Editorials

A lot of the world's attention this week has centered on Beijing, China, where the 2008 Summer Olympics had a spectacular opening and some exciting early athletic competition.

Excitement of the Olympics opening took away some of the news spotlight away from a conflict described as "tragic and ominous" between Georgia and Russia that erupted along a similar time line. But the conflict has started grabbing more attention.

Last week, South Ossetian separatists, supported by Moscow, escalated attacks against neighboring Georgian villages. On Thursday and Friday, Georgia attacked the separatist capital Tskhinvali with artillery to suppress fire.

The severe damage suffered by Tskhinvali provided the pretext for Moscow's long-planned invasion of Georgia, said Ariel Cohen, a Russian and Eurasian studies expert at the Heritage Foundation.

As Russia responded with overwhelming force, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin flew from the Beijing Olympics to Vadikavkaz, taking control of the military operations.

"Putin sidelined his successor, Dmitry Medvedev, thereby leaving no doubt as to who is in charge," Cohen noted.

Russian Army and Airborne forces were joined by Cossacks from the neighboring Russian territories to combat the Georgians in a combined arms operation.

Cohen said the Black Sea Fleet is blockading Georgia from the sea and likely preparing a landing while Russian ballistic missiles and its air force are attacking Georgia military bases and cities.

A far-reaching list of Russian goals for the war with Georgia includes expulsion of Georgian troops and termination of Georgian sovereignty in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, he explained.

Other objectives include a "regime change" by bringing down President Mikheil Saakashvili and installing a more pro-Russian leadership; Preventing Georgia from joining NATO and sending a strong message to Ukraine that its insistence on NATO membership may lead to war and/or its dismemberment; shifting control of the Caucasus, and especially over strategic energy pipelines, by controlling Georgia; and recreating a 19th century style sphere of influence in the former Soviet Union, by the use of force if necessary.

Russian relations with Georgia were the worst among the post-Soviet states, said the Eurasian expert. Russia has long prepared its aggression against Georgia's pro-Western president in order to undermine his rule and prevent Georgia from joining NATO, he added.

This incident is seen as an hour of truth for the West. Cohen said the U.S. and its European allies must take all available diplomatic measures to stop Russian aggression. A demand needs to be made that Russia withdraw all its troops from the territory of Georgia and recognize its territorial integrity.

In addition, a need is seen for the U.S. and Europe to internationalize the conflict.

"Russian desire to be viewed as upholder of international law needs to be turned against Moscow," Cohen said. "The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union and the United Nations should send other international observers to Georgia, while mediation efforts to withdraw Russian forces need to be expedited."

A neutral forum, such as the OSCE, is recommended as the place to start talks to settle the South Ossetian matter as well as future Abkhazian problems.

In addition, the U.S. and its allies and other countries should send a strong signal to Moscow, "That creating 19th century style spheres of influence and redrawing the borders of the former Soviet Union is a danger to world peace."

Moscow's plan cannot be accomplished without violation of international law, Cohen pointed out, "and is likely to result in death and destruction -- a price that neither the Russian people nor others should pay."

Reminding Russia that it has much to lose -- including hosting the 2014 winter Olympics, membership in the G-8, and access to Western markets -- should be part of the process.

Convincing Russia's leaders to stop the aggression depends heavily on a solid commitment by the U.S., its European allies and other countries to fully utilize available diplomatic measures.

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