Tuesday, 12 August 2008

Russia: Defying the laughter of tyrants

CICERO'S SONGS

MUSINGS ON WORLD EVENTS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A SOCIAL AND AN ECONOMIC LIBERAL.

MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2008

I have spent an emotional day with Georgians.

"My best friend- I have known him since he was six- is in the artillery in 
Gori. I do not know if he is dead or alive".

"The lines are down, I don't know where my family is"

Make no mistake -this was a war of Russia's choosing.

As the government of Georgia make a stand in the compound in Tbilisi, Russian troops have roamed at will across the country.

The defeat is complete, but Russia continues to pretend that Georgia fights on.

The latest nonsense is "Georgian agents are creating terrorist incidents in Russia". Only someone educated with the tin ear of the Stalinist could think that anyone beyond themselves could believe such a complete lie.

In my opinion, Russia can no longer be treated as anything but what she has become: a treacherous aggressor, contemptuous of human life.

People in the West are wringing their hands and saying "but what 
canwe do- surely nothing?"

Do Russian spies not function with impunity? Expel them.
Is investment going to Russia? Stop it.
Is technology going to Russia? Ban it.
Do Russians enjoy shopping in the West- no visas.
Russian 
cyber attacks? Close the Russian Internet access to the outside world, as it is reopened, close it again, and again- replicate the cyberattacks they launched against Georgia (oh, and NATO, last year).
Does Russia like i-phones? No export of any technology.
Does Russia wish to join 
WTO? Stop it
Are they members of the "G-8"? No, you mean G-7.
Abrogate all military treaties including START.
EBRD and EIB investments in Russia? Suspend them.
No most favoured nation status- extra tariffs on Russian exports.
Russia craves respectability? Deny it- it is a thuggish third rate power- it will be hurt by a concerted boycott- so hurt it!

Do not panic about the gas- Qatar has more, and Russia has no one else they can sell it to in the face of a boycott- they are as dependent on us as we are on them.

What can you do personally? Why not ask your pub to boycott 
Baltika? As for Stolichnaya- Polish Wodka is better tasting anyway- Ask forBelveder (Belwederska), or Poctocki.

Please feel free to add any further ideas.

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