Yesterday, Russian President Dimitri Medvedev recognized the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia as independent regions. Medvedev warned the West that Russia is ready for a long term conflict over Eastern Europe, stating, “We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a Cold War.” He warned the United States to back down on the anti-ballistic missile shield it is constructing over most of Europe, threatening once again to use military action in Poland if the deal progresses.

Reactions from the European nations and America were predictably terse. The international community immediately condemned the recognition of these regions and cautioned Moscow over escalating the tensions in Eastern Europe.

These statements coincided with reports from the Georgian government that Russian forces were staging a military build-up in Abkhazia in direct violation of the cease-fire reached earlier this month. Georgia reported that its forces had withdrawn after encountering Russian military units within their own territory to avoid additional conflict.

As the international community tries to respond with humanitarian aid to the hundreds of thousand of displaced Georgians, Russia continues to threaten the peace and stability of the region and encourage the rebellious provinces to continue to resist the legitimate Georgian government. Two United States warships loaded with relief aid cargo docked at the Georgian port of Batumi within the past few days. The USS McFaul (DDG-74) was reportedly diverted from the port of Poti on Sunday after report from the Georgian government indicated that Russia may have mined the sea lanes surrounding the port. The McFaul docked in Batumi later that day and began delivering 55 tons of relief cargo to help the Georgian refugees. She was joined to that by the USCGC Dallas (WHEC 716) carrying another 34 tons of blankets, food, water and general care supplies. The two relief ship are scheduled to be joined shortly by the USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) one of the United States Navy’s most sophisticated Command, Control, Communications, Computer, and Intelligence (C4I) loaded with additional supplies. I guess that the mighty Russian Black Sea Fleet is terribly intimidated by one Arleigh Burke class destroyer, a Coast Guard cutter and a command ship.

Russia’s response to the relief effort has been ludicrous but strong. Accusing the United States of employing ‘battleship diplomacy’ they are claiming that humanitarian aid is not delivered by battleships and that the ships are smuggling weapons to the Georgians. In response, Russia sent the Slava class guided missile cruiser and two smaller missile boats to the Abkhazian capital port of Sukhumi to counter and control the NATO military ‘build up’ in the Black Sea and warned the United States that its military has no business delivering humanitarian aid. I guess the Russians do not pay close attention to history. Our military has delivered more humanitarian aid to victims of war, poverty and natural disaster than any other force on this planet.

By the way, none of the US ship carrying the aid are battleships. As a matter of fact, all three ships combined have a total displacement of 30,850 tons. Far less than the 45,000 tons than the United States last Iowa class battleship displaced. Not to mention that the Mount Whitney is only armed with defensive weapons. The largest weapons on the entire ship are two 25mm Bushmaster guns. Not much of a threat against a real warship.

As tensions rise on the diplomatic front, a stand off between Russian and American naval vessels hearkens back to the days of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Many people have already started to compare the two situations directly hinting that the United States is attempting the very same thing that Russia did then. Some critics are suggesting that Russia should use the same tactics that the United States did back then and blockade the Black Sea until we agree to withdraw our missile bases in Easter Europe. There is one critical difference that cannot be ignored or explained away no matter how much the left wants to do so.

In 1962, the Soviet Union attempted to stage SS-4 Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) in Cuba. These are purely offensive weapons with a range of 1,300 mi (2,080 km) and carrying a nuclear payload of 2.3 megatons. Basing these missiles in Cuba would have given Moscow a first strike capability to strike most of the continental United States with little or now warning. It would only have taken about five minutes for the missiles to leave Cuba and strike their targets within the US.

The missiles we are deploying in Europe are purely defensive in nature with absolutely no offensive capabilities whatsoever. The Anti-Ballistic Missile (AMB) shield will be most likely composed of a variant on the RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 that was used to knock USA 193 out of low orbit on February 14th, 2008 and MIM-104 Patriot PAC3 missile systems. These platforms are interceptors only. They are incapable of direct offensive actions against Russian territory and carry a conventional, non-nuclear warhead. The MIM-104F missile carries a 200 lb conventional M248 Composition B high explosive warhead while the RIM-161s use a purely kinetic Lightweight Exo-Atmospheric Projectile (LEAP) warhead.

There is an incredible difference between the situation and anyone who pretends not to understand that is either a moron or a leftist shill making excuses for Russia’s aggression.