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Letter: Is NATO still relevant?
The Russian Embassy's Jakarta Press Attach* Andrey Osokin's recent letter in The Jakarta Post commenting on the biased Western reporting of the recent South Ossetia conflict served as a reminder that Indonesia might remember its well deserved reputation as a leader of the non-aligned nations, and in this 21st century continue to make its voice heard as a voice of global reason and relevance
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The Russian Embassy's Jakarta Press Attach* Andrey Osokin's recent letter in The Jakarta Post commenting on the biased Western reporting of the recent South Ossetia conflict served as a reminder that Indonesia might remember its well deserved reputation as a leader of the non-aligned nations, and in this 21st century continue to make its voice heard as a voice of global reason and relevance. For a more accurate description of what really happened in South Ossetia it is worthwhile reviewing the words of Mikhail Gorbachev in his recent letter in The New York Times.
"How can one erase from memory the horrifying scenes of the Georgian forces assault on Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia? The nighttime rocket attacks on a peaceful town, the razing of entire city blocks, the deaths of people taking cover in basements, the destruction of ancient monuments and ancestral graves. Tskhinvali was in smoking ruins and thousands of people were fleeing before any Russian troops arrived".
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's description of Russia's intervention in South Ossetia as a throwback to the Cold War cannot be taken seriously by any fair minded observer of geopolitical events.
Michael Gorbachev was instrumental in bringing a newly defined Russia into the world's family of nations and leading his people toward embracing democracy and a market economy.
In the 18 years since Russia renounced its Communist past, NATO has continually expanded and moved step by step eastward. Now, Georgia is pushing for membership of NATO as is Ukraine. It is NATO's continuing expansion that will create problems for Europe and the world.
It is NATO that is the Cold War anachronism. Perhaps the time has come for NATO to be dismantled. Indonesia should consider raising this point of view in the United Nations Security Council as a way of seeking a more peaceful and harmonious world order in this new century.
GREG WARNER
Jakarta
