Is Russia Right?

I just watched feed from the U.N. on CNN. Russia's U.N. ambassador to the Security Council argued that it had no obligation, under its agreement with France and Georgia, to "immediate withdrawal." Instead, he argues they will withdraw as the international community can ensure the Georgian army stands down and its weapons and bases are secured. He also asserts the Russian army entered the disputed territories to protect the people from the Georgian army and that it only entered Georgia's soverign area, including the cities it now occupies, when Georgians fired upon them.

When our nation has worked to interject its will into other nations using force, we have justified these actions. The U.S. has preturbed the international community by acting on its own. These actions have usually resulted in little more than strong disapproval. Latin America, Middle East, Southeast Asia have all seen American involvement at the detriment of "national integrity." In light of such a history, American censure ring hypocritical.

Americans are critical of the media in its coverage of Iraq and Afghanistan, whether we charge them as biased against the administration or acting as puppets of the same. Surely coverage of items across the globe deserve similar scrutiny. Perhaps we are too complacent as our daily comforts are in jeopardy or we just have short memories for this nation's own indiscretions abroad. Either way, we should hear both sides before falling lock in step with rhetoric and propaganda.