The Russian people have had no historical defenses, no mountains or rivers or other natural barriers to make stands upon, as in Western Europe, and have been historically easy prey for anyone: Mongols, Vikings, Swedes, Germans, etc. sweeping in on the plains.
After Beslan, Russia was in shock. Russian children were brutally murdered, for incomprehensible political goals that were never in play. After a series of atrocities (Moscow Theater, bombings, etc.) designed merely to kill and terrorize.
It is no surprise that they agreed with Putin’s assessment that they were weak, the weak get beaten, and set about proving without a doubt, that Russia was not weak.
If it was not Georgia it would have been someone else. Ukraine, Armenia, Kazahkstan, Someone. Someone to make an explicit example of, so that others would decide NOT to repeat Beslan out of naked fear.
In a very PC-form, GWB had embraced the same doctrine, though with lots of US technology to minimize suffering and casualties, though not eliminating it.
ALL the great powers: Russia, China, the US, are caught in the same trap. Various rabbles, with no great powers of their own, can use modern technology to kill, terrorize, intimidate for no real reason but to kill and intimidate. To kill Russian children, Beijing busriders, or US office workers just because.
Each is responding in their own way. Russia with typical Czarist brutality, because that’s what they know and has worked in the past. Putin promises them no more Beslans through intimidation. Beyond the oil issue which dominates, ordinary Russians are afraid and WANT a brutal intimidator to insure no more Beslans, Nord-Ost theater massacres.
The US adopted the policy of pre-emption along with local ally-building. Not just in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. Special forces guys are all over there, training and trying to build institutions capable of snuffing out Beslans aimed at us, and willing to do so to maintain US power/help against rivals. [Something Russia, even with oil/gas prices up, cannot do.] This is the US tradition, think Fort Apache. We do this fairly well.
China has adopted a low-profile policy, followed by much more rigid policing at home (something Russia, too big and empty, cannot do, and that the US is unwilling to do). China avoids exposure whenever possible on Islamic issues, while ruthlessly arresting anyone who might be trouble at home. They don’t come out ever, either. Think of this as the “soft” Kung-Fu master, avoiding blows and using joint locks, throws, and quick strikes in response.
