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Re: Peter Gray I have an answer... I have read a recently published in a Russian blog story about a small group of young Moscow businessmen. They were watching the news from South Osetia, and when learned that Russian army liberated Tshinval, began planning a tour around Europe and US for the Russian heroes that risking their lives saved thousands of women and children from genocide. You know, something like Gagarin had in 1959... They thought that the idea would bring millions in advertising. Can you imagine their surprise when all of the "free press" in unison started blaming Russia for imperialism and agression. For many years, despite the bombing of Serbia, Iraq, despite torture and rendition of detainees, despite sales of weapons to agressors etc. Russians considered US as a friendly nation. They embraced democracy and even religion and were unhappy when saw their Government was acting in undemocratic way. But something has been a miss. Something like NATO spreading more and more, getting closer and closer to a democratic capitalist ally Russia. Something, like Dick's statements in Latvia, strange relationships with GB. It was a bit confusing for a Russian, sometimes they did not know who to believe Putin or Kasparov, or maybe Rice (mushroom cloud?). But now it is all clear again. And for that I thank you and other neocons and neolibs. The approval ratings of Putin-Medvedev is more that 90%. The country is not only united, but I can say motivated. Now Russians know that "the free world" values human rights and even human lives only when the suffering human is American or their puppet. They have learned that any fact that supports Russian side can not be independently confirmed, but any lie that opposes it does not require confirmation at all, and must be accepted even if it is absurd. Even people that are caught liyng time and time again, must be telling truth when accusing Russia in ethnic cleansing. They have learned, that there is difference between people of Kosovo and Osetia. Not everybody deserves freedom and independence. As well as a right to defend citizens is only granted to Israel and Georgia. And there is no comparison between lets say Lebanon and Georgia. Lebanon can be bombed, but Russia must be "kept at bay". You see the democracy in Georgia and Israel is much more democratic then in Russia or Lebanon. Now even I understand, what is the purpose for the new submarines and stealth jets and so-called "usable" nuclear weapons that United States keeps buying on borrowed money. Before, I could not figure out how such can be used in the war on terror. So thank you so much, and as a token of gratitude let me offer you an advise. I see that you are versed in history. Do you know how many times Russia has been considered easy to "keep at bay" and attacked? Do you remember the outcome of each and every attempt? And how are you planning to "keep at bay" 10,000 nuclear warheads, now I am sure ready to launch? Think about it. How many lives are you willing to destroy to show that you mean business? Will it be the same business as you have shown in Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afganistan, Somalia? If so, that will not do

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Why do you think Russia must “roll over”? Where do you think such an aggressive attitude toward Russia leads? All Russia did was to repel Georgian attack on S. Ossetia , which does not want to be part of Georgia, and had been de facto independent for 15 years, or so. How does this threaten legitimate interests of the US or the West? Russians may be lingering in Georgia longer than they should, but they are not killing anyone, and they don't seem to have any interest in “destroying democratic Georgia”, as we are being told. In this conflict we are being led by a demagogue Saakashvili who is trying to frame the results of his misadventure as ”threat to world order” and drags the world into renewed and absolutely unnecessary confrontation with Russia. Pat Buchanan's comments are the best and the sanest voice in this mayhem over Georgia. Do yourself a favor, research Georgia before the conflict a Russia, and post the results. You might soon discover that Georgia is no more democratic or less corrupt than Russia. This is a conflict between two idiots. We should know better than get dragged into it.

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If it were any other topic, P. Buchanan and I would be at opposite ends of the table, but in regard to his views of Russia re: the current situation, wasted past opportunities to bring her into the Western fold and dim future prospects to Western hard-headed war mongering I agree with him 100%. It is truly unfortunate that the Neo-Cons still basically control the "international mindset" of the Conservative Wing of the national consciousness, and Pat is still without the influence he once had. When it comes to international relations, the pragmatic, permanent self-interest, realpolitik view of P.B. is exactly what the Republicans need to return to (the position of traditional conservatives vs. the neo-con and social conservatives.) I do hope that he finds a way to take back his seat at that table, and figure out how to once again influence the conservative point of view which for the last 7 years is war all the time, anytime, and war as the best first solution to any problem that requires little or no planning, because war is a solution in and of itself.

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Mr Buchanan; I hope it is not lost on you what a toothless tiger we have made of the United Nations is just like the League of Nations was made to be. It could not stop us in Iraq; and it has never brought the Palestine Justice. Will it prevent world war? No. We have been much of the muscle behind the United Nations, and now that we are clearly out for ourselves who will stop us? I mean, the less we have of free military the sooner we will pull out the nukes. Russia is already at that stage. I think things couldn't get that much worse, so we are primed for some stupid disaster like world war. And, how can we stop our government, and how can we stop the neocons who have been much of the force behind this showdown? Our government, and our ruling class are out for themselves, and beyond our reach. It may just be a bid for power in this country by stiring up war fever, fear, and patriotism. It is possible they feel how shaky their hold on power is, and would destroy life on the planet rather than surrender anything. To me, it just looks like stupid brinksmanship, and naked adventurism. I don't care if we win. It is the danger we face by winning that makes me think twice. Did you ever hear that story of the Russian Czar, the big one just before the last one. The German ambassador was having dinner with him and told him Germany would find it necessary to park a few divisions on his frontier. The Czar tied a fork in a knot and threw it on the German's lap, and said: that is what I am going to do with your divisions. It is still their frontier, and if we go there we better be loaded for bear. Thanks... Sweeney

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Yup, and Ho Chi Minh turned to the Soviets when the U.S. rebuffed his pleas for an ally to support his bid for an independent Viet Nam. The same themes just keep repeating themselves throughout history, and we never learn.

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All of those are very interesting questions, Pat. Do you also have any answers? It does not appear so. Your notion that opposing Russian adventurism will corner her and make her join forces with our enemies making the situation much worse is absurd. First of all, who would they join? China? North Korea? Another abusrd is your implied suggestion that US needs to stand down and do nothing because we have done some bad things in the past. As to WWII and Poland (judging from your recent book, another challenging topic for you) do you think that GB and France ever regretted not doing what they agreed to, i.e., defend Poland? There are many military historians that believe France and GB would have gotten half way to Berlin in six days should they decide to attack Germany from the west in September of 1939. Had they done it there would not have been a WWII. And no, Hitler did not bulit up German military machine to recapture a Gdansk corridor from the pesky Poles. 50+ million lifes lost, most European Jews wiped out, Eastern Europe handed over to Stalin. Was it worth it not keeping the promise? The only way US and the West will be able to keep Russia at bay is through showing that we mean business. Gorbachev did not roll over until he realize that Soviet Union has no chances of surviving without economic and democratic changes and these were not possible without getting peaceful with the rest of the world.

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Pat, Keep writing on this subject. I have wondered if any others here in the west have an ounce of feeling for lives of Russian people! My wife is Russian, born in Kazakhstan. Her father was in Georgia in the 1980s and has written to me about the sequence of events in Georgia. It is convincing to me that Russia was not wrong, shows Georgia killed Russians and it seems no one here cares. We live "way out here" in western Kansas, but we are very in tune to the hipocrisy of nearly all media outlets on this subject. If you would like, I can send you his letter. We want to make an impact and I'll help you if possible! I think this is a very important subject for the long-term good of relations among powerful countries and the media here handle it very recklessly. Craig (cyplainsdrifter@yahoo.com)