Comments on: Anti-Russian Bias http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/08/09/anti-russian-bias/ n. the principle of good order<br /><br /> "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:02:13 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Daniel Larison http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/08/09/anti-russian-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-13095 Daniel Larison Sun, 10 Aug 2008 02:42:45 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/08/09/anti-russian-bias/#comment-13095 Russia did go to the Security Council at the same time that it responded. Indeed, they called for the emergency session. It was conceivable that the Georgians could have cut off Russian access to South Ossetia if the Russians had delayed much longer. Whatever Russia has done was not for lack of respect for the process of going through UNSC. Of course, the UNSC is deadlocked both ways--it isn't going to give the Russians satisfaction without triggering our veto, and it won't be able to give the Georgians what they want without triggering a Russian veto. We keep talking about Russians crossing the border, as if the border between North and South Ossetia means anything in practice. Legally and officially, yes, it is the border between Russia and Georgia, but so far the Russians are reinforcing the soldiers they already had in S. Ossetia and securing the province. If they cross into the rest of Georgia in large numbers, I will begin to be much more concerned. I have some reservations about the extent of infrastructure damage that is being done to Georgia, as it will have a severe impact on the civilians of Georgia, and I will be saying more about the indiscriminate and possibly disproportionate nature of the Russian response. The devastation of Lebanon merited strong censure, and if the Russians continue as they are going right now they should receive the same criticism that was aimed at Israel two years ago. Russia did go to the Security Council at the same time that it responded. Indeed, they called for the emergency session. It was conceivable that the Georgians could have cut off Russian access to South Ossetia if the Russians had delayed much longer. Whatever Russia has done was not for lack of respect for the process of going through UNSC. Of course, the UNSC is deadlocked both ways–it isn’t going to give the Russians satisfaction without triggering our veto, and it won’t be able to give the Georgians what they want without triggering a Russian veto.

We keep talking about Russians crossing the border, as if the border between North and South Ossetia means anything in practice. Legally and officially, yes, it is the border between Russia and Georgia, but so far the Russians are reinforcing the soldiers they already had in S. Ossetia and securing the province.

If they cross into the rest of Georgia in large numbers, I will begin to be much more concerned. I have some reservations about the extent of infrastructure damage that is being done to Georgia, as it will have a severe impact on the civilians of Georgia, and I will be saying more about the indiscriminate and possibly disproportionate nature of the Russian response. The devastation of Lebanon merited strong censure, and if the Russians continue as they are going right now they should receive the same criticism that was aimed at Israel two years ago.

]]> By: lfstevens http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/08/09/anti-russian-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-13090 lfstevens Sun, 10 Aug 2008 02:05:34 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/08/09/anti-russian-bias/#comment-13090 Shouldn't Russia have taken its concerns to the Security Council rather than acting unilaterally? Is "hundreds of Russian tanks crossing the border" consonant with your assessment? Shouldn’t Russia have taken its concerns to the Security Council rather than acting unilaterally?

Is “hundreds of Russian tanks crossing the border” consonant with your assessment?

]]> By: VA_Paleocon http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/08/09/anti-russian-bias/comment-page-1/#comment-13076 VA_Paleocon Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:46:02 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/larison/2008/08/09/anti-russian-bias/#comment-13076 It looks like Russia may annex South Ossetia, so get ready for all the historically illiterate morons to be screaming about 1938 all over again. It looks like Russia may annex South Ossetia, so get ready for all the historically illiterate morons to be screaming about 1938 all over again.

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