The Beginning of the Fall

History gives us 2020 hindsight. With that clarity, we can make proper judgments.

Case in point: Latvia then Georgia.

June 17, 1989. Mass demonstrations in Riga against Soviets



Soviet police specnaz on rampage in Riga, Latvia, 1991.



The Collapse of Soviet Empire. (3)



And today Russia has done the same in Georgia, and the United States is taking the appropriate steps with Georgia.

U.S., Georgia to Sign Strategic Pact

Months after Georgia fought a short, nasty war with its northern neighbor, the United States is moving to shore up security ties with the former Soviet Republic.

Agence France-Presse reports that Georgian officials will sign a "strategic partnership" treaty on Jan. 4 in Washington. On Tuesday, the Department of State issued the first confirmation that the United States and Georgia would pursue a more formal security arrangement. In a response to questions from reporters, State issued the following news release:

As President [Mikheil] Saakashvili noted to the press on December 22, the United States and Georgia are discussing the text of a new bilateral charter that will outline our enhanced cooperation to help Georgia advance security, democratic, and market economic reforms to strengthen Georgia, bolster our partnership, and deepen Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration. This charter is similar to the one signed by the United States and Ukraine on December 19 in Washington.