Russia Caught in Controversy and Hypocrisy

Russia will use any means possible to snub the United States. In the eyes of the Russian Government (or Dictatorship), Russia a world superpower that gets no respect. A few months ago on VFC's News House, VFC looked to the Russian-Georgian situation as a possible flashpoint, specifically the Abkhazia region.

Once Kosovo declared it's independence, it was obvious that Russia, a staunch ally of it's Slavic brethren Serbs, would throw it's hand into the ring.

Time went on following Kosovo's declared independence and the Serbs held new elections; but the Russian opinion was largely ignored.

No one really cared that Russia did not recognize an independent Kosovo, a breakaway republic of Serbia, but as far as Russia was concerned, Russia would stick up for it's fellow Slavic state at a time when rebels dared to break off and take land away from the Serbian State.

At the same time, Russia would be snubbing it's nose at the US and the West; to all that did not pay them any mind and instantly recognized Kosovo.

Then, months later, South Ossetia wanted to do the same thing as Kosovo, and break away from it's current state, Georgia. For all the rhetoric coming from the Kosovar Government that the two situations are completely different, there is too much that links these situations together.

Kosovo was a breakaway republic; South Ossetia is the same.

Serbia hasn't recognized the breakup; Georgia has not recognized an independent South Ossetia.

Perhaps the most glaring similarity is this: Russia wants to be involved, but not necessarily to do the right thing, but to snub the West. If Russia wanted to maintain standards, then they would tell the South Ossetian rebels to stick with Georgia.

Isn't that what they've told the Kosovars?

Russia's stance has been to recognize the previous international boundries of Serbia, which include Kosovo. They have asked the question of how can the International Community allow the Kosovars to violate international law.

But in the case of Georgia and South Ossetia, the Russians support the breakaway republic.

Why?

Is it because the Russian sphere of influence is strong in Ossetia? Do the Russians feel that since this sphere is so strong that they are the rightful 'caretakers' of this region?

Or is it that the Russians are threatened by Western influence penetrating the Georgian Government and it's people?

Or, probably most likely, is it that Russia just wants to be an irritant to the West?

Russia is the peacock that wants to spread it's feathers and flex it's chest.

So the hypocrisy of the Russian situation exists; the fundamental double standard.

But they've made their point of saying, "We're on OFP. Our own plan." Whether one plan contradicts another doesn't matter. As long as they irritate the United States, Russia will be happy.

So while Medvedev staes that Russia will support the decisions made by the people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia (but not the people of Kosovo), he's really saying he'll support whatever gives Russia the chance to spread it's feathers.

The people don't matter and the countries and regions don't matter. To Russia, what matters is that this is another line drawn in the ever-increasing battle, if not Cold War, between East and West.

The European Union should be the ones to stand tall against Russia, but most probably won't, because of their reliance on Russian oil. That leaves, once again, the US (and possibly Britain) to confront the Russia.

And the Kosovars can breathe a sigh of relief, as the spotlight is off them for a while.