It’s really not my way to say I told you so. In fact I hate people who do that especially when it is something that people should have known for obvious reasons. But, allow me to ask forgiveness in advance for this moment of self loathing….

 

I told you so at so many times in so many ways. Even others here have said they thought the same thing however few have expressed it at length as I have.

 

Russia has but one long term goal, the full, total and complete re-establishment of their former Soviet lands. There it is, plain as day, I said it.

 

I have watched as some on this site have said that worrying about Russia is yesterday’s fear mongering. I have seen it written, perhaps not here but in other places, that in this new Global Economy we need not worry about the former Soviet Union as an enemy, but embrace them as both an economic and military partner, working together with both the European Union and the United States as three of the stabilizing forces on this new and improved 21st century planet. (Oh, and don’t forget the fourth to make this quartet official, the Chinese, who despite the bland coverage of the Olympic Games, is still one of the more oppressive regimes on Earth)

 

Yes, now that Russia has again filled her might coffers with all manner of currency from the sales of those most precious natural resources that we ugly Americans once thought to be our God given right alone to enjoy, she [Russia] will awaken from her decade long slumber and join us all in perfect harmony.

 

Excuse me as I vomit profusely. I warned you when my buddy Vlad Putin so graciously stepped down as President to become Prime Minister as his Prime Minister moved to the head of Gazpro and it’s former head, Medvedev, moved into Putin’s former chair, that this was nothing more than Putin working his shell game first learned in the shadowy halls of the KGB.

 

So now it is Georgia who gains his constant attention. Who is next? You can pick from a multiple of Where-a-Stans. Just remember that the Soviets (sorry, Russians) always have a plan; the same plan they have had for the last 89 years.  Domination of their region of their region (you can claim hemisphere or continent if you wish, makes no real difference) which they then which to have spread as if by a guiding hand to the four corners of the Earth, or at the very least, most of Europe and Asia.

                                                                                                  

As they begin what I am calling the Soviet Commercial Block (sounds lighter and airier than Soviet Eastern Block), keep in mind they are doing so at the end of a gun. Whether the next two or three fight back will largely depend on the Georgians themselves. If they stand up as it appears they are, admittedly with a sharp infusion of spine from Washington, they are setting a new precedence for the other former Soviet Republics to follow suit. But should they fall, even after a brief delay, it will do nothing more than embolden the Putin Regime to be more forceful with Russia’s new wealth by way of her military.

 

Be warned, this is not going to go away. It will subside and probably go lukewarm for a few months, perhaps years, but Russia is a long game player. She has learned a lesson or two in the last few years.

 

Of course, she also is showing us that sometimes she can be a hard student to teach. Georgia has brought down between 10 and 15 aircraft in the last week. More than we have lost in all the conflicts following the Vietnam War to enemy fire. That is due in part to their airmen logging less hours in the air than American pilots regardless of how wonderful they claim their new attack planes are. Pilots need time in the chair.

 

But they appear to be hunkering down so time will tell.

 

I will say this however, I am damn happy Bush is in the Oval Office right now and not Kerry of Gore. I am also happy that McCain is polling so much higher than Obama on the issue of who is more qualified to deal with the Russians.

 

But what would I know; I’m just an Average American.