Russia Seeks Return to Soviet Domination

It is clear that with Vladimir Putin's invasion of the sovereign nation of Georgia, Russia is seeking to return to the old days of Soviet domination in the region.

The former province of the USSR had sought and won its independence from Russia at the end of the Cold War. As long as former Russian President Boris Yeltsin was at the helm, Georgia could be assured of its continued independence.

But with the ascension of former KGB operative Vladimir Putin to the nation's highest office, political observers have noticed a distinct turn away from the reforms accomplished under Mikael Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin and a gradual return to the oppressive policies of the old Communist USSR.

The relatively small nation of Georgia is no match for the Russian army. When the tanks rolled in, Georgian citizens were clearly outnumbered and overpowered. Reports from Moscow indicate that Putin plans to send in even more tanks and troops.

Clearly, the intent is a complete takeover of the country, which many analysts say poses an ominous threat to the region and may signal the beginning of a new Cold War.

European nations in particular have grave concerns about the Russian violation and its ramifications for other nations in the region.

Make no mistake, Putin is a Communist and never stopped being a Communist, though in the early part of his regime he acted as if he were a reformer in the tradition of Gorbachev and Yeltsin. The KGB agent in him is too strong and too powerful. His tactics were born in the bowels of the KGB. And his goal is Russian dominance in the tradition of Stalin, Kruschev, and Brezhnev.

The entire community of the free world should unanimously and strongly condemn Russia for its act of aggression against a basically defenseless sovereign nation.

And unless the Russian army stands down, there should be swift and resolute military consequences initiated by the West.