As a kid, growing up in USSR and playing chess – one of the most popular sports – I had an awesome time traveling to the Caucasian region. All three capitals – Tbilisi (Georgia), Yerevan (Armenia) and Baku (Azerbaijan) remain in my memory as sunny places with friendly and hospitable people.

When I was about 15, I participated in the National Team competition in Nakhichevan City (another area of recent ethnic conflicts) – a wonderful and perfectly safe place back then. Even though most of the local women wore “paranja” (Russian for hijab), the traditional attire of the local Muslim women, I felt perfectly fine wearing sleeveless tops and short skirts, the fashionable attire of Russian and Ukrainian girls. No one came to me with any words of objection or hostility, rather I and other girls were treated with grace and admiration, as real “Sport Stars”. Locals stopped us in the city just to say “hello,” to ask for an autograph, to wish us a good luck in the next round and even to give us flowers.

I have the same pleasant memories about the USSR Young Masters Championship in Tbilisi – with great Georgian food and awesome hospitality – which I happened to win. I can talk more about my past experiences, but unfortunately it is time to talk about the present.

The war between Georgia and Russia began on Friday, August 8, 2008. This is the war of a small country, fighting for its territory, freedom and independence against an enormous one, overfed on oil dollars, run by former KGB operatives and determined to reestablish itself as a world super-power. Knowing the hot Georgian temperament, I can easily believe that Georgians were provoked by the Russians, to the point they started the offensive on South Ossetia on the day of the opening of Olympic Games.

Each side has reasons for this war. Georgia wants to get back its territory once and forever. After all, if one assumes that every region has the right to declare its autonomy, then “China Town” in New York City can claim autonomy as a satellite province of China. Likewise for “Little Italy” as an Italian territory and Brighton Beach a.k.a. “Little Odessa” as a Ukrainian (or Great Russian) territory.

Sadly, the joke about Great Russia is not a joke. For Russia this war is not only to gain control over the important geopolitical territory near the Caspian Sea and seize control over the oil delivery route, it’s also the way, to once again, oppose United States and show its muscle. Russian pride got humiliated with the fall of USSR and most of the Russians support the strong government. With Russian history school books being re-written countless times, many young Russians have very little understanding of the tragedy of Stalin times.

This is a “must read” book for anyone who wants to understand Putin and its regime.

Scary, but the U.S. seems to be blind to the current developments. They never seem to understand Russians (and other Slavic nations) politically, nor economically. To many “Soviets” living in the US it is obvious that “friend Putin” is not a friend. He is an enemy. An aggressive, smart and cruel enemy. He has jailed Mikhail Khodorkovsky (the wealthiest man in Russia and 16th wealthiest man in the world in 2004), he pretty much confiscated BP’s interest in TNK-BP, he killed Alexander Litvinenko (former officer of Russian Federal Security Service, who escaped to UK), he is currently bombing Georgia. If nobody stops him now, the next victims will be Ukraine and Estonia, after that it won’t take long to establish Great Russia.

While George Bush is playing beach volleyball and posing for photos with the US Women’s Olympic Team in China and the U.N. Security Council can’t come up with anything to stop the Russians, thousands of people are losing their life in this crazy and inhumane war.