Aug 09 2008
Russia’s Criminal Invasion Of Georgia And Obama Blows The “3 AM Call” Test
Want to know what causes war and conflict? Doubt and Caution. The liberal forces in Europe and America keep whining about how we cannot enforce peace and democracy and must simply talk and appease. But those opposing forces ready to use military means (or worse in the case of terrorists) simply see the grasp for talk and negotiation as the final green light to move ahead and take by force that which can only be taken by force. Â And apparently that is what happened with Georgia, snubbed by its what should be its European allies for the cheekiness of being an American ally, the European state of Georgia which wants to be part of the EU and NATO is now under military attack by Russia.
And those Europeans who are standing there watching this all transpire don’t even realize Russia just attacked on of them in an effort to peel it off from the heard. The predator is starting to stalk the weak and isolated. This is what comes when alliances fracture. Â Europe may not have liked our decisions after 9-11, but it was their mistake not to stand by us as we have stood by them in the face of the Russian Bear for nearly a century. They never realized that once the signal is given, that there will be no fight to save an ally, all that means is the heard has given up one of their members to the predator.
Europe is much more like a herd cows than something like a herd of wildebeests which can protect themselves from predators. There was one good article in the UK Times which outlined this situation perfectly:
Thanks to American military aid, Georgia’s 18,000-strong armed forces are the best-trained and equipped fighting force in the Caucasus. But it is one thing for them to defeat the raggle-taggle militia of a tinpot place like South Ossetia (population 70,000). It is another for a country of less than five million people to take on Russia (population 142 million). Now the Kremlin is reacting strongly. Russian warplanes are reportedly striking targets in Georgia. Reinforcements are pouring in. And the Kremlin’s mighty propaganda machine is lumbering into action while a cyber-attack appears to have crippled Georgia’s websites.
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European leaders have long been dubious about Mikhail Saakashvili, a charismatic US-educated lawyer who stormed to power in the Rose Revolution of 2005. Where the fans of the Georgian President see charm and brains, his critics – such as the German Chancellor Angela Merkel – see a dangerously headstrong and erratic leader. A crackdown on the Opposition in November, bullying of the media and instances of abuse of power among senior officials have allowed detractors to draw uncomfortable parallels between Georgia and Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
These are misplaced: Georgia is not perfect, but it is not a dictatorship. Its leadership does not peddle a phoney ideology, such as the Kremlin’s mishmash of Soviet nostalgia and tsarist-era chauvinism. It has a thriving civil society, vocal opposition and ardently wants to be in the EU and Nato. Moral grounds alone would be enough reason for supporting it against Russian aggression.
The truth is the EU can save their ally Georgia, but they won’t. CNN is noting that Georgia is standing tall and declaring a war footing (but not yet formal war) with Russia. Â But this is not something America should be required to fix for Europe. After years of being told there was not threat from Iraq (even though there was) it is absolutely true there is no immediate threat to America in this action. There is an obvious threat to Europe, but there are also infinite rationalizations that can be created to create a shield of denial about what is happening.
Georgia is, in the end, an example of what happens when liberals distract the forces of good from their purpose in order to pursue paths of appeasement on the claim it will be ‘easier’ and ‘less costly’. Predators look for any sign of hesitation or doubt, and then they strike when they find the circumstances they need to run over their opponents.  That is why doubt and hesitation are more dangerous than a being bold and sometimes overbearing.
Which leads me to how the two Presidential candidates are responding to the crisis:
When the North Caucasus slid into war Thursday night, it presented John McCain and Barack Obama with a true “3 a.m. moment,†and their responses to the crisis suggested dramatic differences in how each candidate, as president, would leadAmerica in moments of international crisis.Â
While Obama offered a response largely in line with statements issued by democratically elected world leaders, including President Bush, first calling on both sides to negotiate, John McCain took a remarkably — and uniquely — more aggressive stance, siding clearly with Georgia’s pro-Western leaders and placing the blame for the conflict entirely on Russia.Â
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“I strongly condemn the outbreak of violence in Georgia, and urge an immediate end to armed conflict,†Obama said in a written statement. “Now is the time for Georgia and Russia to show restraint and to avoid an escalation to full-scale war. Georgia’s territorial integrity must be respected.â€Â
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“[T]he news reports indicate that Russian military forces crossed an internationally recognized border into the sovereign territory of Georgia. Russia should immediately and unconditionally cease its military operations and withdraw all forces from sovereign Georgian territory.Â
“The government of Georgia has called for a ceasefire and for a resumption of direct talks on South Ossetia with international mediators. The U.S. should immediately work with the EU and the OSCE to put diplomatic pressure on Russia to reverse this perilous course that it has chosen.â€
McCain is right. Russia had no business going into another country to help forces working to take over the sovereign state – no matter what their ethnic heritage. Â Obama (and in a rare failure, also President Bush) is sounding too compliant, too indecisive. Russia has attacked a European nation (even if it is not yet in NATO or the EU). Â When the EU rebuffed Georgia’s entry into NATO recently, and therefore withheld the security protections that membership incurs, they were more interested in poking America and Bush in the eye. They sacrificed their neighbors to get in a cheep shot at America – and now Europe is being invaded.
Is Europe still a bunch of Neville Chamberlains, willing to sacrifice smaller nations in sure-to-fail effort to appease the predators? We know Obama is the epitome of Chamberlain model, still hoping for defeat in Iraq after we have already achieved victory! The world is be tested again, as it was on 9-11. Will it respond in a lesser way to the killing of civilians by military forces than it did to the killing of civilians by terrorists? Are we at the point were military invasions are less worthy of responding to than terrorist attacks?
McCain is right. This incident needs to be answered and now. Â EU forces should be flooding into Georgia to show solidarity and warn Russia there will be a high price to pay if they don’t back down right now. And the Olympics should not play any role in the decision process.Â
[…] AJ Strata makes an excellent point why it is the European Union and not the US whom should be doing the heavy lifting on the Russian invasion of Georgia. Russia has attacked a European nation (even if it is not yet in NATO or the EU). When the EU rebuffed Georgia’s entry into NATO recently, and therefore withheld the security protections that membership incurs, they were more interested in poking America and Bush in the eye. They sacrificed their neighbors to get in a cheep shot at America – and now Europe is being invaded. […]
The long and short answer is that Europe has no way of defending itself or anybody else. That region of Georgia is a huge oil producing area. So Europe will feel the consequences of their inability to act. Words are just words to bullies and tyrants!
Tactical reason Russia wants it back in its fold is the path of the recent finished Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline oil and gas pipelines from the Caspian Sea area and the future pipelines in the works for the Southern Cross Route. The newer pipelines threaten the near monopoly Russia has had on being the gas supplier to the EU and it knows that when that pipeline comes online their power will be greatly diminished and their blackmail tactics of the former Russian republics would be blunted. It also serves the secondary issue of cutting off the variousStans countries from bringing their product to the EU market to allow their economic growth and further their independence from Russia on the southern frontier.
Another factor is the return of the Black Sea port of Poti. At one time it held almost 32 of the Black Ship Fleet for the Russian Navy.
Now everyone can see why Europeans have been so hostile to the US for the past 8 years. It was fine when we were spending our money and sending our young men all over the world to protect their sorry asses from their enemies as espoused in the NATO treaty but the first time they are called upon to reciprocate they turn on us. No they won’t help Georgia. Europeans are not heroes. They are boot lickers who will do and accept anything to go along to get along. It’s little wonder their cities have become no man’s lands and pockets of anti West militants ready to bring down their straw houses when they feel the societies are finally drained of all courage and will to fight to save themselves. The Europeans will sit on their rears and not lift a hand to save themselves because they know the stupid Americans will come to their rescue if and when they are in peril again. Then, after we have saved their sorry asses once again they will turn on us. Nato is a farce. It is a one way street where American taxpayers protect people who could care less about the welfare of anybody but themselves. So don’t expect the milk sop Europeans to even notice that Russia has invaded one of their own. They know that if it looks like Russia is going to be a problem for them, the Americans will bail them out again. A pox on the lot of them.
I saw on the news that Russia claimed that some of their citizens were killed by Georgian military action first, so if it is true then they would have had justification they needed under international law to invade and take all necessary steps to prevent it occurring again, as well as apprehending prosecuting those who did it.
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It’s beginning to look like the Kuwait setup that preceded the Gulf War. Iraq was conned into believing that it would be ok to invade Kuwait, but once they did it they were in trouble. If Georgia was conned by Russia into believing that it would not retaliate if it expanded into the disputed territory, then it would account for their bold move.
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Russia (and the Soviet Union) have a history of taking territory when others are occupied, and even though the U.S. wouldn’t normally challenge Russia near it’s own turf anyway, there’s no hope of it while they are about to pounce on Iran any day now.
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It’s all just like the invasion of Prague in ’69 with 5,000 tanks. No one can do anything about it except complain.
Ray
“Predators look for any sign of hesitation or doubt, and then they strike when they find the circumstances they need to run over their opponents. That is why doubt and hesitation are more dangerous than a being bold and sometimes overbearing.”
So true, AJ, so true.
The EU – we want these people to like us, why?
They are NOT deserving of our respect or friendship. O needs to move there-it’s his kind of place.
and now Europe is being invaded
Russia is a part of Europe. The United States is not. It is your country that is occupying Europe, and playing God.
The territorial integrity of Georgia should be taken as seriously by Russia as the US and its Euro bootlickers took Serbia’s territorial integrity.
BTW Vladimir Putin got the biggest cheer from the Chinese fans at the Olympics opening. Even the commentators remarked on how loud the cheer was when he appeared on the jumbo screen. (Of course in the USA – the only country on earth that didn’t get live coverage of the opening ceremonies – NBC probably edited that part out)
momdear1 wrote:
Now everyone can see why Europeans have been so hostile to the US for the past 8 years. It was fine when we were spending our money and sending our young men all over the world to protect their sorry asses from their enemies as espoused in the NATO treaty but the first time they are called upon to reciprocate they turn on us. No they won’t help Georgia. Europeans are not heroes. They are boot lickers who will do and accept anything to go along to get along.
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What could anyone do in this situation besides complain and cut off supply to Russia? If anyone thought they could do something like attack Russia they would have their capital cities turned into parking lots or even nuked. Russia has been feeling a bit hemmed in lately, so they wouldn’t hesitate for long, especially with Georgia’s latest move (backed by the U.S.) to hem them in further.
Ray
Thanks to American military aid, Georgia’s 18,000-strong armed forces are the best-trained and equipped fighting force in the Caucasus
That no doubt explains their success slaughtering hundreds of civilians this past two days. Nothing like American know how.
The Americans have a military presence on the ground in Georgia. I find it hard to believe the Americans were unaware of Georgia’s attack in advance. We need reporters to ask hard questions about what the Americans knew. It’s likely they endorsed the slaughter.
But the Georgian bandits have messed up. Their atrocities may ensure civilized Europe never accepts them into the EU and NATO. So some good will come of it.
Jules Roy wrote:
BTW Vladimir Putin got the biggest cheer from the Chinese fans at the Olympics opening. Even the commentators remarked on how loud the cheer was when he appeared on the jumbo screen. (Of course in the USA – the only country on earth that didn’t get live coverage of the opening ceremonies – NBC probably edited that part out)
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Has anyone in the media given a logical explanation for concealing the opening ceremony from the general public yet?
Perhaps it was merely a case of it being held at an inconvenient time that would upset people’s work and sleep patterns. If so, I’d consider that it was justified, but only for the MAJOR networks.
Ray
Bush has not ignored the situation. He spoke to Putin personally and he has sent envoys to the region. He has not only called for a crease fire he has made it plain whose fault this is.
But after the support the US gave for Kosovo seeking independence our situation becomes a bit more complicated, because that is what the Russians are using for justification.
I hope this ends soon. I think Russia wants the oil myself and sees an opportunity to take it.
Jules:
The Russians are bombing civilian areas themselves. Even though there are clearly marked military targets.
What I think is interesting, is how guys like Jules here perceive or think that the Georgians are allies of the US, therefor it is necessary to accuse them of all sorts of atrocities in a reflexive and ridiculous attempt to suck up to anyone who might be seen as an opponent to the US while trashing anyone who might be seen as an ally.
Interesting how completely predictable these people are.
The Iraqis got a big welcome at the Olympics. I bet the Chinese do appreciate a former KGB guy however.
Jules Roy wrote:
Thanks to American military aid, Georgia’s 18,000-strong armed forces are the best-trained and equipped fighting force in the Caucasus
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That’s not an awfully strong force unless they had a massive amount of firepower to use.
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That no doubt explains their success slaughtering hundreds of civilians this past two days. Nothing like American know how.
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The Americans have a military presence on the ground in Georgia.
Any European country is at liberty to hire outside assistance to jazz up their military, so a U.S. military presence wouldn’t be abnormal unless it was some sort of credible fighting force.
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I cannot imagine Russia tolerating any strong U.S. force anywhere NEAR it’s borders, nor could I imagine many other countries on earth condoning it either.
Ray
Jules is repeating Pravda’s propaganda. Just like the good old days. Lefties parrot Moscow line.
Powerline at the above link has some interesting quotes. Let’s see, how many independent journalists have met an untimely death in Russia in the last few years? Yep, the state is in control of the media again.
Will Jules and his friends accept their version of events without question? Certainly they will.
Terrye wrote:
Jules is repeating Pravda’s propaganda. Just like the good old days. Lefties parrot Moscow line.
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It’s no good making stuff up. If Pravda or Jules or anyone else is wrong about something, or even if you only THINK they are wrong about something – then say what is is, instead of pretending you have better information.
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Powerline at the above link has some interesting quotes. Let’s see, how many independent journalists have met an untimely death in Russia in the last few years? Yep, the state is in control of the media again.
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Are you suggesting that the state is MORE in control of the Russian media than the U.S. is in control of it’s media?
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Will Jules and his friends accept their version of events without question? Certainly they will.
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Are you some sort of prophet?
Ray
Not to worry American Jews are in control of our media. Yep, our military is training in Georgia AND so are some Israelis. I’m sure our military is committing war crimes. Don’t they always? We probably told the Georgians with their 18,000 soldiers, yep, go strike the Russians, you can do it. Are you guys daft?
kathie wrote:
Not to worry American Jews are in control of our media. Yep, our military is training in Georgia AND so are some Israelis. I’m sure our military is committing war crimes. Don’t they always?
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The war crimes bit is not accurate. If indeed the U.S. was assembling on Russia’s border in significant numbers (which I don’t believe) it is certainly not a war crime even if it was true.
Ray
kathie:
There are people who so far gone that they believe that anytime anything bad happens anywhere in the world, it is because the US made it happen or let it happen. It is a sort of mental illness really. Paranoia.
AJ:
How do we reach you? I hope you see this.