The Russians are now telling the world that soft power is, well, soft. Moscow doesn’t give a damn about the United Nations, the European Union, the World Court at the Hague, or any finger-pointing moralist from Geneva or London. Did anyone in Paris miss any sleep over the rubble of Grozny?
More likely, Putin & Co. figure that any popular rhetoric about justice will be trumped by European governments’ concern for energy. With just a few tanks and bombs, in one fell swoop, Russia has cowered its former republics, made them think twice about joining the West, and stopped NATO and maybe EU expansion in their tracks. After all, who wants to die for Tbilisi?
Russia does not need a global force-projection capacity; it has sufficient power to muscle its neighbors and thereby humiliate not merely its enemies, but their entire moral pretensions as well.
Russia declares: "We're back, baby!!" Perhaps words from O-ba-ma! will settle them down.
3 comments:
What is interesting is to see how much Press McCain is getting with his comments concerning Russia (even from NPR) where is Obama. They were quote McCain and he even called the Georgian President to "assure" him that the US is doing what it can. He sounded like the President defacto. Where's Obama in this? Haven't heard anything yet....
This is a key moment in the campaign. No matter how much people say they hate the war in Iraq, they don't say they prefer the USA to be weak. McCain showed the country he is ready to lead on the world stage. Obama has shown that he is ready to lead a PPV event.
My gut is that McCain is going to win this thing.
I agree Tom, I think McCain is in good shape. Obama peaked too soon while McCain wisely laid low all summer and most of the spring. O-ba-ma long ago already said everything he has to say. I like the new ads that caricature O-ba-ma as an empty suit with star appeal.
Russia invades weak sister because it can. Which reminds me of one of my favorite jokes: Why does a dog lick its balls? Because it can.
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