Explosions Continue While Crickets Chirp

When the U.S. invaded Iraq, there was an onslaught of condemnation by anti-war nations like France and anti-war organizations like MoveOn.Org. Hollywood elitists were weeping and gnashing their teeth, calling George Bush a war criminal for having invaded a sovereign nation that was so misunderstood in the world arena. In addition to these things, there was a great multitude of complaints about civilian casualties, and how not enough care was being taken to prevent them.

While the E.U. and the U.S. have publicly condemned the Russian military's disproportionate response, McCain and Obama have called for a ceasefire as part of their campaigns. Others have no doubt made their customary statements. But one has to wonder, where are these same people that made so much noise during Iraq?

At the Daily Kos and the Huffington Post, you will find no posts that condemn Putin and Russia with nowhere near the same intensity. The topic of the day in these places (and other sites like them) seems to be John Edward's affair. On the Kos, there's even a post mentioning John McCain having a lobbyist for the Republic of Georgia on his staff of advisers. But alas, there are no strong condemnations or claims of hypocrisy directed toward Russia, for their behavior in this conflict.

Russia has long supported the separatist movement in South Ossetia. And now that Georgia has moved to restore order (in a province that has long been recognized as being within the nation of Georgia) Russia has meted out a brutal campaign with very little (or no) regard for the integrity of human life. This is particularly interesting, because Russia does not allow it's provinces to secede. Just ask Chechnya.

In short, Georgia has done nothing that Russia would not have done in a similar scenario and I think the world knows this. But unfortunately there are too many afraid of Russia to complain. But I say to them and others, there will come a time (if it isn't here already) whereby we will all regret propping up Russia, after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Our intentions may have been noble and altruistic at the time, but our analysis of the very history (and collective psyche) of the Russian nation was also seriously flawed. This was an enormous miscalculation on our part, as is often the case when we get involved in foreign affairs. As they have increased their power through revenues created by the implementation of private enterprise, they have rebuilt much of their military infrastructure. And because of this, they have become emboldened to once again assume the role of regional bully.