On the same day the Obama administration caves to Kremlin pressure and undermines our NATO allies in Poland and the Czech Republic, we learn via Vlad Socor’s precise analysis that the Russians remain active in their illegal occupation of Georgia. Russia just signed 49 year military cooperation agreements with the “defense ministers” of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (both of whom just happen to be Russian citizens). The agreements call for Russia to build bases, station 1,700 ground troops in each enclave, and provide air space security and control. Russia will also train and equip Abkhaz and South Ossetian forces. Each of these steps is in utter defiance of the cease-fire negotiated by French President Sarkozy and endorsed by the EU, which required Russian and Georgian forces to return to where they were prior to hostilities. As Russia expands its illegal military presence, don’t expect Sarkozy or the EU to raise a peep. As for the Obama Administration, their policy toward Georgia seems to consist of nothing more than providing training but refusing to provide even defensive weapons, leaving Georgia conveniently defenseless on the platter for the Russian bear. The costs of Obama’s “reset” will be very high for Poles, Czechs, Georgians, and the many other Central and East Europeans that have relied on the United States for security. All Moscow sees now is a green light for aggression.
