The Russian invasion of Georgia is in the familiar pattern (familiar in World War II, at least) of rape and pillage. Michael Totten, indispensable to anyone who wants to know what is going on, is in Georgia. From Tbilisi, he reports:
“They are burning the houses. From most of the houses they are taking everything. They are stealing everything, even such things as toothbrushes and toilets. They are taking the toilets. Imagine. They are taking broken refrigerators.” And Nana: “We are so heartbroken. I don’t know what to say or even think. Our whole lives we were working to save something, and one day we lost everything. Now I have to start everything from the very beginning.”
The Russian looting was satirized by a Georgian display in front of the Russian embassy in Tbilisi. Note the swastikas. And the SS symbols.
“Did you actually see any Russians,” I said, “or did you leave before they got there?”
“They came and asked us for wine, but first we had to drink it ourselves to show that it was not poisoned. Then they drank the wine themselves. And then they said to leave this place as soon as possible; otherwise they would kill us. The Russians were looking for anyone who had soldiers in their home. If anyone had a Georgian soldier at home they burned the houses immediately.”
Russia is still the Soviet Union, apparently. Or maybe it has returned to the era of the Czars. Armed robbery as national policy. And not even retired Russian generals were happy with the army’s performance. I think some quiet resupply of the Georgian army is in order. Maybe, to retain deniability, we can use captured Iranian EFPs.
At least the Georgians do not blame us for their plight. The Russians, however, see any democracy as an enemy.
“My husband said he was going to see his family,” she said. “And the Russians said again, ‘Are you going to the American side?’”
“So the Russians view you as the American side, even though there are no Americans here.”
“Yes,” she said. “Because our way is for democracy.”
I think that’s pretty clear.
It was George F. Kennan, America’s ambassador to the Soviet Union, who said, “Russia can have at its borders only enemies or vassals.” Now, Georgia has been all but dismembered. The opening phase of this crisis may soon come to a close, but it is shaping up to be merely the first chapter in a potentially long and dangerous era. “We will never forget this,” Lia said. “Never. Ever.”