Turkey sits in another crossroads of conflict
Turkey pursues economic ties of all sorts, as well they should; however, they are well advised to first assess the price one pays for such relationships. Remember, Turkey now shares an economic oil pipeline and new railroads with Georgia. If Russia disrupts Turkey's economic ties while pummeling Georgia, then what happens to Turkey in the long run?
Can Turkey also be a forthcoming loser?Anyone who knows even a little history about Georgia knows that they have never attacked any people or country and have always been the defenders not the aggressors. While Georgia is a small country, Turkey, on the other hand, quite large, shares Georgia's non aggressiveness against other states and also a lack of wins in their own democratic pursuits.
More reason for Turkey to tread carefully shaking hands with the Russians.Russia, not so long ago, took Georgian people out of their land in the middle of the night to commit genocide on the Georgians as well as transport masses to lands which they did not belong, trying to turn them into Russians. Turkey knows all too well that Russians did the same to many Turkish lands in Central Asia.
Now many Turks in the Stan countries believe they are Russian.Russia took peoples from many of their lands in Central Asia, transported them in the dead of night with nothing but the clothes on their backs to Russian territories to integrate them, giving them Russian identities and forced them to become and finally believe they were Russians. Of course, there are Russians in South Ossetia and many other Central Asian countries; Russians, too, were transplanted from their native lands.
Now what about Turkey's borders? Did they not change overnight because Russia gave Turkey some Georgian land, and the Georgians living there? Thus, more Georgians were displaced from their native land, and today, these Georgians claim Turkish citizenship.Georgians aren't Turkish just because they live within the borders of Turkey.
They're still Georgians; but since they've lived in Turkey for so many decades, many have embraced Turkish culture and traditions and many have inter-married. So, Turkey should damn well be protecting their acquired Georgian people!Now, Russia wants Georgia to be theirs once again and do not want any of the former Soviet countries to live independently.
The closer Georgia, and also Ukraine, get to Europe or joining NATO, the more aggressive Russia has become toward them especially in the past few years. When do you think the Russians will do likewise with Turkey as they near European accession?
At the present time, Russia could not hit Georgia in any way but militarily because they ran out of all other options. Russia cut off oil to Georgia (and others as well), so they'd have no heat in winter. That didn't work. They cut off Georgian exports to Russia, so they'd have no income from the massive former USSR; that didn't work. They planted moles throughout Georgia to undermine the democratic government and try to corrupt the brave spirits of Georgians.
That tactic has not worked as well as the Russians would like. I ask: "Who are the aggressors here? "Does Russia want to completely lose a country with people who have such a strong spirit that they have fought to remain independent, democratic and free from the Soviets many times throughout decades, even centuries?
 Does Turkey understand they could easily be under threat with Russia wanting Turkey's rich land as well?Each time Georgia has claimed their independence, Russia has perpetrated despicable acts against the Georgians, and similarly, against many nations, not theirs to begin with. Is Turkey that safe from this aggressor or does she feel confident in her relationships with Russia?Does anyone think that Georgia would attack another country or territory with less than 5 million of their own population and an army so small that their numbers do not equate to a small township in America?South Ossetia is part of Georgia and not a Russian territory or nation; yet, the Russians say they're protecting their own citizens.
How absurd that they take their military wares and forces across sovereign territory in the name of protecting their citizens! Protecting them from what?Russia knows that if they can penetrate Georgia through South Ossetia that it will be easier to cripple Georgia, and thus take over the Georgian land once again. Maybe they will continue and decide to take back the Georgian land that they gave to Turkey so long ago. Of course, if they tried to hurt Turkey, both Europe and America would be there to stand with the Turks.And what have the Russians done so far? They have penetrated Georgia, a sovereign nation, with their bombs, military might and other weaponry. It is not just in South Ossetia these crimes have occurred. The penetration has been felt all the way to the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi!Is this the new Russia, so free and democratic with their rhetoric? I think not! The Russian government has never changed; they just took a breather to gird up once again to hungrily consume other people and nations that have not bowed to them.Have we forgotten how the Russian government managed to take back all their utilities from those who had built it up after the USSR fall?
And how about the oil companies who were also exploring and finding oil in Russia, just to be ousted out of their finds by the Russian government. Does this mean nothing? No, it means that Russia will not sleep, ever, until they take back all they once had and through their usual hateful and detestable deeds. 26/08/08
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