Dear David,

If I may, I would just like to ask your readers a simple question, which I have not seen forwarded anywhere, despite how blatantly obvious it is: "How is it possible to forgive Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili for his brazen attack on South Ossetia on the opening day of the Olympics (and one day after a cease-fire agreement had been struck between the separatists and the Georgian side)?" To me, for any leader to have the sheer audacity to hold the hallowed Games hostage to his (or her) whim is simply the most hideous political stunt I have witnessed in a long time. There is no doubt that the attacks were deliberate, and of course it could not have escaped his attention that 8-08-2008 was the very day that the leaders, global citizens and athletes of the world were to gather together for peaceful and hopefully harmonious competition. The world is already terrified about terrorist attacks during this and other major events, but yet we tolerate a truly monomanical leader who would drag down the world with him because of his extreme nationalistic tendencies. There does need to be a solution to the South Ossetia crisis, but it was unforgivable of Saakashvili to cast a pallor over the Games. Personally, I believe he should be personally punished for such recklessness. I would really welcome any comments to this letter, since I have heard nothing about it in the western press.

Thank You,

Robert Bridge
Editor-in-Chief
The Moscow News
www.mnweekly.ru.