BlogJunkies

Ceasefire In Georgia Dashes Neocon Predictions Of Russian Expansion In The Region

August 13, 2008 on 2:03 am |

The New York Times reported that earlier today, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev had ordered a cease fire in Georgia saying that “the goal of the [military] operation has been achieved.”

His announcement, however, may have come as a shock to some neoconservatives. Within the last 24 hours, many have been latching onto another “domino theory” to justify U.S. involvement in the conflict — predicting that Russia would expand the war outside Georgia to other nations in the region, particularly Ukraine:

– Max Boot: “The Russian attacks on Georgia, if left unchecked, could easily trigger more conflict in the future. […] Today, Georgia; tomorrow, Ukraine; the day after, Estonia?”

– AEI Fellow and McCain adviser Gary Schmitt: “It is also about resisting Russia’s openly hegemonic designs on its neighbors — including Ukraine.”

– Wall Street Journal: “Unless Russians see that there are costs for their Napoleon’s expansionism, Georgia isn’t likely to be his last stop.”

But staunch neocons John Bolton and Charles Krauthammer went a step further. Krauthammer said the U.S. should “protect Ukraine,” station U.S. troops there, and admit them into NATO, while Bolton claimed Russian Prime minister Vladimir Putin is trying “to recreate the Soviet Union.” Watch it:

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who has issued harsh rhetoric towards Russia in recent days, thinks that Bolton’s idea isn’t too far off the mark. McCain told a Pennsylvania radio station today that “it’s very clear that Russian ambitions are to restore the old Russian Empire. Not the Soviet Union, but the Russian Empire.”

The neocons have been eager to see U.S. military action against Russia in order to defend Georgia so it seems then that Medvedev’s announcement may come as sad news.