We Haven’t Converted the Communists
August 13, 2008
Russia’s invasion of Georgia is a reminder that just because the Berlin wall came down 19 years ago did not mean that all of those communists walked the sawdust trail of repentance. All of those communists did not become converts to capitalism, democracy, human rights and religious freedom.
Quite the contrary. Vladimir Putin, who continues to run things through his country’s puppet leader, once headed the KGB, the Soviet Union’s notorious spy agency. Putin never made a statement renouncing communism and embracing Western values. In fact, he has been trying to restore Russia’s greatness and power through means that resemble the Soviet Union under previous and long deceased leaders.
Mikhail Gorbachev, the last unelected Soviet leader, has written an opinion piece in yesterday’s Washington Post which basically blames Georgia for instigating the confrontation that resulted in Russia’s invasion.
Barack Obama and John McCain issued statements about all this. Obama wants the United Nations involved and more diplomacy. McCain warned Russia of grave consequence and favors its expulsion from the G-8. I’ll leave it up to you to decide who has the best position.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
Originally published August 13, 2008.
