What did Russia really gain from the South Ossetian war?
One thing that I read, while looking at some old articles from the escalation of conflict during the South Ossetia War (or whatever they call it now) between Russia and the South Ossetian militia against the Georgian armed forces, was this in an article by the New York Times called "A Superpower is Reborn":
This is not just because, as some foreign-policy “realists” have argued, Moscow has enough troops and oil to force us to take into consideration its supposedly irrational fears. Rather, the conflict in Georgia showed how rational Russia’s concerns over American meddling in its traditional sphere of influence are, and that Washington had better start treating it like the great power it still is.
Concerning the last few sentences. Honestly, I do not see why people keep saying that the South Ossetian conflict was one where Russia finally flexed their muscles to the world and regained their superpower status that the former Soviet Union had in their rivalry with the United States. We see countries like Georgia and Ukraine who are further pushing themselves out of Russian influence and are trying to land a bid in NATO, and depending on a variety of responses, we could very well see them joining NATO or even just developing more friendly relations with countries to the West. No, this isn't a 'conspiracy' of the West attempting to dislodge Russia from their current position, unless you're into that kind of thing. Countries like Georgia, Ukraine, Poland and Estonia attempt for NATO within their own accord, and are not pressured by the West as joining NATO means a country has to initiate costly reforms in their state. Basically, in my opinion, the effort Georgia has put into joining NATO - literally fighting - is enough to warrant that Russia's perceived grip over neighboring countries is faltering. Look at it, Georgia fights, Ukraine thinks about blocking Russian ships deployed in the Black Sea from returning to their port in Sevastopol (if I recall correctly) and the heightened warning to Russia by certain Baltic states and Eastern European states really develops this theory of faltering Russian influence. Some might say that the Russian victory over Georgia was one to protect their interests - here, they are in the right. Russia did protect their interests; however many see this in the light that the West just took a huge strategic blow. To me, after examining the above, Georgia going to war, Baltic and Eastern European countries somewhat resisting, and also the Polish pact with the U.S., the South Ossetian conflict shows a side of weakness of the Russian government. South Ossetia represents a scenario where the Russian administration did not get what it wants, so it stamped its foot like a frustrated child. Just because Russia managed to devour the minuscule Georgian army, they are not a superpower. In fact I would go as far to say the South Ossetian War did less for Russia than the benefits, as Georgia, Ukraine et al have been literally pushed away from Russian influence by...Russia itself. What are your thoughts? :hmmm:
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Originally Posted by Hesus de bodemloze
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