Sorry, i've been doing my homework.
Last week the Bush administration released that it would send $1 billion dollars in aid to help the people in Georgia recover economically from the devastating war with Russia. The war began with Georgia trying to retake the break off regions of South Ossetia. (A part of Georgia that wants to belong back to Russia.) Russia sent in it's troops, to what they said was to keep the peace. But many civilians were killed in the process (a rumored ethnic cleansing). As I have been researching this, it goes much deeper than I can put into this posting.
A few of my questions were why did the US get involved here and give them $1 billion in economic aid, when we're in trouble ourselves in the economic sector? I know many of the people there are in dire poverty and are in need of this aid, but why so quick to respond when it took the US ages to send money to the people in Darfur? Who does this ultimately benefit, the Georgian or us? There is an oil pipeline that runs through Georgia that could be apart of our interests there. But I could find no articles on that affirmation. Also, Georgians want to join with NATO, and have troops fighting in Iraq. They are a small pro-western state. But I'm not sure if it was wise of us to stand along side them with Russia's tensions at bay. It could be that this is a strategic placement of our ships and military equipment in case things with Russia get out of hand. But it seems like our relations with Russia haven't been of great concern. (Except that they have been selling nuclear equipment to Iran. But that is a whole other story in itself.)
Back to the Georgia/Russia conflict. I understand that this is mostly a disagreement over borders, which the western world has created and Russia is in full violation of that, but what is the correct message we should send to the Russians? Agree to our terms or loose? Although, I have to say, I don't agree with Russia's authoritarian idealism either. But I'm not sure if we should be the ones to get involved in those disputes right now. Especially if they think we're the ones being Authoritarian here.
We have angered the Russian government with our supposed help in that region. They claim that we have war ships armed, in disguise as humanitarian relief. Which in turn they are sending out their warships to Venezuela for joint military training "exercises". I had to do a bit of searching to find that out, but it's in the Associated press. It almost sounds like another Cold War if you ask me. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hA9mDxba0R2epDq5zr4LSEo0z4zQD932QJB01
I'm not saying that there is a real threat here, but it seems as if Russia doesn't want to be pushed around by the US and is just trying to send us a message here. Just like we went into Iraq, can Russia go into Georgia without consequence? There is a parallel here. I think Russia wants to be acknowledged as a superpower. Now that it has oil revenue and we have a huge national debt. I think it can do just that. Not too mention we are fighting too many wars at the present to engage Russia in anything.
To answer my question, why are we sending in aid to this region, Cheney answered it in a cnn report by saying: "This chain of aggressive moves and diplomatic reversals has only intensified the concern that many have about Russia's larger objectives. For brutality against a neighbor is simply the latest in a succession of troublesome and unhelpful actions by the Russian government.The United States and many in Europe have made clear that Russia's actions are an affront to civilized standards and are completely unacceptable.Differing views on the status of these two areas, within the sovereign borders of the Georgian democracy, cannot justify a sudden and violent incursion by Russia. This much, at a minimum, should be understood by all people of good will in the year 2008."
We're just sending a message.
