south ossetia

It seems the Russia-Georgian conflict was not as clear-cut or black and white as some might have us believe:

Robert Reich has offered an alternative to the trillion dollar Government takeover of capitalism.

We need to keep a close eye on Russia's developing old style Sovietism.

Where I sit during Shabbat services, there is an IDF Lt. Colonel behind me and a full bird in front of me. This last weekend, both were shaking their heads--this is the price of delay. Putting off the inevitable strike on Gaza, Iran, whatever, to say nothing of the mismanagement of the 2006 skirmish has left both Israel and the US with a weak hand.

Cecil Friday gives some publicity to the latest conspiracy theory:

It is perhaps true that there is little America or any of its European allies could do to oust Russia from  South Ossetia.  And thus many have remarked that since against a nuclear-armed Russia, NATO can do nada, why extend the false promise of alliance to Georgia?  Let’s save that debate for another time. 

Sean Braisted explains why traditional pro-war and anti-war forces are not lining up exactly and vociferously over the conflict in Russia:

Dirty hippies, where for art thou dirty hippies?

That is the question posed by Steve Gill who wonders why American anti-war protesters haven't consumed themselves with the happenings over in the Eastern Caucuses.

A blogger at Media Lizzy doesn’t think a people should have self-determination unless they have sufficient numbers: