Georgia - war of words

As we are watching the war in Georgia, another war in taking place behind the scenes. War of words. It is indeed debatable which one is more important from the strategic point of view. As the Russian army 'withdrew' from Georgia and the international community shakes its finger and shrugs its shoulders at the new noncompliant Russia, the story is already slipping of the news headlines.

What is notable though, is that while the physical battlefield has finally died down, the verbal battlefield is only in its opening stages. I would predict more is to come. While the Georgian president is making regular appearances speaking in Georgian and in his no less fluent English, explaining the events, defending himself, asking for help. Aside from communicating to his compatriots, his communication is aimed at addressing questions of the journalists.

On the Russian side the story is predictably much more colourful. A quick view on the international press over the last two weeks shows that the Russian government has been in a full time PR phase. PR phase, Russian government? This does not all seem to sit to fall together in one sentence. The soviet regime has a tradition of 'communicating' with its citizens through the solemn proclamations from behind the pedestal. This was the usual propaganda, nothing exciting. What's interesting is that more recently the Russian government (and by that I mean all the marrionettes collectively controlled by Putin) has launched a proactive international media campain to spread the propaganda beyond the ranks of already brainwashed comrades.

On August 20th, Lavrov affirmed quiet bluntly in the Wall Street Journal of all places that "America must choose between Georgia and Russia" (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121919150258855111.html?mod=googlenews_wsj), the basic premise of which was to say in not such roundabout fashion that whatever you little people believe it, you have to choose between us or them (the 'black asses' as Putin allegedly refers to Georgians in diplomatic discussions). In a little more subtle piece published a few days later (August 26), Medvedev himself explains to all of us who might have misunderstood what has gone all over the last couple of days (that Russia annexed Georgian territory) "Why I had to recognise Georgia's breakaway regions"(http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9c7ad792-7395-11dd-8a66-0000779fd18c.html ). Even more well crafted, the article explains to the Western audiences that their leadership has ignored the "delicacy of the situation" and "Russia's repeated warnings".

Chapeau, as the french would say. The Russians seem to have recognised the power of international media - after all, it's just another way of publishing propaganda. During the Cold War, the propaganda machine was for internal consumption only, and the KGB was busy making sure no one would get the wiff of news outside, god forbid from BBC news. Now, they have woken up to reality that they can 'explain themselves' internationally. Wow, it's like the Cold War, but better!

Maybe it's my black sense of humour, but I cannot wait for the day when Sarkozy or Bush or Merkel or...writes an article explaining why the Russian government lies and manipulates. Such an article would provide some much needed background to the headlines of Russian papers such as this one, from today's Pravda ('truth' in Russian): 'georgia is dreaming of stealing Sochi from Russia.' Well, if Georgians are still able to dream about anything aside having a roof over their heads, it is certainly not about stealing Sochi. With what amunition? Oh, I forgot the Americans and the 'zionist entity' have provided Georgians with prenty.

Or take another headline from a paper similarly titled Komsomol'skaya Pravda (or something like communist truth'): "Nazarbaev says that he supports the actions of Russia." Well, while the title is not a lie per se, it is certainly not news - we all know that the Russians support the crazy leadership of Khazakstan. In light of all this, I have to say I am really looking forward for a retaliation from the west in this 'war of words' from the US, Canada, France, Germany, etc. Condoleeza Rice, with her PhD in Soviet history, seems well positioned to write one.