August 17, 2008
Georgia’s Oil Pipeline Another Flash Point
Mix oil, uranium, left over Russian communism, former Soviet provinces now mini-states, and jittery European Union nations.
What we have now is “trouble” with a big T – a war in the Republic of Georgia squeezed between the Black and Caspian Seas, Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Breaking away from Georgia since the early 1990's, South Ossetia lacks global recognition as an independent republic. However, it has had the "peacekeeping" support of Russia, with many accepting Russia's liberal passport offers.
A fragile detente among the three broke August 7 with Georgia's military action in South Ossetia. Georgia's intent - to win the breakaway region back from Russia's growing influence.
The latter country – touchy of losing its grip on a dwindling empire, and wanting Europe to drink from Russian rather than Georgian pipelines – sent in tanks, planes and troops to quell the uprising. Nerves were rattled as a number of missiles struck within a few hundred meters of Georgian pipeline.
Within a week, Russian military forces quelled the uprising and mounted efforts to see Saakashvili prosecuted for war crimes.
As this is written, it appears that the two separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia will be annexed permanently by Russia.
“Traditionally, we will see a few skirmishes, but frontal attacks and positioning will end” says Finland Foreign Minister Alexander Stub, chairman of the Organization For Security and Cooperation in Europe.
FORCED TRUCE
It appears that a forced truce is holding in place once again, However, don’t count on it.
Russia got its dander up when the United States signed preliminary accords recently with Poland and the Czech Republic to build a line of radar stations.
Stated objective is to protect Europe and America from possible Iranian missiles recently tested.
The European installations will be part of an American missile defense system also in Alaska and California.
The British Broadcasting Corporation network -- which keeps a sharp eye on European affairs – quotes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev about the U.S. radar installations there.
“The radar could threaten our own defenses,” said Medvedev. “The system might be small to start with, but could expand. The radar could be used to spy on Russia. We will not be hysterical about this, but we will think of retaliatory steps.”
SHARED RADAR?
Premier Vladimir Putin -- real leader of Russia -- offered the use of an existing radar site in southern Russia. He proposed working with other European countries and the United States in a joint defense system.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says “negotiations, not threats, are the best way to deal with concerns about Iranian intentions.”
Hoo ha! Russia is furnishing uranium to Iran “for peaceful purposes.” However, Iran is rapidly processing the uranium into weapon-grade nuclear explosive and testing long-range missiles while promising to “wipe Israel off the map.”
EYE LOOKING
We are reminded of President George W. Bush’s reaction to Putin upon first meeting him June 16, 2001 at a “summit” meeting in the Republic of Slovenia.
According to then U.S. Secretary Of State Colin Powell, the two leaders seemed to get along well in a one-on-one private talk.
Later, Bush told Powell: “I looked into Putin’s eyes and saw his soul!”
To which, Powell replied, “Mr. President, I also looked into President Putin’s eyes and saw the KGB!”
Never the less, President Bush was pleased with the private meeting. He invited Putin to the ranch at Crawford, Texas. There, in November, Bush told the eye-search incident to reporters awaiting President Putin’s arrival.
"The more I get to know President Putin, the more I get to see his heart and soul. The more I get to see his heart and soul …. the more I know we can work together in a positive way."
It wasn’t long before President Bush became wary of Putin and Russian ambitions to reclaim the former provinces of the Soviet Union.
NEW LEADERSHIP
President Bush has become realistic about Russia’s area of influence – Lenin, to Stalin to Gorbachev to Putin.
In a couple of months, however, we will have a new political leadership in the White House and Congress. Maybe Republican, maybe Democrat.
No matter, but no more squinting into eyeballs. Bring on the tea leaves -- and American oil wells sans pipelines in foreign countries.
By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist
