But I just want to emphasize again, Russia is a state that is unfortunately using the one tool that it has always used, that will make it - that - when it wishes to deliver a message, and that's its military power. That's not the way to deal in the 21st century. And if Russia wishes to make a different strategic choice, as President Medvedev said, this is a bad way to start.
Ah, irony...thou art a fickle wench....
It never ceases to amaze me how loyal Bushies seem to maintain the illusion that their government has even the barest shred of credibility when it comes to instructing other nations on being good international citizens. I'm not about to begin to defend Russia, and their bloody invasion and occupation of Georgia is beyond reprehensible. Still, it seems to me that Condoleeza Rice lecturing Russia on playing well with others is the very height of chutzpah. The "do as I say, not as I do" school of international diplomacy is nothiing if not the very definition of hypocrisy...not that Rice or the rest of BushWorld would deign to recognize it as such.
Damn...how can such an ostensibly brilliant, capable, and accomplished woman be such a (&^%$#@ hypocrite? How is it that she either cannot or will not recognize the hypocrisy inherent in lecturing Russia about invading and subjugating a sovereign nation...when they've EXACTLY the same thing in Iraq?
WE DESERVE BETTER...and so does the rest of the world.
