Russia Steps Up Its Push; West Faces Tough Choices

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/world/europe/12diplo.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=substantially%20damaged%20russia's%20standing&st=cse&oref=slogin
- Hide quoted text ----------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 11:47 AMSubject: Russia Steps Up Its Push; West Faces Tough ChoicesTo: letters@nytimes.com

To the Editor: President Bush betrays only the dimmest grasp of events when he scolds "These actions have substantially damaged Russia's standing in the world". It is precisely because Putin feels that Russia's standing in the world was damaged by the breakup of the Soviet Union in the last century that he feels the need for this war in Georgia. It is because the standing of the U.S. in the word has been damaged by president Bush's unilateral adventures of the last seven years that Putin feels free to act without regard for the world's opinion. Our country may not deserve better leadership than we have, but in these times we need it.Barry Levine1142 Brown Ave Lafayette, CA 94549