Perspective too limited and distorted by anti-Russian bias.See my comment on the Paul Dibb posting of 20/8/2008. Leslie

re True Democracies & Genuine Free Markets

Peter Coates states that:

"Rising energy prices have boosted Russia’s economy enabling Russia to avoid any need to move towards true democracy or a genuine free market economy."

Naomi Klein's book, The Shock Doctrine, provides interesting background and analysis, concerning the inherent contradiction between "true democracy" and "genuine free market economy".
Her chapter on Russia is titled "Bonfire of a young democracy".

While I don't expect Peter Coates to adequately address the playoff between democracy and economics here, substituted rhetoric would well be left out of a more thoughtful opinion piece.

In its place could be some discussion of the influence of Israeli interests, American soldiers and Washington lobbyists, on events in Georgia.

If you are interested, Google "Randy Scheunemann" Georgia

for

McCain OK with aide's lobbying past
USA Today - 17 Aug 2008
... top foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann's past lobbying work. The fighting between Russia and Georgia has brought renewed attention to Scheunemann ...

McCain Aggressively Defends Scheunemann's Work For Georgia TPM
As You See It: Aug. 18, 2008 Santa Cruz Sentinel

McCain adviser got money from Georgia The Associated Press
New York Times - Washington Post

all 218 news articles »
dyn/content/article/2008/08/12/AR2008081202932.html -

and so on.

Or for a different perspective,
find some addtional context and analysis at

http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=14075

Leslie and Sir Vivor

Don't you think an independent country like Georgia has the right to get Western help, be it Israeli or American?

Australia gets US military help all the time.

Rather than citing sources that illustrate your prejudices you may wish to notice parts of the article that describe Georgia as "reckless" and criticising NATO for encouraging Georgia.

Regards

Peter Coates

Thank you for your reply, Peter

Sure, Georgia can ask the US for help. But help from anyone comes with strings attached, the more so when it comes from another soveriegn nation.

I expect you have read Des Ball's writing, in " A Suitable Piece of Real Estate" and as co-author in "The Ties that Bind". Those books still provide food for thought about our relationship with our friend and major ally, the USA.

As for your suggestion that I cite sources which illustrate my prejudices, am I to assume that, because you cited no sources, you have no prejudices?

But I certainly agree with you that Georgia was reckless. Reminds me of Iraq's reckless invasion of Kuwait, back in the last century.

Hey - - - How do these things happen?

Best wishes,

Sir Vivor

Yes I've read Des Ball's books. His last joint book http://epress.anu.edu.au/sdsc/cyber_warfare/pdf_instructions.html Chapter 6, page 125 - that's an interesting read...access to many things and no need for censors...

Yes countries (the US, Russia, Australian aid) rarely do anything for nothing.

If I were a conspiracy theorist I would say that the US university schooled President of Georgia has a few quiet friends in the US Government/conservative chatterati who said help would be forthcomining if he riled the Russkies at a strategic pre-November time.

The aim? Create a sense of uncertainty and new Cold War doubt that only the bold (anger problem?) candidate McCain can exploit. You need the firm hand of a serious old man when handling a drawn out crisis against experienced players who also, by the way, gain sabre rattling kudos in their own country.

Cynicism breeds accuracy I think.

Pete

Obviously that makes all of our media and political class the same so if you think that's good company, then continue with your lies.

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the link to the Waters, Ball & Dudgeon book. I was unaware of it.

Cyberwarfare is not at all my field, so it's going to need some chewing over.

Cheers,
Robert

Thanks Sir Vivor

For much shorter descriptions of cyberwarfare as it relates to Australia you may like to read the following:

- "Cyber Command may soon watch over us" on OLO, 10 Novemberr 2006, http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=5053 (see its comment string as well) and

- "The fifth battle domain - cyberspace" in News Weekly, 21 July 2007, http://www.newsweekly.com.au/articles/2007jul21_cover.html

To combat Russian hacking the Georgian cyber warriors may be relying on formal NATO/US help http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/14/europe/EU-GEN-NATO-Cyber-Defenses.php as well as on a disparate sea of international hackers (where half of cyberwarfare theory and practice began).

Too much appearing about cyberwarfare seems to originate from a US information (scare) campaign against Chinese government hackers. Just like all major countries use older style sigint interception all major countries are likely to be running their own intrusive hacking campaigns.

Similarly I think the term "cyberterrorist" has been misleading in many ways.

This is probably worth another article some time.

Regards

Pete

Here is a collation of Satellite data, it shows where the damage is worst in and around Tskhinvali.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/LPAA-7HMMB3?OpenDocument

http://img29.picoodle.com/data/img29/3/8/24/f_satellitepim_7769447.jpg

What is immediately apparent is that the damage within Tskhinvali itself is, apart from a few specific areas, fairly moderate, which suggests that the damage there is not the widespread destruction that has been claimed by Russia.

That is to be contrasted with the wholesale destruction in Tamarasheni (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamarasheni), a Georgian village directly to the north of Tskhinvali, where it appears that nearly every building is seriously damaged and/or destroyed. Also see the damage in and around the Georgian village of Ergneti just over the Georgian border (on the road to Gori).

For those here who prefer the Russian version of events, can someone explain precisely, how 'smugglers' (which is how the Russians claim the Sth Ossetians were armed) managed to sneak into the country heavy tube and rocket artillery? Especially given that there is only a couple of passes and they are ostensibly patrolled by Russian peacekeepers? I mean, there must be heavy equipment goat tracks given the damage distribution.

Or is Russia telling lies in order to cover up the ethnic cleansing that is being carried out in Sth Ossetia / Abkhazia by its citizens?