Wartime blues

摘要

When President George Bush visits Latvia, and then the Netherlands, Russia and Georgia, between May 6th and May loth, his role, says the White House, will be to "honour the shared sacrifice of millions of Americans and Europeans to defeat tyranny, and mark the growth of democracy". In fact, these tasks will be divided in two. The defeat of Hitler 60 years ago will be remembered at ceremonies in the Netherlands and Russia on May 8th and 9th. That leaves the growth of democracy to be celebrated in Latvia on the way in, and Georgia on the way out. In Russian eyes, these latter two choices smack of provocation. They are Moscow's least favourite neighbours, and also the liveliest critics of its lingering imperialist twitches.