Lecture on the conflict between Russia & Georgia

I attended a lecture on the conflict in Georgia, hosted by International Students for Social Equality (ISSE).  Jeff Lassahn, who is the president of the VCU chapter, spoke about the Russia -Georgia conflict, and how the conflict functions as part of a capitalist world.  Jeff began the lecture stating how the conflict began – a Georgian invasion of South Ossetia (population 70,000) , which many believe to have been planned in close collaberation with Washington.  After Russia devastated the Georgian army, they withdrew from Georgia into “breakaway provinces” which had received official Russian recognition of their own independence.  Jeff’s lecture then goes on to analyze the media’s coverage of the conflict, which he believes to be completely one-sided.  He also mentions the political hipocrisy of the conflict, with President Bush staing “Russia has invaded a sovereign neighboring state. . .  such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century” and Senator John McCain stating “In the 21st century, nations don’t invade other nations.”  It is quite obvious however, that we do.

            Jeff then goes on to analyze the U.S.’s anti-Russian stance.  Unable to comprehend why the president of Georgia would invoke the wrath of Russia, Jeff states that it is because the United Staes, who has revamped the Georgian army with U.S. equipment and technology, is “deliberately seeking a major escalation of tensions between Russia and the West.”  Jeff mentions the danger of escalating tensions with Russia, drawing parallels to the start of WWII in 1939, and quotes Leon Trotsky’s view on capitalist economy, which “means a ceaseless struggle for new and ever new fields of capitalist exploitation, which must be obtained from one and the same source, the earth.  The economic rivalry under the banner of militarism is accompanied by robbery and destruction which violate the elementary principles of human economy.”  Jeff ends his lecture mentioning the Marxist movement, stating that “the alternative of socialism needs to be critically studied and considered.” 

            While I enjoyed Jeff’s lecture, I have to say that it was definitely very one-sided.  Initially I decided to go to the lecture because I had not been following the Russian/Georgian conflict very closely, and wanted to learn the basics causes surrounding the conflict, as well as the current issues at hand.  While Jeff’s lecture certainly answered some of my questions, I walked away feeling as if I still had alot more reading to do to fully grasp all sides of the conflict.