Two important articles:

• Caroline Glick, “Column One: Georgia, Israel, and the nature of man”, in The Jerusalem Post, 8/15/08.
Reading it left me sick at heart, for I find I agree with her unflinching analysis of the situation in Georgia, and its ramifications.

• Spengler, “Americans play Monopoly, Russians chess”, in Asia Times, 8/19/08.
I usually find Spengler at least intellectually bracing, and often brilliant in his analysis. This article is Spengler at his smug, arrogant, blood chilling worst. I’ve no idea who he is or from whence he hails, but the article has the stench of the British Foreign Office about it. Dunno. One of its few redeeming features in my eyes, and the reason I note it here at all, is his analysis of the desperate demographic situation Russia faces. From this demographic perspective, Russia’s move against Georgia, and in the larger frame its preparations for probable moves against Ukraine and the other countries in its near-abroad, take on more structure. The seemingly chaotic rampage shows greater purpose.

So, it’s about oil/gas hegemony. It’s about a dying nation desperate to renew itself. It’s either expand or die. And use any means however brutal, military and nuclear to achieve the goal.

Of course, this sounds familiar. Russia is trying to claw its way out of the same pit that Iran is trying to escape. The wild card with Iran is the theocratic hot sauce inherent to their culture. The Russians prefer their paradise as terrestrial as possible, so the 72 virgins in the afterlife hold little appeal.

And here we sit in the US and EU doing what? Most likely, feverishly starting a new list of appeasement goodies for the indefatigable Javier Solona to humbly offer up, this time to Russia. …..pecata mundi…..