[galraen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother None Hmmm. I admit, that was somewhat poorly worded. However, spheres of influence is a key political concept that tends to harm the countries under the sphere, but at the same time avoid wars between different spheres - if you know what I mean. But you're right, it has caused a lot of nastiness in the former Soviet-Union and South America, amongst other places. I was mostly thinking of - say - the way the political concept has helped alleviate major wars over such places as Cuba. Likewise, recognition of Eastern Europe as the Soviet sphere of influence helped stop "internal" issues from escalating into international war, though they certainly did not benefit the local populace. Still, you're right, and I certainly don't mean to approve of the concept wholesale. As I said, while I do think Georgia has to gain from holding to good-neighbour policy, I realise sphere of influence-thinking will likely just bring it under the fold and make it hold to Russia-first policies. That's the reality, but I certainly don't approve of it.

I thought I'd deleted the text in my previous post as it was written in anger, for some reason the edit didn't take.

The reason I was angry was that I'd come to the conclusion you knew what you were talking about, even though I disagreed with you on some points. In light of that the piece I quoted came across as sheer sophistry. One has only to study the leadup to World War One to see where Sphere's of Influence, or drawing lines in the sand can get us. Certainly they may cause the nations intent on belligerence to hold back for a time, whilst they tool up, which leads of course to arms races and the resulting conflict is even worse than it might have been had the SOIs not existed.

However I'm the last person to critisize others or prolong an argument over unintended conclusions being taken from ones words.

My real concerns, beyond the immediate repercussions are about where this is all taking us. At the moment Russia (in my view) saw this as an opportune moment to push it's luck. The US and it's pet puppet are still bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan so couldn't respond even if they wanted too, and because of that don't have any moral grounds to critisize Russia for doing what they're doing themselves. Although that hasn't stopped them bleating of course, and unfortunately the chance of any meaningful progress on nuclear disarmament, or any disarmament has been well and truly kicked into the long grass.