Categories: uncategorized
Date: 11 August 2008 19:16:09
"It's all just a little bit of history repeating", so sang Shirley Bassey & The Propellerheads.
If you don't believe this statement just look at what's happening in Eastern Europe these days.
A few years ago we were told that history was over, following the demise of the Soviet Union. 45 years of Cold War was ended and we welcomed the new democratic states of Eastern Europe, freed from the yoke of Soviet tyranny. Russia found itself isolated, defeated and close to bankruptcy. We rejoiced that we were safe from nuclear war and the "Red Threat".
17 years later and democracy in Russia is close to dead. Putin still pulls the strings behind the throne of President Medvedev and authoritarian has returned. Russia nows uses its energy reserves as a political tool to harry, destabilise and bully its neighbours.
Now we have the sight of a resurgent Russian military marching against a neighbour. South Ossetia has been a thorne in the side of Georgia since the breakdown of the former Soviet Bloc. Russia has been putting pressure on Georgia to fall into line with its wishes and move from the overtures made to the west.
What do we do in response? Protest feebly. We know that we won't do anything serious in response. Western Europe is too reliant on Russian gas and oil; how would we cope if they cut off our supplies? Britain and America are stretched with Afghanistan and Iraq too deal with. No one else has the nerve or capability to do anything to stop them.
Our only hope to pressurise our governments too do something positive Not just spineless diplomatic murmurings but strong pressure. We've been down this road before with Russia, Germany and other countries working in this way. Thew trouble is we are less able, willing or prepared to respond.
History Today:
1492: Roderigo Borgia obtains the help of the "Holy Spirit", by bribing enough cardinals, to become Pope Alexander VI.
1909: The first recorded use of the new emergency wireless signal, SOS.
1919: Following the abolition of the German empire the democratic Weimar Constitution is adopted. This is Grmany's first attempt at democracy after centuriess of monarchial/authoratarion rule.
1942: Prof. Barnes Wallis patents a "bouncing bomb" for use to breach German dams.
1965: The Watts Riots breakout in Chicago.
1968: The last steam passenger service runs on British railways, hauled by 'Oliver Cromwell'. B********!!!
1975: The British Government takes over ownership of British Leyland. Its long slow death begins.
2003: NATO takes over peacekeeping duties in Afghanistan, the first time it has operated outside Europe.