INTERNATIONAL

‘Where Is Bush?’

Georgian military officials and civilians ask why the West hasn't intervened as Russia moves in.

By Anna Nemtsova | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Aug 11, 2008 | Updated: 3:07  a.m. ET Aug 12, 2008

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  • Posted By: Sultan Ahmed @ 09/10/2008 1:57:21 AM

    Georgia supported The United States'invasion on iraq,
    what crime iraqi people committed,
    have they weapons of mass destruction?
    but severly strike,
    tens of thousand were killed,
    and still killing.

    Who says,
    if america will kill our people,
    then we need not american friendship
    it must get out from here.

    So i ma talking about Georgia assistance,
    in invasion on Iraq,
    and killing lacs of innocent people,
    now facing itselfthe same circumstances,
    as iraqi people are going through.

    Face,
    what you have done,
    receive ,
    what have you paid

  • Posted By: striker009 @ 08/19/2008 3:56:39 PM

    The leaders of Russia should be arrested, tried and prosecuted by the world's court for terrorism against democracy and freedom. It is just incomprehensible that Russia in the 21st century is getting away with this kind of militaristic stone age mentality.

    • Posted By: Kuksha @ 08/29/2008 11:04:52 AM

      And it is possible and so to write. Iraq, Afghanistan, Serbia, Ossetia. The leaders of USA should be arrested, tried and prosecuted by the world's court for terrorism against democracy and freedom. It is just incomprehensible that USA in the 21st century is getting away with this kind of militaristic stone age mentality.

    • Posted By: St. Petersburger @ 08/28/2008 4:51:53 AM

      Ohh, this is rich!!! I would start by looking in the mirror - what exactly is it that the US has been doing lately - exporting "democracy" to the world?

    • Posted By: Ivan_Russian @ 08/20/2008 2:23:58 AM

      Put your so called "democracy" (as an instrument for making USA politics everywhere) into your a** (throat). You are the man from stone age because you don`t want to accept that Georgia attacked first, and killed 2000 citizens. Maybe you are killer too? Why do you excuse georgians and scream about prisoning Russians? Rise and schine!

  • Posted By: BUDTHEPATRIOT @ 08/19/2008 12:09:08 PM

    RUSSIA IS BOWING UP WOMEN AND CHILDREN.....BUSH YOU BIG *** LETS SEND IN THE AMERICANS TO BLOW THE CRAP OUT OF RUSSIA TO TEACH THEM A LESSON THEY WILL NOT LIVE TO TALK ABOUT..RUSSIA IS THE BIGGEST BUNCH OF COWARDS BESIDES SADDAM IN THE WORLD..LETS KILL THE FREAKING RUSSIANS TODAY BUSH !! OUR ALLIES NEED US.

    • Posted By: St. Petersburger @ 08/28/2008 4:58:38 AM

      Oh, Bud - you first, on the front line - please - amuse us. We'll see you take on the Big, Bad Russian Bear! Or is it someone else who will do the fighting while you talk your cowardly mouth off?? So much for discourse and diplomacy. You and Sakaashivili were meant for each other - right out of the Stone Age!

  • Posted By: justaskme @ 08/19/2008 1:17:44 PM

    I agree with fordfedup! America seems damned if we do....damned if we don't! We haven't gone in with bombs, but Condeleeza Rice has been working tirelessly to get Russia to live up to its agreements. Not everything has to be done by force, or should be for that matter. Medvedev is just crazy enough to do something totally of the charts if we were to go in forcefully.

    • Posted By: St. Petersburger @ 08/28/2008 4:53:36 AM

      Ohh, I see - and Sakaashvili is a model of sanity, I suppose. Thank you so much for your bias. It's so refreshing.

  • Posted By: lovejusticepeace @ 08/22/2008 12:27:02 PM

    Poland-US shield is an enigama.
    Shield against whom?
    Russia ? China ? India ? Iran ?Pakistan ?
    Whom is it going to shield ? Poland ? Former Soviet republics ? All of Europe ?
    If these questions are not answered , then it will result in Russia having a shield in SouthAmerica to protect its allies there.
    China will have a shield in NorthKorea to protect NorthKorea,China,Vietnam,Tibet,Hongkong,Macau.
    India can have a shield in the Himalayas to protect SouthAsia.
    Iran will erect a shield in the North to protect Iran, Iraq.
    Pakistan will have a shield at NWFP to protect Pakistan.

    • Posted By: thehappyamerican @ 08/22/2008 9:12:58 PM

      Poland has been invaded threw history as it is located on an invasion route when Germans or Russians have gone on the war path.
      Poland has sought emansipation from Russia and it's influences since before Lech, a brave shipyard worker, struggeled to over throw the yoke of "TheShoe" (Russian puppet government in Poland). And led a movement.
      Poles love freedom and justice. There's nothing enigmatic to it.
      I hope you didn't see the Willy Horten story as enigmatic, too! It was about liberals in the US who are soft on violence and a strong,active criminal justice system which keeps the violent off the street of our country.

      • Posted By: St. Petersburger @ 08/28/2008 4:50:14 AM

        Why is it that Poland has forgiven Germany, but can't forgive Russia? Is it because Poland itself has invaded Russian territory numerous times and gotten its a*** kicked for its troubles? Just a case of the kettle calling the pot black and not of "freedom-loving Poles".

  • Posted By: Kuksha @ 08/27/2008 10:18:07 AM

    Misters! Why Georgians do not speak as on August, 8th their bandits went to destroy the Ossetin. As from Gori destroyed rockets the peace population of Ossetia. Information distortion - a sign of bad democracy. Read at least BBCnews. Having put a bayonet to a throat you do people by "democrats", soldiers Americas in Iraq already like all have shot down and have hung up, and democracy all is not present! And in other countries "kind" memory.McCain something does not like to speak about you as smothered women and children in Vietnam.

  • Posted By: orlov @ 08/26/2008 3:37:38 AM

    <span onmouseover="_tipon(this)" onmouseout="_tipoff()"><span class="google-src-text" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left">Enter Your Comment</span> ?????? ??????????????????????</span>

  • Posted By: graygray1970 @ 08/25/2008 11:57:44 PM

    Yes, Where are we? Why are we not defending the sovereignty of Georgia. Why? Because we are overwhelmed with other needless interactions in areas of the world, that for the common Democracy loving American understands, are of no importance to us. Our allies are. Georgia is. We have let these people down tremendously and shamefully. Do not fear Russia.

  • Posted By: wildlifeusa @ 08/12/2008 12:54:56 AM

    You mean, the us has known about this ethnic cleansing and has kept it quiet?? Of course...,, for Bush, the masses does not count, only his own interest does.

    • Posted By: Jill from Florida @ 08/12/2008 1:01:45 AM

      Do not blame just Bush. Georgia has the BTC oil pipeline, major owner is BP. (BP is the world's largest oil company based out of London and is supporting Obama.) The BTC pipeline has a daily capacity of 1 million barrels of oil flowing into tankers at Turkey's port to supply 40% of Europe's oil.
      You can also blame the entire European Union, Great Britain, and extremist Democrats and Republicans within the US.

      • Posted By: bwlear @ 08/24/2008 4:21:06 PM

        Because I work for BP and give money to Mr Obama does not mean BP supports Obama. As a citizen, I can give money to whomever I wish regardless of who my employer supports.

  • Posted By: MikeAlaska @ 08/12/2008 1:40:04 PM

    This is actually a genius move from Russia. Not that I agree with it. Basically Russia with their oil and gas is holding the West by it's b*lls. They know that no one will step in during this time as economies would collapse or get very bad. So unfortunately they are allowed to kick the snot out of their neighbors with impunity and at the same time trying to tell the people of these countries "Hey the West is just using you, they don't care".

    • Posted By: 4USMCR @ 08/12/2008 3:11:42 PM

      Russia doesn't have anyone "by the balls." It is not the only supplier of energy. And they need to sell it more than we need to buy it. Russia's securitites market is an unsecured "poof!" waiting to happen. Based almost exclusively on speculation and without much assets to collateralize it all we need to do is have "Big Boys" that have recently been bailed out by Uncle Sam to do it a favor and sell Russian paper. Avoid doing business with Russian companies. That's all it'll take. I'm not even suggesting parking a carrier group off the coast of Poti and moving 1st MEF to the Turkish/Georgian border. Anyone remember the Chinese market losing 52% in one year? I do. Let's do it to Russia.

      • Posted By: loriw @ 08/21/2008 5:45:11 PM

        Great idea...
        Any one out there in the global market place who can help us with the names of Russian companies or products/exports that we can boycott?
        Don't travel to Russia, don't give them tourist dollars is one I can think of.

      • Posted By: mightnotvoteobama @ 08/12/2008 5:28:35 PM

        right on the money !! SEMPER FI !

  • Posted By: thrasher32 @ 08/12/2008 4:03:31 PM

    Where is Bush? Hiding in the closet with Cheney and the rest of the wussies who send other people's kids off to die because they need their corporations to bring in some war money. There's no money in defending Georgia, so good luck to you in your fight against Putin's army.

    • Posted By: loriw @ 08/21/2008 5:41:15 PM

      So according to your criteria we should only defend a country,
      regardless if the country is in the right or in the wrong,
      if there is money in it for the USA.
      I sure hope no one picks you for VP or Secretary of State!

  • Posted By: johnsmithpagebreak @ 08/12/2008 9:14:38 PM

    It disgusts me that countries like the United States and Russia pick on small countries like Georgia and Iraq. The day will come when both the US and Russia and other super powers meet there maker! God have mercy on these countries that kill innocent people!

    • Posted By: jblackwell88 @ 08/12/2008 9:28:08 PM

      You sound like someone who wasn't paying attention. The Georgians staged a surprise shelling of cities in South Ossetia and were killing civilians in the street, throwing grenades into basements full of children. Russia immediately condemned the action and brought it before the U.N. requesting a halt to the action, which was rejected by the Georgians. The Russians wasted no time once it became clear genocide was occurring and invaded. At that point, our puppet president in Georgia realized he had stepped in it and naively begged for intervention ( which would have risked world war III ). To be fair, the U.S. and Israel enabled the Georgians by training their troops, giving them weapons and pledging support, we just never expected them to do something stupid. I say "we" but really I mean our government. The American people have no knowledge or control over the mess their government makes on their behalf in dozens of conflicts around the globe.

      • Posted By: euroyankee @ 08/13/2008 11:45:50 AM

        This is the only intelligent comment on this whole blog. Thanks jblackwell.

        • Posted By: 4USMCR @ 08/13/2008 12:35:10 PM

          I wonder where blackwell gets such detailed info (throwing grenades into basements full of children)?
          Yes, Georgia moved in on S.Ossetia, in response to continued shelling of nearby Georgian villages. Take with a gran of salt what both sides say, but at this point I think Russia has a little more to answer up to than Georgia.

          • Posted By: loriw @ 08/21/2008 5:36:01 PM

            The more posts I read from people who serve or have served as Marines the more respect I have for them.
            And I have always had a great deal of respect for them in the first place. Thank you Marines and please keep posting.

  • Posted By: rk_trip @ 08/13/2008 12:34:11 PM

    I am 21 years old and I have served in the US Marines for 4 years. After reading many articles about the Russia Georgia conflict I feel that the Russian Government SHOULD stop the torment of the Georgian people. I am proud that our WONDERFUL president George W. Bush is taking steps to help the situation, at the same time I feel that he is being smart by avoiding a conflict with Russia that could lead to war, but as a Marine I feel that we should just throw all caution to the wind and back up the Georgian people with all our might. Folks if you had a friend and that friend was being bullied would you just let that friend continue to get beat day after day or would you do something to help him/her? Russia has crossed the line, they have killed thousands of people and destroyed many peoples lives in 6 days time. How many more innocent people must die before someone steps up and do something about it? Now I also dont understand why the Georgian people think that we are not doing anything about it, Dont they understand that as a president Bush has to take everyones best interest to heart? We cant just jump into a war without first weighting the consequences. Bush's first priority is US, AMERICA...but at the same time someone needs to step up and help protect this world, we are not the soo called police of the world but we are a strong people a people that believe in freedom and opportunities and if no one will step up and help protect this world and the weak it is our job to do soo, GOD entrusted us with this mission and we will die protecting any nation big or small that has done no wrong and needs our help....Thats what makes us AMERICA, not freedom, but our hearts and our love for others, that is why we have won our struggles towards freedom, and thats why countries that talks about how bad we are or how we are just big bullies will continue to ask for our help until the day that this world dies.
    My name is Ric and I'd love to talk to anyone about this email e anytime at rk_trip@hotmail.com

    • Posted By: loriw @ 08/21/2008 5:30:42 PM

      rk_trip. Thank you first for your service to our country as a marine.
      Thank you next for your well written post.
      It was a refreshing direction from the other opinions posted above and below yours.

  • Posted By: striker009 @ 08/19/2008 3:49:07 PM

    I think Putin and Meldevev should be arrested, tried and prosecuted in the world's court for terrorism against Democracy and Freedom.

    • Posted By: Ivan_Russian @ 08/20/2008 2:29:56 AM

      From the beginning lets examine all suits brought in the world's court by Ossetians and more than 2000 families of killed citizens against Georgian aggression.

  • Posted By: tfahlberg @ 08/18/2008 12:37:10 PM

    I agree with royaljanl. We need to stand up to Putin right away, before it gets worse. Putin believes we are overstressed in Iraq and is counting on political infighting and war-weariness to keep us out of the fray. Let's not repeat the mistakes of 1937-38 and walk away from a direct threat to an ally. If we abandon Georgia, others will learn that they cannot trust the US and will side with Russia who will be only too happy to "befriend", occupy, and possess them.

    • Posted By: streetwise @ 08/19/2008 3:56:05 PM

      Putin believes we are overstressed in Iraq

      The problem is not that Putin believe so . The problem is, it is really so...and for the foreseeable future...

  • Posted By: wezmus @ 08/19/2008 1:31:26 PM

    Dear Budthepatriot,

    I think it's a little naive to think that we are provided with all the necessary information to make a judgement on any of the international 'situations' which are taking place around the globe. The issue in Georgia is complicated, and has a considerable history. Not to forget, technically, Georgia opened fire first in this transgression. It would be wiser to consider that there is other information not available to us at this time, and take a deep breath before venting what seems to be a serious frustration. Good luck.

  • Posted By: BUDTHEPATRIOT @ 08/19/2008 12:06:32 PM

    TIME HAS COME..RUSSIA IS BLOWING UP WOMEN AND CHILDREN..RUSSIA NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT A LESSON AND NOT LIVE TO TALK ABOUT IT !

  • Posted By: fordfedup @ 08/18/2008 8:45:28 PM

    I'm sick and tired of hearing why the U.S. isn't doing something about every other country's problems---it's no wonder we are broke! If we had the 'Star Wars' program in place as we should have had 25 years ago, we could tend to our own business and take care of all the serious problems we have here at home. In the end, it is all about oil, no matter what the government trys to make us think. If we would implement all the good ideas that are in the mill including: Drilling off shore and in Alaska; tapping all of our other domestic oil rescorces; conserving gas and electricity in several common sense ways that have been proposed; and get rolling on all the 'green' technology available for producing energy (except for making fuel from food products, which to my way of thinking is insane and extremely inefficient).


  • Posted By: Sanescience @ 08/18/2008 1:54:47 PM

    Why do wars get started? Please!!!

    Russia has a lot of internal problems, and the best way to stay in control is to distract everyone with a war and whip up some nationalistic fervor about perceived injustices.

    In the long run this will be great for western weapon sales in the various countries bordering Russia who are probably going to arm themselves to the teeth much like Taiwan has for fear of China attacking them.

    Sadly I think the noble Russian people are going to have to suffer through another cycle of economic hardship before another chance at having a government that will try to solve the internal problems.

  • Posted By: Sanescience @ 08/18/2008 1:54:21 PM

    Why do wars get started? Please!!!

    Russia has a lot of internal problems, and the best way to stay in control is to distract everyone with a war and whip up some nationalistic fervor about perceived injustices.

    In the long run this will be great for western weapon sales in the various countries bordering Russia who are probably going to arm themselves to the teeth much like Taiwan has for fear of China attacking them.

    Sadly I think the noble Russian people are going to have to suffer through another cycle of economic hardship before another chance at having a government that will try to solve the internal problems.

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