Nato commanders are waiting anxiously to see if Russia intends to scrap its offer to allow civilian supply convoys to use Russian land routes into Afghanistan. This is far from the only element of Nato/Russian military co-operation now at risk, however, because of the row over Georgia. Several areas of joint activity and assistance include: -- Training and exercises so that Russian and Nato troops can engage in joint operations. -- Counter-narcotics training by Russian specialists in Afghanistan to address the threat of trafficking in central Asia. Co-ordinating with Russian ships in Nato's counter-terrorist operation in the Mediterranean. Russia sent a frigate in 2006 and more warships were supposed to be on offer this year. -- Developing search and rescue co-operation. In 2005 Russia took part in Nato's biggest such exercise. -- Joining in crisis management exercises, and co-operating over terrorist air threats. Between 1996 and 2003 Russia was the largest non-Nato troop contributor to Nato-led peacekeeping operations.
This is far from the only element of Nato/Russian military co-operation now at risk, however, because of the row over Georgia. Several areas of joint activity and assistance include:
-- Training and exercises so that Russian and Nato troops can engage in joint operations.
-- Counter-narcotics training by Russian specialists in Afghanistan to address the threat of trafficking in central Asia. Co-ordinating with Russian ships in Nato's counter-terrorist operation in the Mediterranean. Russia sent a frigate in 2006 and more warships were supposed to be on offer this year.
-- Developing search and rescue co-operation. In 2005 Russia took part in Nato's biggest such exercise.
-- Joining in crisis management exercises, and co-operating over terrorist air threats. Between 1996 and 2003 Russia was the largest non-Nato troop contributor to Nato-led peacekeeping operations.
BRUSSELS: European Union diplomats backed plans Tuesday for a civilian monitoring mission to Georgia but rejected the deployment of a military peacekeeping force there without an international agreement. The decision was part of an emerging EU strategy designed to increase engagement in Georgia and other countries neighboring Russia, rather than seeking open confrontation with Moscow In advance of a special one-day summit meeting of European leaders called for next Monday by the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, officials were scrambling to find a coherent policy response to Russia's actions in Georgia. On Tuesday both the EU and NATO rejected Russia's decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. But the meeting Tuesday of senior diplomats in Brussels points to a cautious European approach, with officials mindful that their options for punitive action against Moscow are limited.
BRUSSELS: European Union diplomats backed plans Tuesday for a civilian monitoring mission to Georgia but rejected the deployment of a military peacekeeping force there without an international agreement.
The decision was part of an emerging EU strategy designed to increase engagement in Georgia and other countries neighboring Russia, rather than seeking open confrontation with Moscow
In advance of a special one-day summit meeting of European leaders called for next Monday by the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, officials were scrambling to find a coherent policy response to Russia's actions in Georgia.
On Tuesday both the EU and NATO rejected Russia's decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
But the meeting Tuesday of senior diplomats in Brussels points to a cautious European approach, with officials mindful that their options for punitive action against Moscow are limited.
Between 1996 and 2003 Russia was the largest non-Nato troop contributor to Nato-led peacekeeping operations.
Seriously deeply stupid. We are almost entirely dependent upon Russian gas, while our ties to the US give us nothing but grief. Yet they cannot break the apron strings of their youth. keep to the Fen Causeway
The end of the Cold War was supposed to usher in a new age in which the major powers would no longer dictate to their neighbors how to run their affairs. That is why Russia's invasion of Georgia is so tragic and so potentially ominous. Russia is now on watch: Will it continue to rely on coercion to achieve its imperial aims or is it willing to work within the emerging international system that values cooperation and consensus?
Moscow's ruthless attempt to suborn, subdue and subordinate this tiny, independent democracy is reminiscent of Stalin's times. The assault on Georgia is similar to what Stalin's Soviet Union did to Finland in 1939: in both cases, Moscow engaged in an arbitrary, brutal and irresponsible use of force to impose domination over a weaker, democratic neighbor. The question now is whether the global community can demonstrate to the Kremlin that there are costs for the blatant use of force on behalf of anachronistic imperialist goals. This conflict has been brewing for years. Russia has deliberately instigated the breakup of Georgian territory. Moscow has promoted secessionist activities in several Georgian provinces: Abkhazia, Ajaria and, of course, South Ossetia. It has sponsored rebellious governments in these territories, armed their forces and even bestowed Russian citizenship on the secessionists. These efforts have intensified since the emergence in Georgia of a democratic, pro-Western government. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's resentment toward Georgia and its President, the U.S.-educated Mikheil Saakashvili, has seemingly become a personal obsession.
This conflict has been brewing for years. Russia has deliberately instigated the breakup of Georgian territory. Moscow has promoted secessionist activities in several Georgian provinces: Abkhazia, Ajaria and, of course, South Ossetia. It has sponsored rebellious governments in these territories, armed their forces and even bestowed Russian citizenship on the secessionists. These efforts have intensified since the emergence in Georgia of a democratic, pro-Western government. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's resentment toward Georgia and its President, the U.S.-educated Mikheil Saakashvili, has seemingly become a personal obsession.
The question now is whether the global community can demonstrate to the Kremlin that there are costs for the blatant use of force on behalf of anachronistic imperialist goals.
There are certainly going to be costs to the US if it tries to use blatant force on behalf of anachronistic imperialist goals in the area.
Again.
And who is the imperialist power is in the eye of the beholder, it seems. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
It's not as if our brave boys and girls were winning decisively anyway. Without supplies, Afghanistan is over.
Longer term - what does Russia really want? Does anyone know? Do the Russians?
now, provoked by senile rapturists, russia is reverting to cold war methods of gaining international respect, and domestic rallying of nationalist sentiments.
i wouldn't put it past putin to 'get tougher', and if it stymies our efforts to keep afghanistan rubble and poppy fields, tant pis.
putin cannot be seen as weak, and now we're waving red rags at him, all bets are off, until or unless someone gets a major clue.
milliband, merkel, bushcain and condi are like fuel on the fire.
this is appalling diplomacy, rotten statesmanship, and moronic in its recycling of the 50's.
cui bono? as per, the death merchants who hold our western governments in hock, and electorates in a state of well-mediated shock, fear and disbelief. ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
On the other hand, he is a Pole whose family origins are in what was Eastern Poland, and whose class/professional family background is government officialdom - i.e. lots of victims of Russian imperialism, and he's old enough to remember those deaths.
