The War in Georgia

I take strong exception to Paul Saunders's Aug. 15 op-ed, "Georgia's Recklessness." By focusing on the movement of Georgian troops into South Ossetia, Mr. Saunders sought to convey the notion that Georgia somehow provoked Russia into launching its invasion. This could not be further from the truth and represents a view lifted from Moscow's propaganda machine.

Russia's invasion of Georgia was a highly organized assault that now appears to have been planned for months. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin threw the whole weight of Russia's brutal military machine at Georgia for two reasons: to destroy a country whose people, because of our democratic values, sought peace, security and integration with the West and Euro-Atlantic institutions such as NATO; and to gain de facto control over a strategic route for Caspian basin energy supplies. Without Georgia, all Caspian basin oil and natural gas must move through Russian pipelines to world markets.

Mr. Putin's Russia is a country without laws and without respect for individual rights -- a place where his might is always right. After invading our country, Russian forces have since threatened hostilities against Ukraine and Poland.

We Georgians have been subjected to Russian intimidation and brutality, and we refuse to be cowed. We will continue to build our democracy and align ourselves with the free world. Its values are our values, and nothing, not even Russian troops rampaging through our country, will change the course we have chosen.

VASIL SIKHARULIDZE

Ambassador

Embassy of Georgia

Washington