Кто за кого (a prelude to Балтика 5)..

I don't mean to turn this blog into a semi-political commentary, though when my weekly reading rotates between The Economist, BBC, The Onion, and Вести.. it's hard not to throw some things out there. Propaganda on both, no, all sides is stunning in the Georgian conflict. Both the subtleties as well as the wider drives in 'conspiracy' almost provokes more interest than the world-shaking conflict itself and how it has shed light on in the 'don't go there's' of Western-Russian relations.

I say all sides, because it's more than just Georgia-Russia or West-Russia. As Georgia isn't (yet) in NATO and thus remains susceptible to the full Russian political and military machine, there remains a divergence in perspectives (though Saakashvili's use of the EU flag during statements does suggest he feels differently). The Estonian take on all of this is special as well, and within that, the Russian-speaking Estonians vs. those with Estonian as a birth language. Haven't been following much of the US perspective, though it seems to take on the wider confrontation with Russia that has been brewing since 1992. European perspectives.. even going further to saying French-German perspectives, that of the British, and elsewhere, all differ. I've been mainly observing the Russian reactions on this whole deal, however, and many of my mornings before work of late have taken on the appearance of me with tea stapled to my hand and Вести television streaming online (often with some Soviet movie playing on my TV in the background as well.. nothing like an early onslaught!).

What provoked (ha.. and how that word has flown around in the last week) this post was this article from Вести (Vesti, for all the non-Cyrillicers) which just jumped up in the last hour. Apparently, as is being discussed in a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry, Georgian militia in cooperation with Ukrainian nationalists and Chechen terrorists (note: not just 'separatists') have taken part in and are planning more 'provocation for unrest' in Gori. Their tactic: dressing in Russian military and peacekeeping uniforms, then making their way around the city looting and committing general rape-kill-plunder sort of crimes against the local population. They also are, apparently, carrying or distributing video cameras so that the events may be recorded and thus allow the Georgian side to decry continued Russian occupation (of 'peacekeeping' forces though, mind you.. ha.. ha..) and in their hopes, pull NATO members deeper into the fray.

Obviously covering their back for the expected nights out of their future-militzia members scattered throughout Georgia now. However, I wouldn't put it past Saakashvili to attempt that through security forces, in an attempt to get the West to saddle up. And at the same time, Russian citizens feel reassured that their image (at least with themselves and those who speak the language) remains clean as a bottle of Russkiy Standart. One should remember, however, that Russian vodka does, from time to time, become somehow interlaced with industrial toxins.

Конец первой серии..

Edasi, вперед..