Russia's Neighbours Put On Edge By War Threat

From The Khaleej Times:

WARSAW - The conflict between Georgia and Russia has stunned eastern European nations who can still feel the scars of their domination by the former Soviet Union.

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland called on the European Union and NATO to oppose Russia's "imperialist" policy towards Georgia.

And even countries such as Sweden, which was not part of the Soviet bloc, expressed extreme concern at the conflict, making comparisons to Adolf Hitler's tactics as leader of Nazi Germany.

Russia has in turn been vocal in criticising neighbours such as Ukraine, which it accused of "encouraging" Georgia to attack the separatist region of South Ossetia.

"The EU and NATO must take the initiative and stand up against the spread of imperialist and revisionist policy in the east of Europe," the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland said in a joint statement.

Read more ....

My Comment: An added complication is that for most of these eastern European countries, sizable Russian populations exist. How these groups are treated has become a sore point between many of these countries and Moscow. Like Africa, many countries in the former Soviet Union were divided along lines that were arbitrary and/or done without consideration of the existing populations. For example, Crimea is 60% Russian, but it is a part of the Ukraine. Russia itself has numerous distinct minorities concentrated in certain parts of the country ... but they are part of Russia.

This tension is going to be around for a very long time. My only hope is that unlike Africa, Russia and its neighbors will never decide to go and embrace an environment of perpetual and constant warfare.