili had actually increased after Russian’s brutal invasion,
and to a degree that nobody had expected, especially in light of
internal clashes with the political opposition during recent snap
presidential and parliamentary elections of 2008.
5. Because of Russians brutality are we Georgians scared that many
will now say no to NATO and turn their backs on the US? Again,
Putin failed in this effort. Georgians are even more pro NATO and
American as they had ever been before. The entire nation (including
Armenians and Azeri’s, whose country leadership cannot openly say
condemning words towards Russian aggression are united. Even their
silence and the fact that they are not supporting Putin’s decision
shows just how stanch they are in supporting their nation and closing
ranks with their president under siege). The collective will of the
nation is on the level of standing together like after 9th of April,
1989 when Soviet Army killed innocent demonstrators on the streets
of Tbilisi. A friend of mine, Azeri origin who operates a chain of
retail outlets in Tbilisi had his shops working as in regular days
to show Tbilisian’s an excellent example for not panicking.
6. Then, was it about independence of South Ossetia? Well, in the worst
case scenario, I will not be very against to hear talks about united
Ossetia (Both South and North) as a separate independent country. After
all if one half deserves independence what about the other half? Even
if such talks would bring no results it must be considered the dire
consequences for Russia itself. Russia has more than a fair share of
endemic problems, aside from the current political regime. There are
nuclear weapons that is in their arsenal that can be easily targeted
on Eastern European capitals, and these very same kind of projectiles
were to have been decommissioned and safely stored in underground
storage facilities. However, because of budget shortfalls in early
90th and perhaps "disappearance" of allocated money these warheads
are left in open warehouses because of a culture of corruption.
7. Perhaps, Putin and his top advisors are considering the invasion
as a lesson to "unleashed" states that can be used to protect
the sustainability of the Evil Empire? Again, he made a serious
miscalculation. The lesson that he was trying to teach to these
nations seems like a lesson prepared by the lazy teacher who paid
in kind payment to his tutors to receive good grades. A. those who
were fortunate enough to make it into NATO at the last minute and
before the door was slammed shut for NATO exception (there are some
exception – Macedonia, which can make it in should it be able to sort
out its name – all are close allies with Georgia). Only support of
the Lithuanian president and their foreign minister could serve as
a story in a book of friendship for any student, notwithstanding the
statements of other presidents and that in spite of the demonstrated
Russian madness, chose to arrived in Tbilisi to clearly demonstrate
to the world all what was going in Georgia and to support the Georgian
people and territorial integrity. B. Those countries citizen’s who are
still enjoying membership of the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS) have learned a very good lesson as to where the civilized world
now stands in support of a democratically elected president and the
Georgian nation – and to fully appreciate just how difficult it is to
be truly independent. Now it is up to them to make their choice as
who are their friends. I am fully confident that after the Georgian
invasion Putin’s regime will have a hard time enjoy the fruits of
"victory" over Georgians and it will be a bitter pill to swallow.
8. And finally, as those pundits who claim that this is a slap in
the face to US because of Kosovo, I should say in the passing that,
Putin is wrong on each and every claim. His actions are against common
sense and all those closed ranks and discounted the value of common
sense will end up either making license plates in the "big house" or
committed to a mental hospital. History proves in the final analysis
as whom had made the right choice and it is unforgiving for those who
do not know their own sorted history of past mistakes and military
blunders (Afghanistan, former Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Chechnya
and the list of third world dictatorships that Russia is only too
willing to arm to the teeth).
The bottom line is that, regardless some advocates who blindly support
Putin in western media (I am not talking about Russian printed media,
because what is left from printed media is just a paper and lots of
advertisements, nothing more); I am seriously considering that he
must have been paid to be that stupid to destroy Russia’s image to
such a great degree, and that there has to be some greater method
in the "sheer-madness" of destroying the reputation of the Russian
Federation and its people by actions that will only backfire.
PS. While I was writing this article I received an email from my
Russian colleague, an outstanding professor of social sciences, who
was apologizing for what Russia is doing with Georgia. I responded to
her that in spite of the the recent fact that the Russian occupants
placed explosives and blew up a major railway bridge, there is no
way that anybody could blow up the bridge between the Georgian and
Russian people.
Merab Pachulia.Georgian Opinion Research Business International
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress