I am moved to write after reading your front page article of Sept. 11 "From Georgia with love." Having known the Gomarteli family since shortly after their arrival in Norman I am thankful for the safe return of Irma and the children, following their harrowing journey and possible death from Russian bombs. Their experience in their beloved homeland reminds me of the successful campaign of mis- and disinformation promulgated by the Soviet and Russian governments. If I were going to write a self-standing essay, I would title it "Pozor, Shame, Pozor." "Pozor" is Russian for "shame."

The former Soviet Union consisted of 15 so-called Republics, each of which represented a formerly sovereign nation whose government was subverted by Communist agents and forces, then coerced into membership under the control of the Communist Party. In some instances there was at least a cultural and linguistic affinity, as with Ukraine and Belarus. In a majority of cases there was no particular attraction except that they bordered the Russian Republic, thus making it more convenient for subversive efforts.

Georgia was a special case. Having accepted Christianity early in the fourth century, and enjoying agricultural abundance in a culturally developed society, Georgians excited the envy of surrounding nations and were subject to several invasions by foreign forces, including Muslims. Eventually, seeking military protection from another Christian country, they concluded a treaty with Tsarist Russia and became part of the Russian Empire. After World War I, Georgia enjoyed a brief period of time as an independent socialist republic but it was soon invaded by Russian forces and proclaimed a Communist republic. At this time Abkhazia and South Ossetia had long been integral parts of Georgia.

In Soviet time detailed census records were carefully compiled with specific interest in the ethnic origin and "nationality" of the residents of the constituent republics. This enabled the Russians to identify which republics were more greatly in need of an immigration of Russians for the end policy of Russifying each and every republic. This tactic was readily on display more recently when the Russian government passed out "Russian" passports to people in South Ossetia as a further deception in its efforts to subvert, divide and conquer the Republic of Georgia. When the media repeatedly refer to Abkhazia and South Ossetia as "separatist regions" or "breakaway republics" they allow themselves to become tools of ongoing disinformation and they function in the terms of Lenin, as "useful idiots," furthering the end of Soviet/Russian goals to consolidate their deception.

Putin had the gall to issue a statement accusing Georgia of genocide, (invoking a Marxist dialectic approach to invert and insult the good work done by someone of the stature of Raoul Wallenberg, protecting Jews in World War II) while Russian forces were bulldozing Georgian homes and intentionally destroying Georgian infrastructure.

Georgia has had a written language, with its own alphabet, for about 3,000 years. The Russians gained a written language only in the ninth century A.D., and have the audacity to refer to the Georgian language as a "dog language." The Russians became Christian only in the 10th century. And long before that, according to early Russian chronicles, the Russians sent emissaries to Scandinavia with the message, "We cannot rule ourselves. Please send us someone to rule over us." That sounds a lot like a people with a deep strain of an inferiority complex, and it may help to understand why they have been subject to terrible leadership and strike out in over-compensation.

Nevertheless, the Russian people are as warm, friendly and hospitable as any people anywhere. With truly enlightened leadership Russia should be able to recognize and show respect for its neighbors while honoring their independence and conducting mutually beneficial economic relations in our modern era.

The Russian people deserve better than the likes of Vladimir Putin, perhaps the descendant of an earlier Nordic ancestor, but whose world outlook is obfuscated by his KGB past. One might describe this whole episode as pathetic on the part of the Russians were it not so fraught with tragedy for neighboring countries.

Fred Pope lives in Norman.