The news that Polish President Lech Kaczyński is flying out to Georgia has divided opinion. George Bush has praised President Kaczyński for his bravery and leadership. Hardly a compliment if you see that the USA has done absolutely nothing to avoid this conflict or help in negotiations.
Silent Fear
In fact, the power institutions of the world are so afraid of Russia that nothing at all has been done to caution or admonish Russia for its acts of hostility on Georgia. Some feeble, non-threatening remarks have been made by a few countries and nothing else, nothing of substance.
Russian Motives
Actions, of course, speak louder than words and if the current status quo continues and the stance of the world’s leading power centres does not change then Russia will soon ‘liberate’ South Ossetia, then Abkhazia, after which both entities will no doubt ‘elect to join’ Russia allowing the Russians to incorporate these territories into their federal structures. As we know both areas are of strategic importance with regards to oil pipelines and access to the sea. These would be prized acquisitions for Russia.
Lech’s Mission
Kaczyński mission to Georgia is brave but it may also be foolhardy. The Russian ambassador in Latvia has already warned the Baltic States and Poland not to criticise Russia. The ambassador wrote that “Quick judgements [by Poland and the Baltics] should not be made concerning this situation [the Georgian conflict] because mistakes could well be made for which they [Poland and the Baltics] will have to pay”.
Prometheus on His Mind
It is interesting to put Kaczyński’s position in context. Both Lech and his brother are known admirers of Józef Piłsudski and by extension his policy of Prometheism (discussed in brief in a previous post). If this is the case and Prometheism is a key policy also of President Lech Kaczyński’s then the mission to Georgia, together with the leaders of the Baltic States and Ukraine would appear to be something of an acme in the consolidation of this policy. For Lech Kaczyński, the fact that he is making this journey in concert with key ‘Promethian’ leaders is in itself a huge success regardless of the result once in Georgia.


Posted by Raf Uzar

















