Russia Never Wanted a War By MIKHAIL GORBACHEV

[groovedaddy]

THE acute phase of the crisis provoked by the Georgian forces’ assault on Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, is now behind us. But how can one erase from memory the horrifying scenes of the nighttime rocket attack on a peaceful town, the razing of entire city blocks, the deaths of people taking cover in basements, the destruction of ancient monuments and ancestral graves?

Russia did not want this crisis. The Russian leadership is in a strong enough position domestically; it did not need a little victorious war. Russia was dragged into the fray by the recklessness of the Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili. He would not have dared to attack without outside support. Once he did, Russia could not afford inaction.

The decision by the Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev, to now cease hostilities was the right move by a responsible leader. The Russian president acted calmly, confidently and firmly. Anyone who expected confusion in Moscow was disappointed.

The planners of this campaign clearly wanted to make sure that, whatever the outcome, Russia would be blamed for worsening the situation. The West then mounted a propaganda attack against Russia, with the American news media leading the way.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/opinion/20gorbachev.html?th&emc=th

[Hugabear]

1. B..b..but the neocons need Russia as a boogeyman!

How dare anyone bring rationality into this?

[AntiFascist]

2. First we were lied into a war with Iraq...

now we are being lied into a conflict with Russia, all for the benefit of getting McCain elected.