Russia - Can We Chill Out?

A plea to chill over the Russia-Georgia thing.

Here's the deal: Russia may be autocratic and not share our democratic impulses. They like to be feared, wealthy, and strong. Fine. I don't see an inherent conflict between us and the Russians. Nor do I see one with the Chinese - another illiberal society. These are people we are compatible with - maybe not simpatico - but at least can live with, so long as both sides mind their own business.

On the other hand, we have the toxic mix of Arab Nationalists and Islamic Fundamentalists, who are flip sides of the same coin in the Arab-Muslim world. These people do not like us and worse, aren't really rational about it. They are dangerous and the only extent to which we do not clash with them is that they have very limited power.

In the article, it says that ex-President Nixon proposed in 1991-1993, we should have done everything in our power to bring Russia into the West. I don't disagree, in hindsight. I can tell, however, that no one wanted to listen to Nixon because, well, he's Nixon. Americans, I think, too often are ready to toss those who've made mistakes wholeheartedly to the wolves and too gleefully enjoy disregarding everything they say, do, or have done. I still think this was the biggest flaw in liberal opposition to the Iraq War - liberals never wanted to deal with the issues - they're position was mostly "Bush is wrong, he is untrustworthy, and therefore, this whole think reeks."

I can hear the liberal response already - "Well, WE were right! There were no WMDs. Bush lied, Bush WAS wrong."

How far do we expect to get with this approach? Not far, I don't think. It will lead to what Shelby Steele predicts will happen with Obama - that he will become a tragic figure. Liberals think this guy is a Godsend, that whatever he does is good and right and to oppose him is a reflection of either racism or conservatism, both of which fit somewhere along the evil-scale in between nazism and big corporations. So to support Obama is to support what is good. But this is foolishness - Obama is a politician and will make compromises because that's what politicians do. And his supporters, who project their hopes and dreams on him (which is what McCain was getting at with his comparisons to celebrities) will ultimately feel disappointed and betrayed as soon as they learn, in the words of Apollo Creed's father, "He's a man. Not a machine. He's a man."

Anyhow, I heard someone describe Russia as Mexico with Nukes. Look up the demographics. Is it wrong? Plus, why can't we just let the Europeans deal with it? The EU is bigger than the US in economic weight and Russia is in their backyard and they didn't support us when we needed them in Iraq. Explain to me why it is in our interest to do the heavy lifting with the Russians?
And then what is there