Pushing Russia’s Buttons

Putin's invasion of Georgia is unforgiveable. But let's face it: the West helped to provoke Moscow's aggression.

By Michael Hirsh | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Aug 12, 2008 | Updated: 10:21  a.m. ET Aug 12, 2008

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  • Posted By: Trooper101st @ 11/10/2008 10:36:25 AM

    CONDI RICE has accomplished NOTHING in her tenure. A waste of air...

  • Posted By: Trooper101st @ 11/10/2008 10:34:49 AM

    The Russians are rebuilding, re-arming with petro-dollars. We have pushed them too far. NATO has proven to be a "paper tiger" and Putin knows this. The tripwire will be Ukraine, where there is a large Russian pop. in E. Ukraine. Wat will NATO do? NOTHING. Iraq has drained the US military, and in A-stan only a few members actually fight. Germany, Italy, Spain refuse to deploy the number of troops needed to conduct offensive ops there. They won't fight. We better re-think the missle defense system in E, Europe. If the Russians cross into Ukraine, only the UK and France [yes, the French] will fight alongside us. Air power is the key, but it does not take and hold territory. We are taking on too much, with too little.

  • Posted By: mayfair @ 09/30/2008 2:24:06 AM

    You want demcoracy, freedome, fre-market-economy??? Well you have to fight...Russia is a big threat to freedome. Russia believes that it can boss entire world. We need to confrant Russia militarely. They want cold war. Let them have it. Russia must be dismentalled politically, economically and militarelly.

  • Posted By: jwild @ 09/14/2008 11:48:44 AM

    It is just amazing that Russia would even be a problem now. Isn't Condi Rice the "Russian" expert from Stanford and what kind of relations has this administration been developing with the Russians in the last 8 years ? While we are so focused on this election, the "administration" is off doing God know what with the Russians and nobody is focusing in on them in the last few days of George's reign. I don't trust them , they have lied and you the media better start covering what they are really doing before they leave office

  • Posted By: haynessemperfi @ 08/27/2008 6:06:12 PM

    I have only one major correction to this article. It is concerning the following statement: ???The Bush administration has only stepped up this policy???it is one of the few areas where there has been real continuity between Clinton and Bush?????? Actually, it is Bush senior we have to thank for this reversal in Russian ideology. Bush senior supported Boris Yelstin over Mihkail Gorbachev desire to create a Euroasian version of the European Union after he destroyed the Soviet Union. By placing a puppet like Yelstin in office, Bush senior layed the groundwork that sparking a sense of humilation Russians feel now.

    We saw this coming. It is very similar to what is going on in the Middle East. We destroyed the dream of a ???Great Palastine??? now we destroy the dream of a ???Great Russia???. Both have some to bit us in the butt.

    I loved the comparison between how we appease China over one small island nation but pushed the Russian bear into its cave only for it to come back out kicking and screaming. It would be nice for our top DC foreign policy guru???s too: 1) finally guesse something right or 2) finally get hear when they see issue like this boiling under the surface. I, for one, believe the truly intellegent ones were either fired by Bush junior for their ideology or like FEMA have a Bush puppet driving the wheel.

  • Posted By: elk0414 @ 08/24/2008 9:51:38 PM

    a very nice article. This is first time I see someone try to understand Russia. You cannot keep on blaming Russia for everything when there are so many problems here, in the States. I am not even talking about European Union that cannot ensure that "non-citizens" (read Russians) become citizens. I do not agree with the way this conflict has been handled on all sides, but this war is very popular in Russia and Russian people are very tired of being held responsible for all the world's mistakes.

  • Posted By: 27messenger @ 08/21/2008 9:16:53 PM

    YES there is no excusing to put U.S on a silppray in deeply russia places . YES there is no excusing to killed more of American troops outsid US after the Iraq and afghnistan war . YES there is no excusing to America to have filling as beger force more than the life its silve this extending to every place depended on only the war and the troops it is suicide of American nation - there is no excusing to America to be the last new nation in the world and to be the first in the end

  • Posted By: 27messenger @ 08/21/2008 9:08:55 PM

    YES there is no excusing to put U.S on a silppray in deeply russia places . YES there is no excusing to killed more of American troops outsid US after the Iraq and afghnistan war . YES there is no excusing to America to have filling as beger force more than the life its silve this extending to every place depended on only the war and the troops it is suicide of American nation - there is no excusing to America to be the last new nation in the world and to be the first in the end

  • Posted By: nolovlost @ 08/20/2008 6:02:26 PM

    This is just what the Mc Bushes have been waiting for...America is stupid if it lets the Republican party get away with such Bull...we should be smarter than to be malnipulated like this...McCain has dementia and the RNC will be running this country with a door man at the helm...McBush....we need to stop this..nonsense..tell the truth

  • Posted By: rodrigo maia @ 08/17/2008 9:13:26 AM

    Across the history we`ve seen:When a nation acquire much power it becames agressive and by its own acts finish collapsed.USA is writing the same again,invaded Iraq with no reason since there were no mass destruction bombs,
    create own world maps in schools,have an exemple of "democracy" prison in Guantamo,how many families are dying,starving and suffering at this moment in consequence of USA acts know?Are you writing the same history?...

    By Rodrigo Maia a Brazilian shoe seller

  • Posted By: rodrigo maia @ 08/17/2008 9:12:46 AM

    Across the history we`ve seen:When a nation acquire much power it becames agressive and by its own acts finish collapsed.USA is writing the same again,invaded Iraq with no reason since there were no mass destruction bombs,
    create own world maps in schools,have an exemple of "democracy" prison in Guantamo,how many families are dying,starving and suffering at this moment in consequence of USA acts know?Are you writing the same history?...

    By Rodrigo Maia a Brazilian shoe seller

  • Posted By: cferns1530 @ 08/17/2008 4:16:51 AM

    As i see it, both Russia and U.S will continue to flex muscles cos there just cannot be only one superpower.(China flexes too, but little short in height !) Politics is such that both parties keep checks on each other and maintian stability. One coin, two sides. Problem is Georgia awoke a sleeping bear.

  • Posted By: pacific484j @ 08/16/2008 6:19:48 AM

    The United States Is in part responsible for this desaster. NO (1) Winning the cold war, Was a matter of "out spending, Not the defeat of a Nation. Yet the US has responded'as if It (the US) Won a grate victory, Not true! No(2) The US speeks peace to thear face' And aplys presear from behind. No(3) The US can put missle sites just about any place around the world' Why must it be in Russah's Face? US arregance will only harm the cause of peace. We(the US) Call ourselvs peace keepers,when in reality we are telling the world, WE'RE Going to be in Controll. No(4) Russa has done the same thing the US did in Cuba' Is it rite for us'and wrong for Russha?

  • Posted By: pesi @ 08/16/2008 5:27:14 AM

    ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????, ???????? ???? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ?? ????????????, ?????????? ????????, ?????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????????????????? ??????, ?????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ??????. ?????? ???? ???? ??????????????, ?????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?? ????????, ???????????????????? ?????????? ?????????????????????? ?? ????????, ?????? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?? ???? ?? ?????????? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????? ???????? ???? ??????????. ?? ??????????, ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????????????? ?? ?????? ????????????. ?? ?????????????????? «???????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ??????????????, ???????????? ????????????».

    Okay you are U.S. citizens promo brains, if you do not see beyond his nose and believe everything that you write supposedly free media, which are subordinate to U.S. security services. You do not say why the U.S. invaded Iraq, Afghanistan wants to invade Iran, all dealing in oil and not about what democracy speech here may not be. I think my message will live long and remove it. And remember "if you want to make you respect, respect others".

  • Posted By: Omaar @ 08/16/2008 2:09:14 AM

    In the meantime, Russia has made similar allegations against Georgia, some of which may be backed up by witness reports.

    Despite Western governments' public statements of support for Saakashvili, some Western diplomats now privately say that the Georgian leadership or military made a serious and possibly criminal mistake last week by launching a massive barrage against the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali, which inevitably led to major civilian deaths and casualties.


    Russian officials have said 2,000 people were killed in the Georgian offensive, a figure that has not been confirmed independently. But it is indisputable that large numbers of civilians were killed in and around Tskhinvali.(Reuters)
    We're Americans.

    We like to divide up opponents in any conflict into Good Guys and Bad Guys. Since reality tends to be more complicated than that, we can easily be misled by politicians and media pundits whose personal agendas are served by telling us which are the Good Guys and which the Bad Guys.

    Russia has agreed to "stand down" (NYT); and Georgia has apparently filed a lawsuit against Russia in in the International Court of Justice for ethnic cleansing. (Newsmeat; Examiner.com) But Russia made similar claims against Georgia when it went into South Ossetia. Is either side telling the truth? Are both?

    Both sides have traded accusations of genocide and ethnic cleansing.

    Russia has accused Georgia of killing more than 2,000 people, mostly civilians??? The claim couldn't be independently confirmed, but witnesses who fled the area over the weekend said hundreds had died. (Examiner.com)
    During the course of trying to fit together the pieces of the media jig-saw (speaking of trust, lack of), a number of quotes snagged my attention.

    Yesterday, Vladimir Putin said:

    "The Ferocity in which the actions of the Georgian side were carried out cannot be called anything else but genocide, because they acquired a mass character and were directed against individuals, the civilian population, peacekeepers who carried out their functions of maintaining peace." (BBC News Key Statements)

  • Posted By: Ivan_Russian @ 08/15/2008 4:52:06 PM

    some example of USA "independent" press:
    http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=H8XI2Chc6uQ
    http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-60920

    You just dont listen to the TRUE story...

  • Posted By: bsmith2420 @ 08/15/2008 2:23:01 PM

    Hirsh you are correct. The US is pread very thin. American soilders are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan not for democracy and freedom - these people don't even know what this means. Nor are their brains splattered on the streets of Iraq and Afghanistan for oil. We all know full well that oil has always been limited and new technologies could have been developed long ago. It is for the rich Saudi masters that control this government. Do you see any Saudi, Israeli or German soilders dying over there? huh?

    That's right. Who are the masters (rich Arabs) and who are the slaves S A...? This country better get its act together cause Latin America is huge in numbers with Russian weapons at your doorstep. Don't be stupid. Nations rise and fall and the US is on a slippery slope.

  • Posted By: garysgary @ 08/15/2008 9:42:34 AM

    Did McCain really say "...in the 21st century, nations don't invade other nations." This geezer is over the hill. I'll bet he will be a lobbyist by March.

  • Posted By: HillBillyBill @ 08/15/2008 7:44:39 AM

    Reduced to it's simplist element, the world has long wanted to be like America. So, when GWB invaded a soverign country, anyone with the ability to do the same has a precedent to follow, Secretary Rice's comments notwithstanding.

  • Posted By: Glenno @ 08/14/2008 11:38:03 PM

    Is American press more balanced than Russian? The US interest and involvement makes them as responsible for this massacre as Georgia, and it is not mentioned anywhere in US media. At least the European news have a bit more balanced view.

    • Posted By: Mike S. @ 08/15/2008 2:47:55 PM

      Are you kidding? The United States has the first amendment guaranteeing freedom of the press. Do you really believe that Russia has a free and indepnedent press. I am glad that Russia has an english language paper that to exist. But, let's be real, the majority of the media (tv, radio, etc) is controlled by the Kremlin and the Kremlin's cronies. How many independent media outlets in Russia were forced out or taken over during Putin? Even the St. Petersburg press that you referenced stated that the government controlled media was spreading only one side of the conflict. You wll find the full sprectrum of opinions in the US.

  • Posted By: Glenno @ 08/14/2008 7:07:07 PM

    St.Petersburg Times is a newspaper handed out for free and most restaurants and shops in St.Petersburg and it is in English. www.sptimes.ru . How can this be controlled by the Kremlin? They have a more balanced view in the media than the US, where every resistance against US imperialsm is a "brutal attack against freedom and democracy".

  • Posted By: Glenno @ 08/14/2008 6:41:42 PM

    How is Russian media not free? They have a lot of critisism of Kremlin in the media, a lot of it is US funded. Allowing US to pour millions into the media does not make it free, only US controlled.

    • Posted By: ilia25 @ 08/14/2008 10:28:37 PM

      Russian media is NOT free, not since Putin had purged any independed (from him) jornalists from all TV channels only months after coming to power.

      But it does not make Russia an agressor -- the agressor is still Georgia. Anyone who whats a proof only has to go to news.yahoo.com and look at Friday's newwire.

      • Posted By: pacific484j @ 08/16/2008 6:29:44 AM

        Stop it alredy It seems You all base your knolidge on what you get from' Qt: The Media. So none of You are rite.

  • Posted By: Landman @ 08/14/2008 3:09:53 PM

    Mr. Hirsch???s excellent analysis incorporates my own point of view. Both McCain and Obama are discredited by their opportunistic comments regarding the Russian invasion of Georgia. Both candidates, each of whom fully comprehends the Hirsch analysis, nevertheless, seek to take political advantage of the conflict without regard to the long term consequences for U.S. foreign policy. In the coming Presidential election, American will be asked to choose from which one of these carpetbaggers they will buy a used car.

  • Posted By: Mwalimu @ 08/14/2008 1:00:48 PM

    Bravo!!
    At last an article that tells the truth!!!!!
    Perhaps because of a lack of space, Hirsch fails to mention the terrorists revenge attacks committed by Chechens against innocent Russias: the attack in a Moscow theatre where about 700 or 800 people died, one or two (I forget the number, sorry) Russian civilian aircraft blown up midair by terrorists (women with bombs attached to their bodies,) or the siezure of a middle school near the Chechen border where 200 or 300 innocent Russian children died. Might this have come effect on Russia's policy? Doesn't Russia feel obligated to avenge these attacks? Granted. Georgia had nothing to do with these attacks. But then Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11,. Conservative pundit Jonah Goldberg advocates bombing and shaking up some crappy little country somewhere to show that we mean business. That's just what Russia did.
    Also, Hirsh forgets to mention Russia's big 9/11 - the Nazi invasion of 1941 which took the lives of millions of Russians. (1/3 of the population Leningrad starved to death.) If we keep remembering the lessons of 9/11, shouldn't Russians be entitled to the same memories of June 22, 1941? (Granted the Soviet-Natzi friendship pact of 1939 gave Hitler an engraved invitation, so did Stalin's purge which decimated the Soviet Army of all its best generals - but like the U.S., Russia often fails to acknowledge "inconvenient truths."
    With Hirsh's article in mind. Obama's approach makes far more sense than McCain's. Months before the invasion Obama warned of potential trouble spots like South Ossetia and advocated immediate high-level negotiation. Had Obama been president, perhaps the current tragedy might have been averted. Obama believes in proactive diplomacy - anticipating problems and de-fusing them - rather than reacting - like Bush and McCain. That;s the real key to an effective defense strategy.
    The other Obama specialty is his emphasis on Green Power (Check out his website) It's not as bold as Gore's 10 year plan - which I hope he adopts, but it's really the key to our ability to negotiate with Russia and Iran. Right now Russia can call the shots because it provides the EU with 33% of its oil and 40% of its natural gas. (There really frightening environmental issues connected with Russia's oil exploration, but that's another topic.) Our best bargaining chip will occur when we can tell the Russians (or Iranians) to keep their crude.

    P.S. Newsweek;s of fact checkers pointed out that it will take 22 years for off-shore oil to reach the market. We're better off with Gore's 10 year plan to get rid of oil altogether.

  • Posted By: SPORTLOCK09 @ 08/14/2008 12:05:43 PM

    Quick Senator Obama, Give the Russians and the Geogians a speech to make them feel all warm and fuzzy!!!!!!!!!

  • Posted By: trueworld @ 08/14/2008 11:35:13 AM

    I cant belive the media in the west! why all news in the west comes rom Georgia? there was not one western news media in south ossetia to tell the true story o what has happened! Georgians attacked first, killing women children everyone, running people over with tanks! Russia came in to stop the killings!!!!!
    if you want to get the real news about what happened go to russiatoday.com

    • Posted By: Brenda Mayer @ 08/25/2008 5:52:43 AM

      I live in the US and I read several months ago in our media (sorry, I forget where) that Georgia was suppressing Ossetia's desire for independence.

    • Posted By: SPORTLOCK09 @ 08/14/2008 12:17:17 PM

      Well honestly we don't know what to believe anymore. The media here in the west is an absolute joke. They only give opinions based off of their own biasedness anymore. Thanks for the site with actual reporting.

  • Posted By: ajaxtheleast @ 08/14/2008 10:37:20 AM

    Condoleeza Rice and her "dilpomatic entourage" is to meet Saakashvili in Georgia.

    That is, when they can move enough people out of Georgia to make room for them
    to fit in whats left of Georgia.

    CONDI:,,,,HI !!,,,,,,HOW'S IT GOING, MIKE ?

    • Posted By: SPORTLOCK09 @ 08/14/2008 12:10:57 PM

      That was very.....tasteless of you.

  • Posted By: Observer5 @ 08/14/2008 3:40:50 AM

    What!?
    Shvili himself told that he is "retaking" S.Ossetia as fulfilling his election promise.
    All American media started their Breaking News last Friday by the words:
    Georgia retakes S. Ossetia.
    Therefore, it is Shvili who started it and not Russia.
    Two wars is not enough to enjoy and delighten for stupid Americans; they must be reminded that 3 is a lucky number and thus the third war is just necessary.
    I hope that McCain is finished by this, not helped.
    As to Obama - he too said noisy words to be inline, but nobody seriously thinks that he is as crazy to break precious relations with Russia for the sake of some Georgia.
    Besides - its pres, Shvili, is good for Nurnberg trial.

    • Posted By: mayfair @ 09/30/2008 2:45:04 AM

      You must be very Russian banana.

  • Posted By: Observer5 @ 08/14/2008 3:40:36 AM

    What!?
    Shvili himself told that he is "retaking" S.Ossetia as fulfilling his election promise.
    All American media started their Breaking News last Friday by the words:
    Georgia retakes S. Ossetia.
    Therefore, it is Shvili who started it and not Russia.
    Two wars is not enough to enjoy and delighten for stupid Americans; they must be reminded that 3 is a lucky number and thus the third war is just necessary.
    I hope that McCain is finished by this, not helped.
    As to Obama - he too said noisy words to be inline, but nobody seriously thinks that he is as crazy to break precious relations with Russia for the sake of some Georgia.
    Besides - its pres, Shvili, is good for Nurnberg trial.

  • Posted By: Glenno @ 08/14/2008 2:10:47 AM

    It is not correct to call this "paranoia" from Russia. This has been build up for a long time and it ended in a US sponsored ethnic cleansing in Ossieta by pouring money into the Georgian army the last 4 year and giving CIA a almost limitless budget there.
    Since the cold war the US has expanded NATO closer and closer to Russias borders, assisted breaking up Yugoslavia to create dependent states and bomb Serbia into submission. The coups in Ukraine and Georgia (with colorful names) where the US has manipulated elections and media to gain control and create satelite states with anti-Russian government which we aparently call democratic. American attempt to create control and dominance in Eurasia is of great concern and with a rocket shield to gain first strike capabilities Russia has the right to feel "paranoid". Putin asked in Munic why the US was placing army bases along their borders and encirceling them. The US tactics have been to demonize, isolate, weaken and humiliate Russia. Russia has learned that the cold war never ended for the US and taking up weapons is the only option left now that the greatest threat is standing at their borders, very similar to what happened over 60 years ago. It is also worth to note that the US "aid" to Georgia now consist of war ships and war planes... United States have moved far beyond attacking sovereign states, changing regimes, breaking international law on daily basis, having torture at Guatanamo, placing terrorist organisations like the KLA inpower, the US has also moved into ethnic cleansing. Calling the Russian intervention a crime and bringing war to European soil should make Europe re-evaluate their relationship with the US, not Russia

  • Posted By: Glenno @ 08/14/2008 2:07:57 AM

    It is not correct to call this "paranoia" from Russia. This has been build up for a long time and it ended in a US sponsored ethnic cleansing in Ossieta by pouring money into the Georgian army the last 4 year and giving CIA a almost limitless budget there.
    Since the cold war the US has expanded NATO closer and closer to Russias borders, assisted breaking up Yugoslavia to create dependent states and bomb Serbia into submission. The coups in Ukraine and Georgia (with colorful names) where the US has manipulated elections and media to gain control and create satelite stateswith anti-Russian government which we aparently call democratic. With a rocket shield to gain first strike capabilities Russia has the right to feel "paranoid". Putin asked in Munic why the US was placing army bases along their borders and encirceling them. The US tactics have been to demonize, isolate, weaken and humiliate Russia. Russia has learned that the cold war never ended for the US and taking up weapons is the only option left now that the greatest threat is standing at their borders, very similar to what happened over 60 years ago. It is also worth to note that the US "aid" to Georgia now consist of war ships and war planes... United States have moved far beyond attacking sovereign states, changing regimes, breaking international law on daily basis, having torture at Guatanamo, placing terrorist organisations like the KLA inpower, the US has also moved into ethnic cleansing. Calling the Russian intervention a crime and bringing war to European soil should make Europe re-evaluate their relationship with the US, not Russia

    Glenn, Norway

  • Posted By: Reporter Guy @ 08/13/2008 11:51:38 PM

    By the way, how much business does Russia conduct with Iran?
    F Russia. They simply exacerbate the situation because they're trying to regain their position as a superpower and are just trying to piss off the U.S.

    • Posted By: LeoDeo @ 08/14/2008 1:15:11 AM

      We should send Report Guy to hold Saakmyshwili's hand , He wants to stop Russia , from his stool with his stool. We can strap him to a bomb and send it over to Suckmyswhili...he needs some Bush support right about now.

  • Posted By: Reporter Guy @ 08/13/2008 11:48:32 PM

    Another liberal apologist trying to blame the U.S. for Russia's (Putin's) aggression.
    So typical.
    Russia invades Georgia because Bush took the correct stance on encouraging former Soviet blocs?
    Gimme a break, Hirsh.
    What should we do? Not encourage them? Let them suffer under Russian rule?
    The EU needs to get its' sheet together and take a strong stance, send some peacekeepers.
    I love it when we're blamed for trying to be the "world's police," but then we're chastised for not taking stronger action in the affairs of others.

    • Posted By: SPORTLOCK09 @ 08/14/2008 12:30:58 PM

      Please.......Send Senator Obama quickly!!!!!!! We don't need to take any action here. They just need a speech!

    • Posted By: LeoDeo @ 08/14/2008 1:18:44 AM

      Not We, You...what do you want to do , speak for yourself you insignificant speck of dust. If you want US ...US to help you, you should first ask us, what the rest of us want. And I, speaking for myself, dont care if Georgia ceases to exist, along with whoever educated you. - Two things, this world will readily forget.

  • Posted By: ilia25 @ 08/13/2008 10:51:48 PM

    US leaders are really shortsighted. At the time when they really need Russian help with dealing with Iran and other real issues, they are bashing Russia for doing the right thing -- repelling the Georgian aggression in South Ossetia!

    I thought Iraq was a lesson enough for them to be guided by logic and facts, instead of fear and old stereotypes. Russia is NOT going to take over Georgia and depose that mental Saakashvili by force!,, It is a 2 trillion fast growing economy, they depend on good relations with West and they don't need this crap!..

    • Posted By: LeoDeo @ 08/14/2008 1:25:31 AM

      Who's shortsighted? where do you live again? we're a nation of idiots, governed by idiots, with the rich pulling us by the ears forward from 19th to 20th , and now the 21st century. We got one idiot going out of office and two potential morons coming in - "Today we're all Georgians....from Atlanta!" , and Osama the "Let's just talk it over in a sandbox and hold hands". Our nation is so overextended militarily, gas prices are so high ( relatively) that reporterguy above me probably bikes his way to work, and our rich donkeys who've been pulling us ahead, stumbled. ...Nah we're not shortsighted...we got a leadership of morons, whos only weapon right now is a megaphone - "We demand Russia pull back...or we're gonna keep demanding , and demanding and demanding..and then we'll tell on them " pathetic.

      • Posted By: SPORTLOCK09 @ 08/14/2008 12:34:48 PM

        Couldn't agree with you more. Just add "very" too pathetic and you nailed it.

  • Posted By: kdo123 @ 08/13/2008 10:20:22 PM

    Putin's invasion of Russia??? Why does everyone keep forgetting that Georgia started this mess??? This was not an invasion, this was a response to the clear and brutal violation of the peace treaty.

  • Posted By: Freedommonger @ 08/13/2008 7:51:52 PM

    Mr. Hirsh, in his unusually objective commentary (for an American), looks at the "big picture" but fails to address the issue of freedom. The kind of freedom that the Neocon crazies want for some, but deny others. Why does Georgia have the right to be "free" of Russia, while the Ossetians and Abkhaz don't have the right to be "free" of fascist Georgia? In order to understand why the Ossetians and Abkhaz don't want to be part of Georgia, all one has to do is look at how the Georgians treat their two other minorieis: The Armenian and the Azeris. That will explain it all.
    Here's a suggestion for Americans who oppose Ossetians right to be independent or join Russia! If Georgia is such a great country (democratic, freedom-loving, and other idiotic nonesense being spread by the Bush regime), why does not the USA become part of Georgia? That would be fair.
    Otherwise, let the Ossets and the Abkhaz decide for themselves.

    • Posted By: LeoDeo @ 08/14/2008 1:45:22 AM

      Nah that would put our foreign policy for the past 110 years under a sobriety test...we'd never want to do that. We as a whiny country do whatever pleases us , by might and sheer arrogance. And naturally we get really really really pissed off when other countries dont do what we want. Doing what's best for us is naturally a logical choice, doing it the way we're doing it now is not the brightest.

    • Posted By: jblackwell88 @ 08/13/2008 9:18:41 PM

      The sad thing is, that making sound arguments like this will not prevail against the existing world order. Even Obama has voiced support for the Georgians, so... so much for his insight. Nothing new to see here.

  • Posted By: Freedommonger @ 08/13/2008 7:51:38 PM

    Mr. Hirsh, in his unusually objective commentary (for an American), looks at the "big picture" but fails to address the issue of freedom. The kind of freedom that the Neocon crazies want for some, but deny others. Why does Georgia have the right to be "free" of Russia, while the Ossetians and Abkhaz don't have the right to be "free" of fascist Georgia? In order to understand why the Ossetians and Abkhaz don't want to be part of Georgia, all one has to do is look at how the Georgians treat their two other minorieis: The Armenian and the Azeris. That will explain it all.
    Here's a suggestion for Americans who oppose Ossetians right to be independent or join Russia! If Georgia is such a great country (democratic, freedom-loving, and other idiotic nonesense being spread by the Bush regime), why does not the USA become part of Georgia? That would be fair.
    Otherwise, let the Ossets and the Abkhaz decide for themselves.

  • Posted By: Questions2 @ 08/13/2008 7:45:06 PM

    Russia has agreed to both sides withdrawing their armies only because it has no intention of pulling its forces out. It sees an opportunity to make Georgia disarm unilaterally. Russia will claim that its army in Georgia is peacekeepers, policemen or voluntary militia of the South Ossetians and keep it in. The only way to ensure that both sides withdraw their armies is to send in an international peacekeeping force, no member of which is from Russia, Georgia or any group in Caucasus. That force should have the arms and authority to enforce withdrawal of armies.
    Georgia was the lightning rod for Eastern Europe. Russia focused its economic, propagandistic and military bullying on Georgia, lightening the pressure on countries of Eastern Europe. In the 1990s Russian military planes were flying over the Baltic states and Russia imposing trade sanctions on them. After the Rose Revolution in Georgia this activity shifted there. Now that the lightning rod is broken Eastern European countries should expect a lot more economic and military trouble from Russia.
    An old anecdote from the post-communist countries: An American, a German and a Russian are boasting in a bar. The American says: ???On my farm I drive a Ford, when I go to work I drive a Lincoln and when I go abroad I drive a Cadillac.??? The German answers: ???When I am at home, I drive a Volkswagen, at work I drive a Mercedes and in other countries I drive a BMW.??? The Russian says: ???I drive a Zhaporozhets at home and a tractor at work.??? ???And when you go to another country???? the others ask. ???When I go to another country I drive a tank,??? the Russian answers.

  • Posted By: Questions2 @ 08/13/2008 7:44:55 PM

    Proposition: Russia???s objective is to rule the world.
    Proof: Russia seeks to restore itself to Soviet Union size by the admission of Russian leadership (calling the fall of the Soviet Union the greatest catastrophe in the 20th century, promising to protect its interests in any country by any means, including military). Russia, like other countries and people, prefers more to less. If given the choice between the Soviet Union territory and that plus one other territory Russia will choose the second option. In a choice between Soviet Union plus one and Soviet Union plus two countries again the second choice is made. Iterating this argument we get that Russia would most prefer to rule the entire world.

    • Posted By: jblackwell88 @ 08/13/2008 8:53:01 PM

      Some might argue that this is our objective as well. Given our activities since the "end" of the Cold War, there is plenty of evidence to support that.

  • Posted By: Questions2 @ 08/13/2008 7:44:41 PM

    The method Russia seems to be using in gaining its objective of restoring the Soviet Union is to separate a piece from another country and then move in its ???piecekeepers??? to keep that piece for itself.
    In conclusion, the international community should make plans for reacting to the next Russian attack on its neighbour. The present reaction is inadequate since Russian forces are still moving deeper into Georgia. The next attack will come since the invasion of Georgia is premeditated and part of a bigger plan (Robert Kagan???s Aug. 11 article in The Washington Post). There are also plenty of ???frozen conflict??? opportunities that Russia can warm up ??? Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan, Eastern Ukraine that is mainly Russian-speaking, Transdniestria in Moldova, the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad between Poland and Lithuania (access rights for example), the mainly Russian-speaking Ida-Virumaa region of Estonia.

  • Posted By: jblackwell88 @ 08/13/2008 5:55:24 PM

    Well of course. The United States for decades has armed one side or another of a dozen conflicts around the globe, and most of these blow up on our faces. The reason we have a problem with Iran today is because of the Islamic Revolution - a reaction to the U.S. installed Shah. The reason we're in Iraq was to overthrow Saddam Hussein, a puppet we created to oppose the Iranians. The reason we're in the war on terror is to contain Osama Bin Laden, a man we trained to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan. Someone needs to step back and ask whether what we do in the world - i.e. having our CIA engineer political results, is working. Now here we are in Georgia, having armed, trained and encouraged this buffoon Saakashvili, who decided he'd shell civilians in a surprise attack, and throw grenades into basements full of children in the morning hours before the Olympics. And no doubt American weapons were used to start this genocide. How can any reasonable person say that we did not ENABLE this to happen? Isn't it time we re-evaluated our policies regarding foreign meddling? From what I can see we've done nothing but create new enemies in the world, cause untold thousands of deaths, saddle three generations of US taxpayers with the cost of rebuilding countries we should have never been in. All the while we keep telling ourselves "its normal" for us to have 700 military bases around the world in over 100 different countries and we refuse to deal with the fact we're being lied to by our leaders about why we're there and what we're doing. We're in Georgia now because of the PIPELINE and because we want to poke Russia in the eye. If it had anything to do with moral considerations, we'd be backing the South Ossetians for independence. Isn't freedom for everybody? Or is it only appropriate for problematic states we have an interest cannibalizing, or tearing it from someone else's economic sphere?

  • Posted By: Sickrat @ 08/13/2008 5:54:14 PM

    Some questions to Russia-bashers:
    1. Do you suggest that Georgia's sneak Olympic night attack on a sleepy town full of Russian civilians never happened? Do you suggest that Russian casualties, civilian and military, were anything but substantial that night? I've seen no news outlet to deny that; not even Mikheil Saakashvili, despite his record of chain lying, denied it, as far as I see from Western MSM.
    2. Do you suggest any self-respecting country would not come to the aid of its nationals? How many Russians have to die before it is OK to send in the cavalry?
    3. How come you deem Russia's response disproportionate given the official Georgian body count of 175 dead?
    4. Would you call a Georgian president ostensibly re-elected on a 52% vote a 'democratically elected leader' despite well-documented electoral fraud? Would you believe Texas voting 90% Obama, the way some Armenian-populated regions 'voted' for Saakashvili, although ethnic Armenians hate his guts?

  • Posted By: Brian Y. @ 08/13/2008 5:49:37 PM

    The west's disregard of Russia's well founded xenophobia (20 million dead and millions of square miles destroyed) led to what we see today. All of the old Cold Warriors who watched the wall come down were intoxicated with the thought of former adversary states becoming partners. Those former adversary states expected us to back them unconditionally and completely and in fact backed us without question (former Soviet satellites have been the biggest supporters of the Iraqi coalition). But in our intoxication we literally relegated a still very powerful and increasingly insecure Russia to an inaccurately inferior postion and reveled in her struggles. This strengthened the hand of ultra nationalists like Putin. The problem with forcing a potential adversary (particularly an insecure one) into a corner is that you leave that adversary no flexibility to stand down from their bellicosity without an unacceptable loss of face in front of their own people. Imagine the Soviet Union backing the establishment of pro-Soviet communist regimes in Mexico and Canada (look at how obsessed we've been with the one they did establish in Cuba), would we have not reacted? Putin has timed his action perfectly and now we see the limits of our own ability to affect the situation. It will take innovative thinking and a willingness to compromise the "absolute belief" that everyone wants to be an Amercian but perhaps we may be able to stabilze the situation.

    • Posted By: jblackwell88 @ 08/13/2008 6:15:53 PM

      We'll have to see whether democracy actually takes in Iraq, or whether they choose Shariah law when we leave. Otherwise Americans ( especially those who do not read much ) will not come around on this idea that democracy can be exported at gunpoint.

      I've always been of the opinion that if social conditions are not such that the people are ready to fight and die seizing their own freedom, and in such numbers to preserve that freedom on an ongoing basis ( as in the case of the American Revolution ) then democracy will not take, even if we "gift" them with it through force. In reality, I believe we export democracy as a way of creating a weak state that is susceptible to western influence ( money ) and too impotent to do anything about its cannibalization at the hands of western corporations. This is not a case against democracy, but maybe one for protectionism. The USA suffers from this dynamic currently at the hands of China. Somehow I think if France decided to stop trading with us, we'd be in there tomorrow "liberating" them. Gunboat diplomacy. We opened Japanese ports with our navy back in the day. We do the same thing now in Iraq. Same **** different wrapper.

  • Posted By: JohnUmana @ 08/13/2008 5:02:06 PM

    Where are you, President Bush and Senator McCain? Why, Messrs. Bush/McCain, did you allow this situation to develop with Russia brutally attacking a U.S. ally and bombing civilian targets while our President partied with Putin at the Olympics? Now we hear tough words from the two of you. Yet it was apparent since the Rose revolution in 2004 that this area was a tinderbox and needed to be watched closely -- meaning before Russia attacked Georgia. Is this the way to spread democracy, by abandoning a U.S. ally while celebrating with Putin in Beijing? Even today after the cease fire was made, Russian tanks and paramilitaries nonetheless rolled into the Georgian city of Gori violating the truce. "Yesterday, I heard Sen. McCain say, "We are all Georgians now,"" Georgian president Saakashvili said on CNN"s American Morning. "Well, very nice, you know, very cheering for us to hear that, but OK, it"s time to pass from ... words to deeds." Georgia has been an area to watch carefully especially after the Rose Revolution brought pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili to power in 2004. How could you miss this? Moscow has strongly opposed Georgia's efforts to become part of NATO. How could you two men not know this? While our president partied with Putin, you allowed Russia to attack a U.S. ally, which was close to becoming a member of NATO, under cover of Olympic festivities. Senator, is this the "experience" that you believe qualifies you to be President?

  • Posted By: JohnUmana @ 08/13/2008 4:59:56 PM

    Where are you, President Bush and Senator McCain? Why, Bush/McCain, did you allow this situation to develop with Russia brutally attacking a U.S. ally and bombing civilian targets while our President partied with Putin at the Olympics? Now we hear tough words from the two of you. Yet it was apparent since the Rose revolution in 2004 that this area was a tinderbox and needed to be watched closely -- meaning before Russia/Putin invaded Georgia. Is this the way to spread democracy, by abandoning a U.S. ally while celebrating with Putin in Beijing? Even today after the cease fire was made, Russian tanks and paramilitaries nonetheless rolled into the Georgian city of Gori violating the truce. "Yesterday, I heard Sen. McCain say, "We are all Georgians now,"" Georgian president Saakashvili said on CNN"s American Morning. "Well, very nice, you know, very cheering for us to hear that, but OK, it"s time to pass from ... words to deeds." Georgia has been an area to watch carefully especially after the Rose Revolution brought pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili to power in 2004. How could you miss this? Moscow has strongly opposed Georgia's efforts to become part of NATO. How did you two men not know this? While our president partied with Putin, you allowed Russia to attack a U.S. ally, which was close to becoming a member of NATO, under cover of Olympic festivities. Senator, is this the kind of "experience" that you say qualifies you to be President?

  • Posted By: Loden Green @ 08/13/2008 4:56:33 PM

    I'm not worried. "Jingo John" McCain will slap those Russians down once he gets in office. Nuke'em, John.

  • Posted By: LeoDeo @ 08/13/2008 4:13:24 PM

    We are all Iraqis, Chinese, Georgians, Americans, and them Micronesians too

  • Posted By: LeoDeo @ 08/13/2008 4:11:41 PM

    Suckmyshwili told little Ossetia to saakashvili , but Mother Russia , Cut his Saakashvili in half. Saakashvilis daddy Bushy Bush told Mother Russia not to cut his sons Saakashvili off or he'd tell the world what kind of a Bitch she is. But Bushy Bush knows that without Mother Russia , he can't protect his behind from Armageddon from Iran.

    China doesn't care it's got Olympics on the air.

  • Posted By: wyomingite @ 08/13/2008 4:07:28 PM

    Let's face it. Between Putin (along with puppet Medvedev) and Sakashvili, it's difficult to pick a good guy and a bad guy as we Americans love to do. This isn't college football, it's international relations and is complex. McCain should watch his step here. (i.e. "We are all Georgians") What an idiot. We should side with the civilians on both sides and focus on the humanitarian aspect of this conflict. Sending Condi is the right move, although Bush should shut his mouth on the issue. (and shouldn't talk about anything other than baseball and riding-lawnmowers) Condi, despite her flaws, is undeniably an expert on the former Soviet-bloc. Let her work her magic and stop talking to the press, especially if you're running for president.

    • Posted By: Braes @ 08/13/2008 7:39:41 PM

      Condi makes me barf. What a waste of oxygen. Just what has she done for our prestige, diplomacy or foreign policy that is positive? Don Trump called her the worst broker in history. Useless.

  • Posted By: Omaar @ 08/13/2008 3:30:42 PM

    Source: www.cnn.com The Political Ticker

    http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/13/georgian-president-to-mccain-move-from-words-to-deeds/

    Americans are making it known that they Will Not lay down American Flesh,Blood, Bone and Spirit for a Antagonistic Sakashvilli (Georgian) Nation.

    Georgian president to McCain: Move 'from Words to Deeds'

    This Maniac wants to End Life as we know it, by having America use Military Might against a Nation with the largest Stockpile of Nuclear Weapons on Planet earth and that wopuld also include China, because they are going to Side with Russia, you gotta be Kidding Me !!

    Obama's Logic is looking Better Everyday and John McCain has been called out by his "Maniac Friend" Sakashvilli as if Mccain is President !!

    condoleeza Rice has Admitted that Georgia started this Conflict, yet tries to say, Russia's response is Too Extreme !

    What if Canada tried to Invade America or Worse, if Mexico tried to claim California or Texas as Theirs, we would do the same Exact Thing, if not WORSE, just look at iraq and they had nothing to do with (911) and we're Devestating that Country !! What do you think, we would do if Canada tried to claim Alaska, New York or North Dakota ...Hmmmm

    08:50 AM ET

    From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby



    Watch the entire interview with President Saakashvili.

    (CNN) ??? Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday called for John McCain and other American leaders to do more for Georgia in their response to the conflict in his country.

    Big Note: ???Yesterday, I heard Sen. McCain say, ???We are all Georgians now,?????? Saakashvili said on CNN???s American Morning. ???Well, very nice, you know, very cheering for us to hear that, but OK, it???s time to pass from this. From words to deeds.???

    McCain told a crowd in Pennsylvania yesterday that he had called Saakashvili to express solidarity with the people of Georgia, saying: ???Today, we are all Georgians.???

    Note: McCain???s foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann (Big Lobbyist for Georgia) told reporters on the campaign plane Tuesday that McCain???s remark ???obviously meant a lot to Saakashvili personally, but more importantly the message it conveyed to the Georgian people in this really, time of unprecedented national emergency.??? Scheunemann said McCain and Saakashvili are friends who have speaking daily throughout the crisis.


    But Saakashvili said action is more important than rhetoric in the face of ???brutal??? and ???deliberate??? Russian violence. He urged the United States to take the lead in installing an international peacekeeping force.

    ???We should realize what is at stake here for Americans,??? he said. ???America is losing the whole region.???

    ???What Americans should do know, first of all, clearly make known their intentions,??? he said.


    • Posted By: Braes @ 08/13/2008 7:43:05 PM

      McCain is a senile tweak case who has foreign lobbyists for Georgia that will get us in a wide war in asia and europe. A crazy sick old man. Sad.

  • Posted By: Omaar @ 08/13/2008 3:09:09 PM

    Source: www.reuters.com

    Sakashvilli is a Napoleonic Maniac and is getting what he Desrves and the Georgian Nation, should Oust him !!

    No American, should Lay down their Flesh, Bone, Blood and Spirit, for sakashvilli or his Ambitious Regime, that set this whole Fiasco up, in the 1st place. Sakashvilli started this Strife, let him deal with the Consequences of his Actions !!!

    Sakashvilli: Miscalculated what he Thought, America would do for him. He tried to get us involved in a Big Mess, knowing all the Issues America was confronting, Iraq, Afghanistan, Our World Standing, Domestic issues and so on. America should Realize now, that Sakashvilli is a Loose Canon, a Devious and Overly Ambitous Man, that will do Anything, for his own Political Ascention, above all else. No American should lay down their Lives for that Ruler or his People. It was "Unthinkable" that the Sakashvilli and his Georgian Nation thought that they could (Retake Osettia) with Russian Peace Keepers already established in Osettia , an with Reinforcements at it's very call !!!

    Despite warnings by President George W. Bush for Russia to "Reverse the Course it appears to be on" and withdraw its Troops to avert a "Dramatic and Brutal Escalation" of Violence," U.S. military intervention in the small former Soviet republic is nearly unthinkable, analysts said on Monday.

    There also is little Washington can do diplomatically to restrain the Russians, according to foreign policy experts.

    "Let me say at this point that there are no good solutions. Either we have to try to remove them (the Russians) by force or accept a humiliating defeat," said Dimitri Simes, founding president of the Nixon Center in Washington.

    "It is not a happy situation, and we did not have to have this situation, and I think the (Bush) Administration has Considerable Responsibility for that."

    Georgian forces entered separatist South Ossetia last week, trying to retake the pro-Russian enclave that broke away in the 1990s. Moscow, which supports South Ossetia's independence, responded by sending its troops into Georgia proper.

    Georgia has appealed for international intervention and pulled its battered forces back to defend the capital, Tbilisi, as Russian troops pushed deeper into its territory, ignoring Western pleas to halt.

    Big Note: Simes said U.S. encouragement of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, one of Washington's staunchest allies, may have led him to believe he could Get Away With Military Action to (Take Back Control of South Osettia)


  • Posted By: Omaar @ 08/13/2008 3:02:23 PM


    Source: www.reuters.com

    Titled: US has very Few Options


    The Bush administration has pushed hard for Georgia to join NATO, against European misgivings and Russian fury at the idea.

    Big Note: "Saakashvili was discouraged from attacking Russian troops in South Ossetia but he clearly never was told point blank 'If you do it, you are on your own,'" said Moscow-born Simes, who was an informal adviser to President Richard Nixon.

    'SAKASHVILLI'S, MISCALCULATION' !!!

    Charles Kupchan of the Council on Foreign Relations, agreed that U.S. encouragement may have made Saakashvili "miscalculate" and send Georgian troops into South Ossetia.

    "I think in many respects Saakashvili got too close to the United States and the United States got too close to Saakashvili," Kupchan said. "It made him overreach, it made him feel at the end of the day that the West would come to his assistance if he got into trouble."

    Bush told Russia on Monday to reverse course or risk jeopardizing relations with the United States.

    But Washington has limited leverage over Moscow after years of strained relations on a range of issues from Iraq to the United States' insistence on placing missile defenses in Europe, the analysts said.

    The next U.S. president will inherit that chilly relationship. Both presidential candidates -- Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama -- have called for diplomacy to resolve the conflict over Georgia's breakaway regions.

    "When you have very thin relations, it doesn't give you a lot of diplomatic tools," said Steven Pifer, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine who is now a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. "There are not a lot of things in terms of U.S.-Russian cooperation that we can threaten to stop, that the Russians care about."


  • Posted By: Omaar @ 08/13/2008 3:00:44 PM

    Source: www.thehuffingtonpost.com

    The Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin told CNN his country is seeking details on what started the fighting.

    "We do not want to believe that the United States has given a green light to this adventurous act," he said. "But our American colleagues are telling us that they're investigating now what may have happened in the channels of communication for Mr. Saakashvili to have behaved in such a "RECKLESS MANNER."

    President Bush, one day earlier, had called the Russian invasion unacceptable, and on Tuesday the Russian president assailed the West for supporting Georgia. "International law doesn't envision double standards," Medvedev said.

    U.S. officials were focused on confirming a cease-fire and attending to Georgia's urgent humanitarian needs.

    "The Russians need to stop their military operations as they have apparently said that they will, but those military operations really do now need to stop because calm needs to be restored," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

    A U.S. senior defense official in Washington said the U.S. has decided to dump a major NATO naval exercise with Russia that was scheduled to begin Friday.

    Georgia, which is pushing for NATO membership, borders the Black Sea between Turkey and Russia and was ruled by Moscow for most of the two centuries preceding the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union.

    South Ossetia and Abkhazia have run their own affairs without international recognition since fighting to split from Georgia in the early 1990s. Both separatist provinces are backed by Russia, which appears open to absorbing them.

    Medvedev said Georgia must allow the provinces to decide whether they want to remain part of Georgia.

    "Ossetians and Abkhaz must respond to that question taking their history into account, including what happened in the past few days," Medvedev said grimly.

    Medvedev said Russian peacekeepers would stay in both provinces, even as Saakashvili said his government will officially designate them as occupying forces.

    In Tbilisi, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza declined to say whether the U.S. would provide military support if Russia expands its assault.

    Georgia sits on a strategic oil pipeline carrying Caspian crude to Western markets and bypassing Russia. The British oil company BP shut down one of three Georgian pipelines, saying it was a precaution.


  • Posted By: ARGOS-PANOPTES @ 08/13/2008 3:00:33 PM

    To CollosalDreams: "Putin knows exactly what he is doing. He is sneaky, patient, ambitious, and dangerous. His ambitions need to be contained." here's back at you... Bush HAS NO IDEA what he is doing. BUT he is sneaky, IMpatient, ambitious, and dangerous. His ambitions need to be contained.

    Tell me again the reasons "BRUTSH" invaded Iraq, besides its self interests, so where is the difference here

    • Posted By: PresidentSupporter @ 08/13/2008 4:32:26 PM

      Bush is a heckuva lot smater than you, fool. Stop listening to the liberal media garbage and understand we invaded Iraq to take out "Hitler No. 2".

      If you know how to run things so well, why aren't you the President?

      • Posted By: jblackwell88 @ 08/13/2008 9:28:59 PM

        So what you're saying is, Saddam had taken over the entire middle east with his imaginary chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, and that this scenario justified the killing of more people than he'd or his sons would have ever killed in their CAREER. There is a reason the world is as screwed up and violent as it is, and people like YOU are exactly the cause of it.

  • Posted By: GoRight @ 08/13/2008 2:32:50 PM

    I'm positive that Michael also is on the smae rhetoric bandwagon that we provoked OBL to bomb the Towers. Please do everyone a favor and leave America and go live in Russia, Cuba or anywhere else that suits you better. And take Pelosi with you.

  • Posted By: CollosalDreams @ 08/13/2008 1:37:18 PM

    Oh please Michael Hirsh has written in almost every one of his articles about foreign policy that we shouldn't have made waves or we should essentially hide under a rock. He is completely unrealistic. If America did that you think this wouldn't have happened? Russia would have taken more countries by now. Russia has been displaying aggressive behavior for years and using the 'American Threat' as propaganda to unite the Russian people. It's a typical communist strategy. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has been doing the same thing. Hugo has said numerous times the US is ready to invade his country and will happen any moment. He???s got the people ready for war. We don't even have enough armament down there to take over a small town. Putin knows exactly what he is doing. He is sneaky, patient, ambitious, and dangerous. His ambitions need to be contained.

  • Posted By: teco_ea @ 08/13/2008 11:56:32 AM

    The parallel between Georgia and Taiwan is all too aptly drawn, and it brings to light an additional point of caution: while the US may do well to take a less antagonistic tone towards Russia, backing down entirely would send entirely the wrong message to other rising powers, namely China. If Russia is allowed to feel it can get away with attacking and then withdrawing from a sovereign, democratic nation just to prove a point, what???s to stop China from feeling it can use the same tactic to assert its clout by attacking Taiwan?

  • Posted By: shaselai @ 08/13/2008 11:43:57 AM

    The combat in Georgia should stop but do americans really care? I doubt many could even point at the general direction and probably many thinks it is a State -_-. I really hate the role of "big brother" america is playing.. it is destroying our economy, lives - for what, so a country so far away that most of us never heard of or cared could be democratic? McCain's speech was purely fearmongering and betting on the stupidity of americans to follow him. Did newsweek point out McCain has a lobbyist from Georgia? I really liked the pre-WWII america where we minded our own business than now - our main concern and i "speak for all americans" is to become energy independent, improve our economy, jobs and education not to stick our nose in where it doesn't belong. UN is created for a reason - let everyone talk and come up with a solution the majority agrees on then act, that way we wont look too bad. Oh yeah, we also did what Russia did - attacking a country without provocation...think about that.

  • Posted By: shaselai @ 08/13/2008 11:42:56 AM

    The combat in Georgia should stop but do americans really care? I doubt many could even point at the general direction and probably many thinks it is a State -_-. I really hate the role of "big brother" america is playing.. it is destroying our economy, lives - for what, so a country so far away that most of us never heard of or cared could be democratic? McCain's speech was purely fearmongering and betting on the stupidity of americans to follow him. Did newsweek point out McCain has a lobbyist from Georgia? I really liked the pre-WWII america where we minded our own business than now - our main concern and i "speak for all americans" is to become energy independent, improve our economy, jobs and education not to stick our nose in where it doesn't belong. UN is created for a reason - let everyone talk and come up with a solution the majority agrees on then act, that way we wont look too bad. Oh yeah, we also did what Russia did - attacking a country without provocation...think about that.

  • Posted By: teco_ea @ 08/13/2008 11:20:55 AM

    The parallel between Georgia and Taiwan is all too aptly drawn, and it brings to light an additional point of caution: while the US may do well to take a less antagonistic tone towards Russia, backing down entirely would send entirely the wrong message to other rising powers, namely China. If Russia is allowed to feel it can get away with attacking and then withdrawing from a sovereign, democratic nation just to prove a point, what???s to stop China from feeling it can use the same tactic to assert its clout by attacking Taiwan?

  • Posted By: olderwiser @ 08/13/2008 11:08:34 AM

    The dream of lasting world peace is dead. The last hope that I had died when our leader uttered the words, "preemptive war". Having uttered those words, we lost our right to complain about the aggression of other governments with any excuse, however thin, to invade another country, especially after our reason for the preemptive war proved to be false and weakly blamed on "faulty intelligence". Actually the "faulty intelligence" was more in the cranium of those who used it than anywhere else.
    Whatever we did to diplomatically to prime the pump of the Georgian war pales in our use of military force so foolishly as we have used it in Iraq from start to finish. We wanted Baghdad so badly and we got it for a few moments of cheap glory, and now it has us and will have us for an unknown period of time. Just think about us continuing to spend billions trying to fix the damage that we did in taking the place and the now billions of Iraqi oil dollars deposited in our own banks. We were told as part of the buildup to war there that the Iraqi oil dollars would pay for our invasion. Never have so many people been fooled by so few people in power.
    Forget peace in the world. It simply can't exist amongst human kind. We all love war too much. Just remember the glory of the TV presentation of the bombs falling on Iraq and lighting up the night sky while TV announcers gleefully told of how our surgical bomb strikes were just about to blow up the house where Saddam Hussein was holed up. We are hooked on war and now with our declaration of the right to wage it at the slightest excuse the world's banner of freedom has been folded. It was our banner and we lost it. The wars will only proliferate and leave less and less peace in between until we can't stand the sight of any more blood of the innocent spilled into the streets of the world.

  • Posted By: JoanR @ 08/13/2008 9:54:45 AM

    The message is quite clear. Putin has no intention of voluntarily ceding his personal power and Russian Imperialism is back on the table. So be it.Lets recognize that the Cold War has restarted and act accordingly. The US can start by giving material assistance to the separatist groups in Russia itself, since the Russians are so fond of separatism, they certainly won't mind.Next we can both work on alternative energy AND drill so as to devalue Putin's only asset.The Russian government has never diversified and remains an economic basket case depencddependent on high oil prices.

    • Posted By: C. MacLean @ 08/13/2008 10:40:29 AM

      It isn't Russian Imperialism that is back, it's U.S. Imperialism. If the Cold War has re-started, it is because we started it, not the Russians. They are acting accordingly, and predictably - did we really think we could put missles in Poland and NOT have the Russians react? Typical American arrogance and hubris - we reap what we sow.

      And we have absolutely no moral high ground here - WE invaded Iraq, for no legitimate reason, and the Russians and the rest of the world has been unhappy with us ever since. We don't get to chastize Russia for invading Georgia.

      Just as in the 30's, when the biggest capitalist economy was on its knees due to gross mismanagement, the rest of the world got restless and hungry. Once again we are in an economic spin, and the rest of the world is getting antsy.

      If we truly want to remain a super power, we need to take care of business at home. Other countries don't behave so boldly when the perceive us as strong, but when the perceive us as being in domestic turmoil, we invite this kind of behavior. (Strike now, while the US is preoccupied, and maybe they won't notice).

      And lest we forget, the Japanese bombed us at Pearl Harbor because we put an embargo on their oil; they couldn't get the oil they needed to run their country. We are in Iraq because of oil, and Europe is nervous about Russia in part because they are depending on Russian oil.

      ITS THE OIL, STUPID!!!!! Forget drilling; more oil will not help us stabilize the future. We need alternative energy, and we need it now.

      • Posted By: Omaar @ 08/13/2008 2:55:11 PM

        You are 90% Right in your Assessment.

        But Nigeria, Angola, Libya and other African Countries supply Us with Oil & Big Oil Corporations, have gotten away Ignoring the African Plight, while Profiting off their Misery, that has to and is going to Change Soon.

        The USA, for now has gotten away with using Africa by Exploitation and Profiteering of Africa's Natural Resources (Oil, Diamonds & Rubber Trees) in particular and Corrupt So Called African Leaders, but the Chinese and Russians are in Africa, Especially the (Chinese) and they are putting MONEY and ACTION berhind their Ambitions opposed to the USA.

        America & Europe has Ignored Africa, which would be a Great Ally to have in the Coming Years, but they treat the Continent like NOTHING....

        Note: China in particular is going to Improve the Economic Infrastructure & Conditions of Africa in Times to come and when the World SEES the Improvements and Progression of Africa, as you now SEE what has happened in China...

        America will have No Answers or Europe, for what they hav'nt Accomplished in Africa.

        As Big & Rich as that Continent is in Discovered and Undiscovered Resources and we have yet to Fully Explore or Discover all the Natural and Historical Resources the African Continent has to Offer, China in particular will be the Beneficiaries, because America and Europe, Exploited and Allowed and Accepted all this Corrupt African Leader's and their Overlording Tyranny for YEARS, while they MADE GREAT PROFITS from Africa's Abundance in Natural Resources..

        America, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and all other European Nations that have Profited from Africa's Misery, will REGRET IT IN THE FUTURE.

        EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN CYCLES, PHASES AND DIFFERENT STAGES, EVERYTHING IS CYCLICAL, THAT IS WHY AMERICA AND EUROPE SHOULD HELP REBUILD AFRICA AND MAINTAIN A MILITARY PRESENCE THERE LIKE IN JAPAN AND KOREA, STILL PROFIT, BUT A GOOD PORTION MUST GO TO THE AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT IN AFRICA'S FUTURE OR ANOTHER SUPER POWER WILL DO IT, FOR YOU AND THIER ALLEGIANCE WILL BE TO THAT COUNTRY OPPOSED TO THE USA & EUROPE.

        EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN CYCLES, PHASES AND STAGES....EVERYTHING, THE NATIONS THAT ARE ON TOP NOW, WILL NOT BE IN THE FUTURE, WITHOUT WISE, SOUND AND COMMITED INVESTMENT.

      • Posted By: JoanR @ 08/13/2008 12:54:21 PM

        If you insist on using historical analogy learn some history. The oil Embargo on Japan came after its peace loving military government invaded and occupied China while the League of Nations harrumphed and did nothing.As for the Iraq comparison, only the very ignorant or morally blind are able to put a genocidal dictator and his crime family on the smae basis as a democratically elected government.So I will leave that to you

        • Posted By: C. MacLean @ 08/13/2008 1:11:41 PM

          That must make us ignorant or morally blind, since we have managed to ignore every recent African genocidal dictator, but felt it necessary to invade Iraq. Could it be that, except for Nigeria, Africa has no oil, so we don't care?

          We pick and choose who we invade, who we embargo, and who we ignore, based on our own interests, not on any high moral ground. We have no business chastizing Russia when they act based on their self-interests, particularly when we are part of their problem in the first place.

          I stand by my original premise: Russia is no more facist or imperialistic than we are. If we wish to avoid collision with Russia - a big 'if'' - the Cheneys and McCains would love it if we were back in the Cold War - we need to clean up our own house first.

  • Posted By: Bass Pro @ 08/13/2008 9:19:07 AM

    Georgia burns while Bush and Rice Fiddle!

    • Posted By: olderwiser @ 08/13/2008 11:12:33 AM

      Hello Bass.
      I have been enthused about us getting out of Iraq. Maybe this is our chance. Just get up and leave Iraq and go to Georgia. Start a preemptive war with Russia.

      • Posted By: Bass Pro @ 08/13/2008 12:55:00 PM

        Hi oldwiseperson, I'll pass on that! We'll all be glowing in the dark if we do that.

        • Posted By: Braes @ 08/22/2008 8:27:51 PM

          Remembering him from elsewhere, I gotta go with yanking us around. Hard irony and smart guy.

  • Posted By: PAYank @ 08/13/2008 8:48:56 AM

    At last someone with a real grasp of the situation surrounding Russia. Bravo, Mr. Hirsh. It is time we wandered a bit in other nation's shoes. Russia may be paranoid about the West but, historically, it has good reason. In the last two hundred years it has seen first Napolean then Hitler sweep across Eastern Europe into its heartland with the resultant loss of millions of Russian lives. Look how paranoid we've gotten with the loss of three thousand on 9/11. Look how paranoid John McCain is when he rails about the extremely remote spectre of Chinese oil wells off our coast. And now we are beginning to see Russia reass