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Sunday Aug 17, 2008
Last week's major event took place one thousand and four hundred kilometers from here, in Georgia. Despite the distance, the war there has indirect implications for Israel and some important lessons for us.
The supposed cause of the war was the desire of two ethnic regions on the Georgia-Russia border to break away from Georgia: South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The real cause of the war was Georgia's desire to join NATO and the European Union, and Russia's desire to block such a move and destabilize the regime of Georgia's pro-Western President Saakashvili.
A rash action by Saakashvilli, a brutal response by Russia, and the grim results which we have all seen on TV.
What has the clash between Russia and Georgia shown us?
1. The world's response to the harming of citizens is selective and hypocritical. Had the IDF done in Gaza a tenth of what the Russians did in Georgia, the flood of criticism, condemnations and anti-Israel boycotts would have known no bounds. But when it's a superpower like Russia, all we see are feeble and polite expressions of regret.
2. Russia has gone back to behaving like the Soviet Union. This month marks the 40th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. What has changed?
3. The United States will not jeopardize its relationship with Russia to defend a small ally. Until now Saakashvili enjoyed total American and Western support. When he got into trouble with Russia, no Western country came to his defense. It was French President Nicolas Sarkozy who brought about the ceasefire, and it too isn't being kept.
This is the world we live in.
The lessons for us? A small country needs to know the limits of its power, and to apply it wisely when an essential national interest is at stake. We must also rely, in a time of need, only on ourselves - and build up our might in advance, on this principle.
And finally, an informative remark on the Israeli angle in this Russian-Georgian conflict.
The sale of advanced Russian weaponry (mainly new anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles) to Iran and Syria (and through them to the Hizbullah) took place before the Israeli supply of arms and know-how to the Georgian army.
The policy that the Ministry of Defense has followed in approving the arms deals with Georgia was balanced and correct.: on the one hand, readiness to train and improve the abilities of the Georgian Army and on the other hand, avoiding steps that would overly antagonize Russia.
We have no reason to beat ourselves up about this..
1 | Mike. Germany, Sunday Aug 17, 2008
What we have learned? You can't go kicking Russia around like the Arans or Persians. Russia has drawn the red line as to how close it will accept US agitators and CIA vasalls along its borders, threatening the lives of its citizens.
And we cannot accept this??? Didn't we accept Israel's amock run through Lebenon last year? A whole country destroyed and mined as revenge for the loss of a few troops?
2 | Ben Ami, Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday Aug 17, 2008
Good analysis and apt lessons for Israel. Indeed, we must always remember the limits of our might, and the limits of support that we can expect from our friends. Sadly, we cannot afford to reduce the defense budget right now, but we need to use the budget smarter (and I know from experience that we don't do that).
3 | nuchem, Sunday Aug 17, 2008
When Russia sees Israel tolerating western negev citizens being rocketed without reply, ditto for Darfur where the west does nothing, i.e. without action only talk, it knows the world is one paper tiger.
4 | Skylark, Sunday Aug 17, 2008
RUSSIA is testing NATO. RUSSIA is allied to Libya as proven in Putin's meeting with Libyan leader April 2008--why is Bush kissing up to Libya an enemy of Israel? Why did Bush say Iran is no longer in the "Axis of Evil?" Russians love Bush for kow towing before terrorist nations. Bush cannot be trusted. Bush wants to give Abbas 1/2 of Jerusalem. Can you figure out Bush is not on your side yet?
Bush's friend Sarkozy is building Libyan a nuclear reactor. You need a new PM Israel-One who will protect the Jewish people if you are going for light military losses on the future battlefield.
5 | Tod Zuckerman, Sunday Aug 17, 2008
If Sneh is so smart, why did he do such as a LOUSY job when he was in power ? He was an integral part of the team of "security experts" who turned the IDF into a no army army.
6 | 4. Be friendly with Russia !!!!!!!!, Sunday Aug 17, 2008
Dr. Sneh should remember the advice of his late father: for your own sake BE FRIENDLY WITH RUSSIA. Our major enemy is Islam, not Russia. Israelis do not need a visa to visit Russia. Do it. Believe me, Russians are much better to compare with Germans & Poles.
7 | karl C USA, Sunday Aug 17, 2008
Interesting blog by MK Sneh. I didnt know Israel sent arms and training to Georgia. I'm sure "Ras" Putin and his gangster Govt's nose was tweaked. Russia is an enemy of Israel. As for Georgia, Ras Putin, he wants to re establish the USSR.. Russia never lived that one down. Let's hope the Russian bear don't end up in Altlanta (Georgia)....But have no fear. Russia's army fails outside of its own soil. They got their tuchas kicked in Afghanistan...we should have let the Russkies take Afhganistan...they can have that bee hive. Russia...phooey on them..from the Czar to the Commisar!
8 | kenorzel@comcast.net florida USA, Monday Aug 18, 2008
I guess calling Russia a superpower fits with Sec. Madeline Albright's desperate desire (and the desire of the hoard of left wing suck ups) to have a 'multi-polar' world. If the USA did something like the Russians have done, the hand wringing would have rivers of blood in the streets. But now it is little Georgia that is painted, in some circles as the bad guy, heaven help us all.
9 | A.Naiman, Boston, USA., Monday Aug 18, 2008
I would like to make one comment related to "The lessons for us" While you are in conflict with your enemy, never rely on the western country to negotiate cease fire or any agreement with your enemy do it youself. Sarcozy's cease fire only helps Russia to build up more troops in the region and humiliated the Georgians.The same happens with Condy Rice when negotiated agreement for Israel to stop last war with Lebanon .
10 | alun london, Monday Aug 18, 2008
you cannot learn any lessons from Georgia to Israel Georgia exists in the Newtonion /fate /astrology /world of physical cause and effect ans therefore is subject to the normal laws of the universe Israel on the other hand lives in the world of quantum mechanics in which nature is defied thus when israel did the world's will the result was disasterous e.g the peace process and every withdrawal and 1967 ,Enttebbe Osirak,Syria 2007 and the bombing of Iran ,Syria ,Lebanon and Palestine 2006was completely successful as G-d ensured their sucess despite thye fact that the world opposed these actions
11 | jeff richey, Birmingham Al, USA, Monday Aug 18, 2008
Israel cannot trust Russia. Read the prophet Ezekiel. Russia, under LilliPutin, the Napoleon of the North, is only just whetting his appetite for territory. Reading some of the comments from the individual soldiers and ministers within their government is chilling. Any contiguous nations, especially to the south of Russia, that have not managed to get in with NATO should be very concerned. I personally think Turkey is in store for some roughing up pretty soon as well.
12 | Daniel Fischer Wilmington, Delaware, USA, Monday Aug 18, 2008
It is of course good to consider these lessons, but also acknowledge their context. Given that Israel's position is very much embedded in the conflict which the United States is now embroiled in, and considering the significant posturing that the U.S. has taken part in regarding the Israel and its enemies (albiet somewhat transient at times) I think it is safe to say that the other big lesson to learn is the one that is always there in big red letters: posturing from the rest of the world can ultimately make or break a victory.
13 | James, new york, Monday Aug 18, 2008
Russia is not better to deal with than Germany and Poland. It only has oil and lots of other stuff necessary for a good economy. Neither Poland, nor Germany aspire to rule the world. Neither Germany nor Poland have financed or supplied military technology to the neigboring arab countries for over half a century. Neither German nor Polish governments use Chabad or some other Jewish movement to instill appropriate political views upon their Jewish subjects.
14 | Claire L. Alexander New Orleans Louisiana USA, Tuesday Aug 19, 2008
President Bush has consistently extended the hand of friendship to Putin and the Russian people. It was done with a sincere desire to pull Russia into the modern world of Western democratic nations. Forging economic and cultural ties with the West has been beneficial to both countries. Working together to solve many of Russia's problems has allowed both Russians and Americans to realize how much we have in common. Each with a very different history, still both are Christian nations with a Caucasian majority. The goals of one is not so different from the other. It is the means and methods.....
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The Weekly Portion
Former Deputy Defense Minister Dr. MK Ephraim Sneh comments on the headlines of the past week.
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Recent Comments
David: Mr Sneh once again proves why we need not new Arab leadership in Israel, but new JEWISH leadership in Israel. Once again, the myopic leaders speak co-existence with a 5th column that is simply waiting for the day to make Israel greater Palestine. Trying to buy off the Arab population with "reverse discrimination" (i.e discrimation against JEWISH employment in Israel) is a futile effort which just testifies as to the total stupidity and lack of vision of our Jewish leadership. The Arab ultimate goal is coexistence with us only so long as necessary until they have the upper hand.
Daniel Pinner, Kfar Tapuach, Israel: Yona Geitel, try to learn history: In the era of Bayit Sheni, it was not "fanatic Judaism [that] brought destruction on Israel" - it was the Roman invasion. It was the "fanatic Judaism" of Rabbi Akiva and Shimon Bar Kokhba that defeated the Roman Empire and restored Jewish sovereignty for three tears - a unique feat in the entire history of the Roman Empire. And the Center/Left is not working hard to ensure the survival of Israel: they are working hard to collaborate with terrorists to advance their own political agenda. Such are the facts without historical revisionism or denial.
gary littwin: So do Israeli Jews. New leadership and new leaders as well. Any suggestions, Ephraim?
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