Posted by
Boaz on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:58:31 PM
Russians Fear Mc Cain?
An OpEd in the Moscow Times as reprinted from the Financial Times London, outlines what the Russian concerns are from a John Mc Cain presidency. In a word it is his Conservative attitude and his prior Conservative statements, plus what the writer Anatol Lieven who is a professor at Kings College, Cambridge describes as being a natural incendiary.
The writer describes the problems as ideology, policies and personality.
Some of the Senator Mc Cain quotes used by the writer are:
In 1999, McCain declared: "The U.S. is the indispensable nation because we have proven to be the greatest force for good in human history. ... We have every intention of continuing to use our primacy in world affairs for humanity's benefit."
McCain declared in 2000: "I'd institute a policy that I call 'rogue state rollback.' I would arm, train, equip both from without and from within, forces that would eventually overthrow the governments and install free and democratically elected governments."
The statements obviously seem to be of concern to the Russians. External politics of the region which includes Georgia and Ukraine has some in Russia concerned regarding the early entry of Georgia and Ukraine to
NATO. Apparently the Russians don’t have any special desire to give up their influence in the formerly Georgian regions of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia.
South Ossetia is at this time an Iranian language area, having been originally populated by
Kabards who are primarily Sunni Muslim in the Middle Ages.
John Mc Cain has made a fact finding visit to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone on August 26, 2006. His findings did not paint an especially rosy picture of the conflict area. It’s easy to understand why the Russians would be a bit miffed at a Senator from Arizona poking his nose into what could be considered a “sphere of influence” which only until the breakup of the former Soviet Union was a vassal state of the USSR.
The concern of the Russians in regard to Georgian rule in the area is understandable from the viewpoint of the Russians having to take sides. If a war breaks out again the Russians must choose either the Georgians –who are more closely aligned ethnically with Moscow, or choose the South Ossetian break away government which is aligned as a predominantly Sunni Muslim region. Who does Russia want to irritate the least?
For America, the idea of having a small conflict zone in that region which would pressure the Russians to enable or shun either side seems a win/win situation. The beauty of the situation is that it might not even take any external force to foment the discord, but to just allow the situation to take its natural incendiary course. (pun intended)
All of this points to only one issue for me. I may have to do more than hold my nose to vote for the “maverick” of CONgress, I may have to have my nose cauterized instead, but the reality of life today is that John Mc Cain is a better choice than either of the other two pre-schoolers on the Dim-a-Krat side of the Aisle.
One of the largest problems we as Conservatives will need to keep an eye on is the issue of Illegal Immigration, John wants to bring ‘em in, Nancy Pelosi wants them in, Harry Reid wants them in. The only folks who don’t seem to want a bunch of Illegal Invaders in the Country is… the rest of the Country.
Editors note: Anatol Lieven aside from being a Professor at Kings College, Cambridge is also a senior research Fellow at New America Foundation.
I will admit it is possible for the "Foundation" to be just what it says it is. But I am always just a bit suspicious when any group of Leftist Americans and Non-Americans develop associations to advise and foment opinions on the state of the state of the USA.
The NAF smacks of U.N. style "America is Wrong At Every Turn" mentality to me.
While the stated program of NAF is one of “actively encouraging a variety of opinions” from leafing through the Bio’s of the Fellows and Senior Fellows, the conservative approach is held by only a smattering of them. The “Token Conservatives” it seems.
And as for Senator Mc Cain as a natural incendiary - Flame On Dude!