Russian adventurism on the rise.

Russian adventurism is once again on the rise. Will it go as far as re-invading the Baltics and Ukraine? Can not tell at this point. The machinations of PM Putin and the rivalry of Pres Medvedev and PM Putin to run the country encourages each to sound more pro-Russian than the other. There are two bones of contention between Russia on the one hand and Ukraine and the Baltics on the other. One is the discriminatory treatment of Russians who live in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. This is a legitimate grievance of Russia, though these populations were transplanted into the Baltics to colonize them for Russia. The second issue is the three ring circus of what WWII meant for these people. One the one hand, there are the Russians and those pro-Russian now, to whom the invasion by the Soviet Union was a "liberation." Then there are those who side with the local fascists and resister to Russia to whom the Russian invasion was just that - an invasion. The third ring is the population who regarded both the Germans and the Soviets as invaders and occupiers. This issue can be stoked, manipulated and used by Russia to re-invade. At the present time, the Russians are using groups of Socialists to condemn those who celebrate resistance to Russia as "fascists." This is done to irritate pro-nationalist elements so the disagreement escalates into violence. The Obamabots, as can be expected remain clueless.

Another area of rising tension is the increased adventurism of Russia in the Balkans. Americans should understand that the occupation of Kosovo by Albanian invaders, the subsequent ethnic cleansing of Albanians first then Serbs and the overthrow of the agreement to keep Kosovo part of Serbia gives a legitimate reason for the Serbs and the Russians to invade Kosovo.

The Bush administration made huge blunders in both Kosovo and Georgia. By continuing the pro-Albanian policy of the Clinton years and accepting the Albanian declaration of independence for Kosovo, the stage is set for an invasion of Kosovo. And by egging on the idiotic leadership of Georgia, a strong military response was assured by the Russians. No idiot should have missed the consequence that attacking Russian soldiers in South Ossetia would draw a strong response.

The failure of US governments to co-operate with Russia to produce a situation that everyone can live with has played into the hands of people who see politics as an all or nothing proposition. That always leads to war.