Russian war is warning to us all

Inter Lake editorial

One thing should be clear to everyone after the invasion of Georgia by Russia: World powers will do whatever they think is convenient to their self-interest, and worry about the consequences later.

This is not a new principle, having been demonstrated recently in the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and historically in virtually every war in Europe since the early 19th century.

But it does give cause for alarm, as the consequences of any misstep on the world stage these days could signal "lights out" for one and all of us.

The fact is hardly anyone had heard of South Ossetia until last week when the tanks of Russia invaded and took effective control of that province and another, Abkhazia. You can pretty much bet the bank that Russia's intention is not to support independence for the tiny states.

Instead, the Russian bear has its eye on oil just as the bears in the forest hone in on honey. Georgia provides a conduit for Caspian oil to reach Europe and the United States, without passing through Russia or Iran. Moreover, Georgia has been cozying up with the European Union and NATO, and fancies itself to be a democratic republic that rose pheonix-like from the ashes of the Soviet Union.

Needless to say, Russia is not amused.

So Vladimir Putin and his puppet president Dimitry Medvedev have ridden into the Caucusus on their iron steeds, and made their point - Georgia may be independent, but it had better not act like it.

On Tuesday, the Kremlin ordered a halt to the assault, declaring that "the aggressor has been punished." Well, yes, there was punishment in spades - 2,000 people killed and 100,000 displaced - but whether Georgia was the aggressor remains to be seen. South Ossetia, after all, despite its unhappiness is technically part of Georgia.

The reaction of the United States has been somewhat muted. That's partly explained because President Bush was in Beijing when fighting broke out, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was on vacation. But it's also because the United States has limited options. Starting World War III over a territorial struggle in the Caucusus is not probably in our best interest, nor can we condemn use of force too heartily when we reserve the right to throw our own weight around as we deem necessary.

Indeed, the United States and its allies have been moving aircraft carriers and battleships into the Persian Gulf not far away as a show of strength, apparently in preparation for a possible naval blockade of Iran. Probably the Russians don't like that anymore than we like their bear hug on Georgia.