War over Transdniestria?

ABC headline of tonight's interview with Sarah Palin, says apparently she implies

WAR MAY BE NECESSARY IF RUSSIA INVADES ANOTHER COUNTRY

So let me get this straight if Russia finds itself in a war over another frozen conflict, we will go to war? Does Sarah Palin understand the danger of that statement? Does she not realize that there are multiple "frozen conflicts" that are very similar to the situation in Georgia? 

The chance of more Russian military action, especially after its total success (at least from the Russian standpoint) of its war with Georgia, while not immediately apparent is very very plausible.

Just look at the frozen conflict in Moldova.

Moldova with just 4 million people is struggling to deal with the breakaway region of Transdniestria. This dispute is very similar to the one in Georgia. Russia even HAS TROOPS in Transdniestria - just as it did in S. Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia supports independence for Transdniestria and has used the breakaway region to undermine the Moldovan government. The International Crisis Group writes in 2004 that:

In its recent and largely unilateral attempts to resolve the Transdniestrian conflict, Russia has demonstrated almost a Cold War mindset...Russia remains reluctant to see the EU, U.S. or the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) play an active role in resolving the conflict because Moldova is still viewed by many in Moscow as a sphere of exclusively Russian geopolitical interest...Despite having accepted concrete deadlines for withdrawing its troops, Russia has repeatedly back-pedalled while trying to force through a political settlement that would have ensured, through unbalanced constitutional arrangements, continued Russian influence.

The Economist recently explained that Moldova is increasingly nervous:

Tiny Moldova is also anxious. Like Georgia, it has a breakaway enclave, Transdniestria, that is "protected" by Russian troops. Although Moldova has no aspirations to join NATO, it is keen to get into the EU. Its president, Vladimir Voronin, met his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, in late August. Mr Medvedev said there was a "good chance" of settling the dispute. But after the August war, the Moldovans fear, rightly, that this might be done only on Russian terms.

It is definitely not out of the realm of possibility that Russia could take military action against Moldova. The Russian motive for war with Georgia equally applies to Moldova. If Russia were to believe that Moldova was trying to move closer to NATO and the EU, it is entirely plausible that Russia could mobilize militarily. And if that were to occur, Sarah Palin's statement basically would commit us to war with another nuclear power. Supporting democracy is important. But it has its limits. And it is simply not in our national interest to make such blanket commitments that could lead to a much larger war.

Comments

[zizyphus]

Palin is no intellectual. She makes sure her constituents know that - when speaks to them in Alaska, she really lays on the country accent. "I'm goin' to Warshintun DC..etc." Then on her national appearances, she suddenly puts g's on the ends.

Her biggest achievement is being able to lie "without blinking" something that obviously can take you far in politics. She can repeat talking points, sadly, without comprehension.

[callowhill]

Self-confidence has been listed as one of Gov. Palin's big assets. She is so self-confident
that she has no need to check facts such as Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. As long as you have the truth why worry about facts. Science is supposed to study very complex issues to determine the truth.

It is easy to see why she has little use for scientific information on global warming. She already knows it is not true. She has been told from on high what the truth is so why bother about research or other messy information that destroys a good story.

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

Treaties that bind one country to come to the aid of another in time of war are the complete realization of the old saying-the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The idea that the U.S. could ever fight a war with Russia, even a non-nuclear war, without being brought to it's knees is nonsense.
Take a look at a map sometime. Russia could destroy almost every major city in the U.S. without ever having to travel more than 25 miles inland.
Russia could very quickly set up bases in the countries to our south that have come to loath the U.S. for its' backing of right wing dictators. Can you imagine how many lives it would cost just to uproot them from those positions, let alone trying to invade Russia itself?

[gwinegarden]

It looks good on paper, but this is how WWI started. A bunch of countries lining up behind others and then there was no stopping it.

[steven]

Doesn't Palin and hubby belong to AIP and want to leave our union- she should understand others with the same mind set.

[dishnit]

The clear danger here is the question.
Why Gibson even asked such an obtuse and provoking question is beyond belief.

[PizzaGuy1]

Are you SERIOUS?

http://latenightpizzas.wordpress.com

[gwinegarden]

That's it. Blame him.

He didn't ask the *right* questions.

[BeltwayBette]

Does Pretty Palin understand th danger of her sword rattling? She doesn't care.

The only thing she seems to understand is that if she puts on a good show she gets POWER and riches far beyone her wildest dreams.

She may be dumb enough to get caught paying herself to stay home but she isnt so dumb that she doesn't get that her little fifteen minute talk with the old man won her the jackpot!

[ProudNeoCon]

1) Palin specificly said that US may have to go to war IF the attacked country is member of NATO. thus it does not apply to Moldova

2) I really, really think you should have looked on the map before posting. With a little geography lesson you would have realised that Moldova has only 2 borders: Romania and Ukraine. Therefore in order to attack Moldova, Russai would have to invade on of those countries (I doubt either of them will let Russian troops pass their terretory on the way to Moldova);...

[steveward14]

Sarah who?

[MajorKong]

Well, it's not like Russia is a major nuclear power or anything. Oh wait....

[moonwatcher]

Apparently a lot of people don't remember our history with Russia. After WWII Americans were tired of war and Russia was our ally. They had other countries and when these countries tried to throw them out we did nothing because we knew that we were limited in what we could do. Hence we have the cold war. Now we have people who think we are all powerful and can pretty much beat up the world. Hasn't the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan proved anything?

[wmfor]

"We are all Moldovians!"

[sueno]

She dosen't understand what this country went thorough during the cold-war.
How can a public leader openly subscribe to war? this is very scary-

[AlphaDoc]

>Does Sarah Palin understand the danger of that statement? <

Palin doesn't seem to understand that Alaska's proximity to Russia doesn't qualify as foreign policy experience. Can we really expect her to understand the complexitiesof Transdnies­tria/Moldo­va?

[joanndarc]

"The Russian motive for war with Georgia equally applies to Moldova." statement is incorrect.
Moldova does neither have USA-propped dictatorship government nor get any military aide from USA.
Moldova (and moreover the people of Moldova) is (/are) NOT trying to build American military bases on it's soil.
The situation in Georgia escalated due to American involvment.

[gottatellya]

Sarah, please have your doctor take you off of the testosterone patches! This rush to war with everyone without the depth of knowledge and skill that these delicate situations require is very, very similar to a certain headstrong, inarticulate, misappropriate the facts leader you claim to be different from. Every bar in America is full of illtempered, unknowledgeable, small thinking lackwits who wouldn't blink about saying yes to being the vice president. That kind of thoughtless bravado is proportionately indicitive of self indulgent children who've never matured as the've grown up. Some reflection and reasonable assessment of one's own knowledge and experience, measured against the highest of standards might be employed for five or ten minutes before not blinking an eye and saying,'oh, oh, oh,....pick me to be the captain, 'cause it's what I want!'