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"Whatever you think of the merits of the case, you have to pity the Russians a little bit. ... What used to be a comfortable ring of client states (the 'near abroad', in Russian terms) went away with the fall of Communism, and now the former heartland of the Soviet Union is getting all up in Russia's business and demanding to be treated like a sovereign state, instead of remaining a complacent little throw pillow like Belarus.
...
While we Poles stand and peer over the cliff it would be a good idea to notice the rope tied around our ankle, and perhaps ask what might happen next. As the gas crisis demonstrates, no one in Europe can pretend to be unaffected by the post-Soviet dinosaurs. In a normal country, this might mean a time of focus, concern and creative diplomacy across factional lines. In Poland, of course, our political traditions point towards heroic defiance, principled intransigence, and nobly going down in flames. It is going to be an interesting year!"
Originally from Delicious/network/migurski by reBlogged to