An excellent statement, Cedarford.

Remember also that Tsarist Russia defended Christian Georgia and Armenia from the Ottoman Empire and kept the Ottoman Empire out of the Caucasus region. In addition, Tsarist Russia kept much of the Azerbaidzhan population independent from Iran.

Russia built the roads and ports in the region. Russia established and enforced the borders and generally maintained law and order and prevented ethnic warfare. Russia provided a common language. Russia provided opportunities for higher education and for career development.

It’s a mistake to think that most people in the Caucasus hate and reject Russia or to think that Russia is motivated by a desire to conquer and oppress the region’s natives. The USA should give Russia due respect for the many positive contributions it has made to the welfare and development of the Caucasus during the past three centuries. We should not be gearing up a propaganda campaign to smear Russia’s role negatively in this current crisis.