From Russia, With Love (or Lisa's Propaganda Part II)

Okay, so I made a mistake and didn't type up this second half while it was fresh in my head. At this moment I don't really care about Russia or any of the things I meant to write, but I'm going to make myself write them (or at least something like them) anyway.

After communism fell Russia became a little jealous of all the siblings that had disowned him. (I know Russia should technically be a girl but how can a girl also be a Big Brother?--And actually, if Nikita is a boy's name in Russian, let's allow Russia to be as well). People in Russia were sad and felt that their glory days were gone. While communism was said to be over, there were still plenty of "former" communists in the government. I think these are the guys that are causing the problems.

I will sum this up by saying that it is no surprise that many of the journalists who set out to expose some of Russian government's corruption have died under "mysterious" circumstances. People in these parts of the world (and actually, I believe all parts of the world) have very little doubt as to who has been behind these murders. The government denies any wrongdoing (really?) but we somehow don't believe them.

Russia has tried (don't remember if it was successful) to create a gasline that would go through Poland and to make sure that Poles would have no access to this gas. They have strongly opposed the proposed American missile defense shield to be set up in Poland. Russia grows more disgruntled with every western movement his neighbors make. It makes some really grown up moves, too, like electronic attacks on servers such as those it used against Georgia in the days following it's invasion.

Now, in Georgia, Russian separatists get out of hand. The Georgian government is forced to come crack down on these separatists. Russia claims this constitutes genocide. Doing what it takes to prevent terrorists from trying to take over part of your country is not genocide. Even if some of them die. Even if they are all from one country. Our dear Russia enters in all it's military beauty to keep Georgia from being such meanies to it's fellow Russians who were, after all, only causing problems because they want independence.

Within seconds of hearing the news (or at least we heard both news items at once) of Russia's invasion of Georgia, Poland's President announces Poland's solidarity with Georgia. Most former soviet block countries follow closely behind. How could they jump to such quick conclusions? Why can't they just trust that the Russian's were trying to help solve a problem? Essentially, it comes down to the fact that Russia simply cannot be trusted. Putin gives me the creeps. Everyone knows that the new Russian president is actually just a new face and name for Putin, as his time was up, but his agenda wasn't completed. The Russian ambassador to the UN calls the appearance of 5, count 'em 5 presidents of former soviet block countries at a rally in Georgia's capital "rhetoric" and suggests that Georgia "put and end to the rhetoric and get back to serious business." Yes, because it's nothing really all that serious that one of the world superpowers, who doesn't like anyone, thinks it's okay to try and take over one of it's neighbors.

It's pretty scary to think about all the things that could happen, seeing Russia's behavior and knowing it's history. I've read on some forums things like World War III, Cold War II, the possibility of Russia and China joining forces etc. None of it sounds very good to me. I hope things will settle down nicely. It was so kind of Russia to agree to the ceasefire. Even kinder of them to stay in the region to help "keep the peace." They're so thoughtful like that.