WHY THE WAR BETWEEN GEORGIA AND RUSSIA MATTERS...A LOT! by Larry Stout
WHY THE WAR BETWEEN GEORGIA AND RUSSIA MATTERS...A LOT! by Larry Stout 8/10/08
I recently attended a conference of the International Institute for Christian Studies and found it unbelievably refreshing to be around 200 people who actually knew where Latvia was on the map! Most of those who were working in Russia and Eastern Europe had even been to Riga. The astuteness to world affairs was a tremendous asset when discussing various issues relating to international outreach efforts and how world events impacted global missions.
I thought of that fact this week as word began to emerge of the skirmish that has begun between the countries of Georgia and Russia over a tiny strip of land known as South Ossetia. With the Olympics going on and the Democratic National Party Convention right around the corner, it would be easy to ignore this tidbit of world news. But be forewarned – this could turn out to even over shadow the Iraq War itself.
Here is why: a major oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), transports oil from the Caspian Sea to Turkey. The BBC has reported that Russia has “steadfastly opposed” the construction of this pipline, recognizing that “the new conduit stands to severely weaken Russia’s grip on regional energy exports.”
The BTC pipline runs through the area of South Ossetia, within the geographical boundaries of the Republic of Georgia, but the Russian Federation recognizes it as an ‘independent republic.’ The two countries have had something of a Mexican standoff over the past decade, but the Georgians knew that Russia had designs on the region (just ask the Chechens). With the American election looming just months away, the Georgians were apparently very worried if NATO and the West would support them if push came to shove. So they pushed...
The Georgians marched troops into the region, and the Russians responded with a sledge hammer to swat a fly. They have bombed the city of Gori (not even in South Ossetia, the disputed region) and the death count is mounting. The Georgians cannot match the firepower of the Russians, and await the world’s response to this aggression.
The presidents of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania wasted no time in expressing their commitment that “aggression against a small country in Europe will not be passed over in silence or with meaningless statements equating the victims with the victimizers.” These countries have no illusions about Russian imperial interests - they realize that all too easily - they could be next.
And they are not the only ones watching. Iran has been saber rattling for some time now, and they are also curious if the West will stand up to an oppressor -- or will say that “mistakes” like the liberation of Iraq and the War on Terror were not worth the effort.
Some have accused me of being a war hawk, but that is not true. I wish the world were a better place. I wish it were possible to sit down and ‘establish a dialogue’ with terrorists who strap remote control bombs on mentally retarded children and send them into crowded marketplaces and set them off. I wish I could enjoy watching the world’s athletes run and jump and compete in the spirit of Olympic community, in a country that condones virtual slave labor, and sells vital organs for profit of its religious prisoners.
Forgive me, but I live in a different world than that, not where we could all just join hands together and sing John Lennon’s ”Imagine” in global harmony. I agree with Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, who states that all of society’s problems stem from a failure to obey the gospel. I believe the gospel is necessary to change the hearts and lives of this wicked, corrupt, and fallen world. I long for the day when we can beat our swords into plowshares. But until Jesus returns, we will have to defend ourselves against evil men.
It is not a cliché…The most important thing you will do this day is pray! Your prayers make a difference!
I recently attended a conference of the International Institute for Christian Studies and found it unbelievably refreshing to be around 200 people who actually knew where Latvia was on the map! Most of those who were working in Russia and Eastern Europe had even been to Riga. The astuteness to world affairs was a tremendous asset when discussing various issues relating to international outreach efforts and how world events impacted global missions.
I thought of that fact this week as word began to emerge of the skirmish that has begun between the countries of Georgia and Russia over a tiny strip of land known as South Ossetia. With the Olympics going on and the Democratic National Party Convention right around the corner, it would be easy to ignore this tidbit of world news. But be forewarned – this could turn out to even over shadow the Iraq War itself.
Here is why: a major oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), transports oil from the Caspian Sea to Turkey. The BBC has reported that Russia has “steadfastly opposed” the construction of this pipline, recognizing that “the new conduit stands to severely weaken Russia’s grip on regional energy exports.”
The BTC pipline runs through the area of South Ossetia, within the geographical boundaries of the Republic of Georgia, but the Russian Federation recognizes it as an ‘independent republic.’ The two countries have had something of a Mexican standoff over the past decade, but the Georgians knew that Russia had designs on the region (just ask the Chechens). With the American election looming just months away, the Georgians were apparently very worried if NATO and the West would support them if push came to shove. So they pushed...
The Georgians marched troops into the region, and the Russians responded with a sledge hammer to swat a fly. They have bombed the city of Gori (not even in South Ossetia, the disputed region) and the death count is mounting. The Georgians cannot match the firepower of the Russians, and await the world’s response to this aggression.
The presidents of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania wasted no time in expressing their commitment that “aggression against a small country in Europe will not be passed over in silence or with meaningless statements equating the victims with the victimizers.” These countries have no illusions about Russian imperial interests - they realize that all too easily - they could be next.
And they are not the only ones watching. Iran has been saber rattling for some time now, and they are also curious if the West will stand up to an oppressor -- or will say that “mistakes” like the liberation of Iraq and the War on Terror were not worth the effort.
Some have accused me of being a war hawk, but that is not true. I wish the world were a better place. I wish it were possible to sit down and ‘establish a dialogue’ with terrorists who strap remote control bombs on mentally retarded children and send them into crowded marketplaces and set them off. I wish I could enjoy watching the world’s athletes run and jump and compete in the spirit of Olympic community, in a country that condones virtual slave labor, and sells vital organs for profit of its religious prisoners.
Forgive me, but I live in a different world than that, not where we could all just join hands together and sing John Lennon’s ”Imagine” in global harmony. I agree with Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, who states that all of society’s problems stem from a failure to obey the gospel. I believe the gospel is necessary to change the hearts and lives of this wicked, corrupt, and fallen world. I long for the day when we can beat our swords into plowshares. But until Jesus returns, we will have to defend ourselves against evil men.
It is not a cliché…The most important thing you will do this day is pray! Your prayers make a difference!
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