This quote from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is pretty staggering: “This is not 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia, where Russia can threaten its neighbours, occupy a capital, overthrow a government and get away with it. Things have changed.” George Bush has weighed in on similar lines, saying that Russia's recent behaviour in Georgia is not acceptable "in the 21st century".
I wonder why the Russians didn't realise that the rules had changed. Maybe they saw the US invading Iraq and getting away with it. Or perhaps they saw the US invading Afghanistan and getting away with it. Or perhaps they saw the US bombing Serbia and separating off one of that country's provinces, Kosovo, and getting away with it. Or maybe they have longer memories and recall the US invading Grenada to overthrow an elected government and getting away with it.
None of this is meant to excuse the Russians for their heavy-handed approach in Georgia, but really, taking lessons in international behaviour from the Americans makes about as much sense as taking dancing lessons from Stephen Hawking.
No comments:
Post a Comment