Upping the ante in Moscow-Washington tension over the border war between Russia and its former satellite state, Bush announced Wednesday that the U.S. military is flying humanitarian aid to Georgia, with his secretary of state to follow. Georgia’s president, however, is spinning this as the first step in a U.S. military intervention.
NYT:
Nerves frayed all day after a Russian tank battalion occupied the Georgian city of Gori, a move Georgia condemned as flagrant defiance of a Western-brokered agreement struck only hours earlier. Gori is only 40 miles from Tbilisi, the capital, and rumors circulated all day of an attack on Tbilisi. Meanwhile, hundreds of Russian soldiers poured over the border from Russia into the separatist enclave of South Ossetia, where attack helicopters and fuel trucks accompanied a long convoy of trucks.
With Mr. Bush’s announcement, the United States signaled its most active involvement in a long-simmering border conflict between Georgia and Russia that flared into open fighting last week. The conflict escalated precipitously into a cold-war-style standoff between Russia and the West.
The United States, Mr. Bush said, “stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia and insists that its sovereignty and territorial integrity be respected.” He said a transport plane was already on its way to Georgia, carrying medical supplies and a contingent of Army and Navy forces to carry out an aid mission.
The Georgian president, Mikheil Saakashvili, hailed the decision as a “turning point,” but also immediately cast the American presence in military terms.
“What I expected specifically from America was to secure our airport and to secure our seaports,” he said, in a telephone interview minutes after Mr. Bush spoke. “The main thing now is that the Georgian Tbilisi airport will be permanently under control.”
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jon…3000 killed on 9/11…300,000+ killed in afghanistan and iraq…explain diproportionality to me once again…there’s a serious disproportionality in someone’s point of view…do you know what a trashed-out country looks like?...go to iraq…they didn’t even have anything to do with 9/11…disproportionate that!...let’s leave hypocrisy with the churches where it festers and thrives and not post it here
” What happened on the night of Aug. 7 is beyond comprehension. The Georgian military attacked the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali with multiple rocket launchers designed to devastate large areas. Russia had to respond. To accuse it of aggression against “small, defenseless Georgia” is not just hypocritical but shows a lack of humanity.
Mounting a military assault against innocents was a reckless decision whose tragic consequences, for thousands of people of different nationalities, are now clear. The Georgian leadership could do this only with the perceived support and encouragement of a much more powerful force. Georgian armed forces were trained by hundreds of U.S. instructors, and its sophisticated military equipment was bought in a number of countries. This, coupled with the promise of NATO membership, emboldened Georgian leaders into thinking that they could get away with a “blitzkrieg” in South Ossetia. “ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081101372.html
From Ynet News:
War in Georgia: The Israeli connection
For past seven years, Israeli companies have been helping Georgian army to prepare for war against Russia through arms deals, training of infantry units and security advice
Arie Egozi
Latest Update: 08.10.08, 11:53 / Israel News
The fighting which broke out over the weekend between Russia and Georgia has brought Israel’s intensive involvement in the region into the limelight. This involvement includes the sale of advanced weapons to Georgia and the training of the Georgian army’s infantry forces. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3580136,00.html
I wonder what American reaction would be if it had been Iran supplying and training the Georgians??
I think I’m ready for another economic stimulus payment.
We have to all hope that while Shrub is bossing around the rest of the world, he doesn’t forget that we and our economy need another couple stimulus payments. Since the first one had minimal to no effect, He should try maybe one four times greater. If that doesn’t work, eight times, etc., and maybe, in the interest of Green, throw in a Prius for every family or a plug-in.
Mark my words. Two years from now, we’ll be on this site bitching about Pres. McCain and Shrub’s face will show up on the media at least once a week, maybe more. This is bigger than all of us put together.
I no longer want integrity, honesty, principle, from my government. I’ll never get that. I want more and
bigger stimulus payments.
Georgia is just going to do the best they can. If they can’t make it, well, survival of the fittest. I can’t be expected to drop my flat-funded job and come to the rescue of everyone else in the world. That’s why I give to the International Red Cross. And there’s a UN.
We’ve been trying for five years to help the Iraqis find happiness, decades to help Israel fight off their enemies, the Balkans, Latin America, mid and far East, Xrist, just about everyone, and what has it gotten us?
The one-word answer is Shrub!
Only fools would continue behaviour that brings them so much grief, heartache and hardship.
Just give me stimulus payments. At least I’d know my government knows I’m here.
By jon, August 13, 2008 at 10:32 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
russia’s action against georgia has been so demeaning and disgusting for a country like russia…this action seem to coincide with russia’s special treatment to countries like iran, north korea…and what was more painful with this horrible and disproportionate act is as if nobody seem to dare challenge or even just made some repulsive statements except pres. bush…its like that most of those whose oppose the wars in iraq and afghanistan are now blind and deaf…my God, would you dare care for the georgian people…are you afraid of russia or you tolerate this thing to happen…we want peace and love to escalate…not war to escalate…let our voice be heard…
Isn’t it nice that they can come to the aid of any EUROPEAN ally(do we really have any, or are they just using US?), that we can do it at will(when it is to our benefit), when ever and where ever we want. We just don’t want to do it for the American people when catastrophic events take place here at home, like Hurricane Katrina to start with, but then, those people are not the moneied rich that this administration has to attend to first and foremost, forsaking all others who live in the middle and lower income brackets, as George calls these rich minions his base, the have’s and the have’s more.
“..a senior Pentagon official said the relief effort was intended to show to Russia that we can come to the aid of a European ally, and that we can do it at will, whenever and wherever we want.
~~~
This says it all.
And, it has ZERO to do with Humanitarian aid, as Sang Ze has pointed out about New Orleans, and as I might add about Darfur, and the destruction rained upon the population of Iraq for over 5 years, BY THE US.
How much more hypocritical does it get?
If I had any food in my stomach, it would all come right up.
By Thomas Ryan, August 13, 2008 at 8:01 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I specifically recall in History class that George Washington’s resignation speech consisted of many warnings. One of those warnings was staying out of foreign affairs.
For christ’s sake George Bush. Do you have to piss off every foreign leader who’s not for Democracy? Hm? First he comments on China’s human rights violations, just before China hosts the 2008 Summer Olympics. Now he just has to get involved with the Russian-Georgian conflict. Why can’t he just stay out of it?
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By Reubenesque, August 14, 2008 at 2:46 pm Link to this comment
jon…3000 killed on 9/11…300,000+ killed in afghanistan and iraq…explain diproportionality to me once again…there’s a serious disproportionality in someone’s point of view…do you know what a trashed-out country looks like?...go to iraq…they didn’t even have anything to do with 9/11…disproportionate that!...let’s leave hypocrisy with the churches where it festers and thrives and not post it here
Report thisBy brewerstroupe, August 14, 2008 at 2:45 pm Link to this comment
” What happened on the night of Aug. 7 is beyond comprehension. The Georgian military attacked the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali with multiple rocket launchers designed to devastate large areas. Russia had to respond. To accuse it of aggression against “small, defenseless Georgia” is not just hypocritical but shows a lack of humanity.
Mounting a military assault against innocents was a reckless decision whose tragic consequences, for thousands of people of different nationalities, are now clear. The Georgian leadership could do this only with the perceived support and encouragement of a much more powerful force. Georgian armed forces were trained by hundreds of U.S. instructors, and its sophisticated military equipment was bought in a number of countries. This, coupled with the promise of NATO membership, emboldened Georgian leaders into thinking that they could get away with a “blitzkrieg” in South Ossetia. “
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081101372.html
From Ynet News:
War in Georgia: The Israeli connection
For past seven years, Israeli companies have been helping Georgian army to prepare for war against Russia through arms deals, training of infantry units and security advice
Arie Egozi
Latest Update: 08.10.08, 11:53 / Israel News
The fighting which broke out over the weekend between Russia and Georgia has brought Israel’s intensive involvement in the region into the limelight. This involvement includes the sale of advanced weapons to Georgia and the training of the Georgian army’s infantry forces.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3580136,00.html
I wonder what American reaction would be if it had been Iran supplying and training the Georgians??
Report thisBy Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD, August 14, 2008 at 9:48 am Link to this comment
I think I’m ready for another economic stimulus payment.
We have to all hope that while Shrub is bossing around the rest of the world, he doesn’t forget that we and our economy need another couple stimulus payments. Since the first one had minimal to no effect, He should try maybe one four times greater. If that doesn’t work, eight times, etc., and maybe, in the interest of Green, throw in a Prius for every family or a plug-in.
Mark my words. Two years from now, we’ll be on this site bitching about Pres. McCain and Shrub’s face will show up on the media at least once a week, maybe more. This is bigger than all of us put together.
I no longer want integrity, honesty, principle, from my government. I’ll never get that. I want more and
bigger stimulus payments.
Georgia is just going to do the best they can. If they can’t make it, well, survival of the fittest. I can’t be expected to drop my flat-funded job and come to the rescue of everyone else in the world. That’s why I give to the International Red Cross. And there’s a UN.
We’ve been trying for five years to help the Iraqis find happiness, decades to help Israel fight off their enemies, the Balkans, Latin America, mid and far East, Xrist, just about everyone, and what has it gotten us?
The one-word answer is Shrub!
Only fools would continue behaviour that brings them so much grief, heartache and hardship.
Just give me stimulus payments. At least I’d know my government knows I’m here.
Report thisBy jon, August 13, 2008 at 10:32 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
russia’s action against georgia has been so demeaning and disgusting for a country like russia…this action seem to coincide with russia’s special treatment to countries like iran, north korea…and what was more painful with this horrible and disproportionate act is as if nobody seem to dare challenge or even just made some repulsive statements except pres. bush…its like that most of those whose oppose the wars in iraq and afghanistan are now blind and deaf…my God, would you dare care for the georgian people…are you afraid of russia or you tolerate this thing to happen…we want peace and love to escalate…not war to escalate…let our voice be heard…
Report thisBy purplewolf, August 13, 2008 at 10:18 pm Link to this comment
Isn’t it nice that they can come to the aid of any EUROPEAN ally(do we really have any, or are they just using US?), that we can do it at will(when it is to our benefit), when ever and where ever we want. We just don’t want to do it for the American people when catastrophic events take place here at home, like Hurricane Katrina to start with, but then, those people are not the moneied rich that this administration has to attend to first and foremost, forsaking all others who live in the middle and lower income brackets, as George calls these rich minions his base, the have’s and the have’s more.
Report thisBy cyrena, August 13, 2008 at 9:37 pm Link to this comment
“..a senior Pentagon official said the relief effort was intended to show to Russia that we can come to the aid of a European ally, and that we can do it at will, whenever and wherever we want.
~~~
This says it all.
And, it has ZERO to do with Humanitarian aid, as Sang Ze has pointed out about New Orleans, and as I might add about Darfur, and the destruction rained upon the population of Iraq for over 5 years, BY THE US.
How much more hypocritical does it get?
If I had any food in my stomach, it would all come right up.
Report thisBy Thomas Ryan, August 13, 2008 at 8:01 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I specifically recall in History class that George Washington’s resignation speech consisted of many warnings. One of those warnings was staying out of foreign affairs.
For christ’s sake George Bush. Do you have to piss off every foreign leader who’s not for Democracy? Hm? First he comments on China’s human rights violations, just before China hosts the 2008 Summer Olympics. Now he just has to get involved with the Russian-Georgian conflict. Why can’t he just stay out of it?
Report thisBy Sang Ze, August 13, 2008 at 4:36 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Golly, gee - too bad the U.S. couldn’t be so swift boating relief to New Orleans.
Report this