Some informed information about Georgia

We must hope that urgent diplomatic and economic support from abroad, together with some self-critical reflection by Georgians at home, will yet help this proud, long-suffering people escape the humiliation and the debilitating cult of "innocent martyrdom" that has plagued post-Kosovo Serbia. But the Western media that blindly follow the Georgian nationalist line in discounting Ossetian and Abkhazian grievances—viewing their separatist aspirations as largely illegitimate or a Russian invention and casting the entire conflict as the Georgian David vs. Russian Goliath—serve neither the cause of truth nor reconciliation. And American officials who embrace this simplistic narrative—and who reflexively call for Georgia's rapid rearming and accelerated accession to NATO—risk further inflaming confrontation with Russia to the grave detriment of both Western and Georgian interests.

This is an excerpt from and article "Georgia, the Ignored History" by Robert English, published in the New York Review of Books from Nov. 6, 2008: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/22011

Two wise Finns about our security?

I remember a conversation in a café in Helsinki about 15 years ago. We were three men, the philosopher Georg Henrik von Wright, the veteran politician, former minister Jan Magnus Jansson and me. We talked about security, and reached the conclusion that both for Finland and Estonia the best, in fact, the only guarantee of security are normal relations with Russia. I still think this conclusion is valid today too, although I am not sure if we Estonians are able to establish such normal relations or have we become prisoners of our own politico-historical rhetoric. It is hard to believe that Russia is really interested in a permanent mini cold war in the proximity of its second largest city St.Petersburg. I wonder whether Moscow could accept the fact that it is perceived as a threat by Estonia, if it can be sure there is no threat to its vital Northwest region emanating from Estonia. Are these two fears, two views irreconcilable or not? This is the question.

Dangerous patriotism

Estonian newspapers tell us that the "nationalist" association ("rahvuslased") in the Pro Patria party supports the idea of introducing Estonian as the only language of education even in the Russian elementary schools. This is a provocative declaration. I cannot but recall and quote two paragraphs from an analysis on the homepage of the Stratfor institute. It's about the leverage Russia has in the Baltic states. Discussing the possible role of the local Russian-speaking population, the author adds:

"Perhaps an even bigger and more diabolical lever that the Kremlin could use is found in Baltic nationalist and neo-Nazi groups. Existing groups like the Latvian National Front and the National Force Union have been involved in violent attacks against minorities, including Japanese nationals and gay rights groups. Neo-Nazi groups in Estonia and Latvia have carried out re-enactments of World War II events and have staged parades celebrating Baltic Nazi units that fought against the Russians in World War II. Although these groups have not launched significant attacks on the Russian population, pro-Kremlin Russophones certainly fit into their target set. If they were to start targeting Russophone neighborhoods, businesses or other interests, this would be a spark that could provoke a Russian excuse for broader action.

Russian intelligence capabilities certainly include the ability to infiltrate foreign nationalistic groups and goad Estonian or Latvian nationalists into creating a justification for broader Russian action. With the trigger primed, the Kremlin could stir up its sympathizers in Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius to create political tension and violence in the Baltics."

Comments are not necessary.

Does democracy work?

For me, the American presidential elections are a test. A test of democracy and human stupidity. If the voters really prefer the tandem McCain-Palin, they think that the militant mom from Alaska could lead the world's only superpower, that she is competent enough to make decisions about war versus peace, about manned flights to the Moon and Mars, about missile defence and energy policies. The voters certainly know about the health problems of Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin's chances to take over. If she really is elected, American democracy has demonstrated that it doesn't work, that it is not a political system that can guarantee America and the world the things it really needs. It will be the end of democracy. And we, inhabitants of this endangered planet, must try to find out which political system should replace democracy.

Может быть нам повезло

Почти все эстонские политики выражают уверенность в том, что членство в НАТО наше крупное достижение и сильно укрепляет нашу безопасность. То есть уменьшает возможность российской агрессии и увеличивает нашу способность протоводейстия такой агрессии. В том же духе наши политики поддерживают членство в НАТО Украины и Грузии, считая, что и это было бы нам в пользу. Теперь, к огорчению нашим и другим политикам в восточной Европе, канцлер Германии Ангела Меркель выражала свое несогласие с том, чтобы украинцы и грузины присоединились к НАТО. Я думаю, что решение госпожи Меркель спасет нас от действительной опасности российской военной активности в прибалтийском регионе. Есть болшая разница между медведем в лесу и медведем, загнанным в угол. Как убедительно объясняют эксперты по геополитике и стратегии, если Украина присоединится к потенциальным противникам России, Россию невозможно защитить конвенциональными военными силами. Членство Грузии и Украины в НАТО для России нечто иное как завершение ее окружения недружественными государствами, членами могущественного военного аллианса. Если таковое сбудется, России останется либо сдаться либо предпринять самые отчаянные шаги, чтобы изменить ситуацию. Например попытаться достичь смены режима в одной или нескольких прибалтийских странах с помощью "активных мер" включая например несимметрические действия военных или полувоенных формировании на территории этих стран. Прибалтика -- слабое звено в натовской цепи и очень вероятно, что Россия этим воспользуется, когда считает, что новый натовский "санитарный кордон" угрожает ее безопасности или просто свободе действий. Если все же Украина и Грузия останутся вне НАТО, Россия не будет чувствовать себя окруженной и вероятность силовых действии в Прибалтике сильно уменьшится. Антироссийская риторика наших политиков Москву не очень волнует, есть у нее заботы поважнее. А этому мы можем только радоваться.

Shootings in Finland

Finland that wants to remake and repolish its image in the world has unhappily been on the front pages of European papers for its American-style shootings. Twice have young students opened fire on their schoolmates, killing several of them and then committing suicide. Now has a teacher shot his wife, their two children and himself. One reason of this could be the fact that rifles and other weapons are more accessible in Finland than in most other countries in Europe. But couldn't there be a psychological factor too? I remember the ideas of my friend, the Finnish writer Johannes Salminen who thinks that there are some inherent tensions and hidden conflicts in the modern Finnish society. There is very little urban culture in Finland, as most of its people are only first- or second-generation towndwellers. They have preserved many features of peasant psychology, but at the same time the Finnish towns are remarkably dull, there is little of the relaxed, lively urban atmosphere we can see even in neighbouring Sweden and Denmark, not to speak of older European cities. The praised finnish modern architecture is not very humanе, it has created masses of concrete boxes for people who would need a different, softer, not so thoroughly designed and planned environment. The Finnish towns and townships invite you either to leave for a trip to forest or lakeside or to drink. And Finns are heavy drinkers. And, as we see now, sometimes trigger-happy too. I don't feel at home in the well-planned finnish towns. I could even say that there is too much architecture in Finland. I understand the rich Finns who try to spend their old age in places where there is not much architecture in the modern sense of the word, in Italy, Spain or Provence, in buildings that were built in the traditional way, in towns that came into existence little by little, without any central planning. Or as it is said too -- where there is more architecture without architects.

Kommentaari häötäse diskussiooni

Netikommentaari omma aolehih diskussiooni är häötänü. Kommentaariumih ole-i inäp määnestki asist juttu, üts sõim ja tänitämine inne. Tõtelidsemba inemise taha-i inäp kommentaare kirotada, nii jääski tuu ulle ja ullikeisi tüümaass. Kaho om, netikommentaareh võissi just kõrralikku arutamist ja diskutiirmist olla, a põrõhõlla omma ullikese tolle võimaluse ärki võtnu. Ja nii elämi nigu nõuka-aol, ku asju õigehe es arotada. Piässi ütski aoleht olema, koh egä poole meelega poiskene vai mehekene päse-i kirotama, koh saassi asju rahulikult kaalu ja arutada. A ole-i viil säänest lehte Eestimaal.