The Trans-Caucasus Conflict: Bush Poked the Bear Once Too Often
We are witnessing a major power play by Russia just like the
world watched a major power play by the US when Bush invaded
Iraq. In both cases lies surround the invasion. In both cases, a
bully nation threatens a smaller nation and the bully may go
unpunished, but in the long run may suffer.  But I don’t want to
draw too much parallel between Bush’s war of aggression against
Iraq and Putin’s war of aggression against Georgia. There is
actually another parallel that may have more relevance: Russia
did to Georgia what Iraq did to Kuwait. Iraq and Russia used a
minor, long-smoldering border dispute as an excuse for an
invasion. It is another example of a bully picking on a weak
neighbor when it thinks there is no authority to stop it. Iraq
miscalculated when it invaded Kuwait. So far it does not look
like Russia miscalculated, but the long term effects may make
them regret their actions. But for now, China doesn’t care and
the US has no military res