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SHADOWLAND

The Defiant Ones

The Russia-Georgia conflict is yet another example of why a leader caught up in the romance of resistance should not rely on Washington. What Saakashvili should have learned from history--and the American South.

By Christopher Dickey | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Aug 14, 2008 | Updated: 12:36  p.m. ET Aug 14, 2008

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  • Posted By: Glenno @ 08/19/2008 2:16:14 AM

    so much for free and balanced western journalism... Russian press is now more balanced than American

  • Posted By: swkidder @ 08/18/2008 6:43:30 PM

    Well, unlike the two comments below, I liked the piece. Yes, it was foksy and it has a point of view. As long as journalism puts its point of view out front where we can all see it ahead of time, I can make up my own mind about whether or not I agree. Far more dangerous is the "journalism" that hides its point of view in the "facts" it chooses to present, withhold, and/or alter in service of an agenda it prefers to pretend isn't present. The thing I liked the most about the piece was its discussion of the concept of defiance,and how it might inform some otherwise incomprehensible choices. To the uninitiated, Saakashvili's decision to tweak the tale of the Russian bear seems insane. What did he think Putin et al would choose to do in response? Did he really believe whatever whispers were emanating from the halls of neocon alley that the United States would send the Air Force as back-up to his invasion? But, placed in the context of the emotional history, it assumes a strange and twisted kind of logic. And I'd like to humbly suggest to the two posters who preceded me, a compelling case for the kind of open-minded negotiations with both our allies and our enemies that Barack Obama believes are the best kind of foreign policy. It helps to know what the person sitting on the other side of the table is actually thinking when one is formulating a response.

  • Posted By: swkidder @ 08/18/2008 6:42:19 PM

    Well, unlike the two comments below, I liked the piece. Yes, it was foksy and it has a point of view. As long as journalism puts its point of view out front where we can all see it ahead of time, I can make up my own mind about whether or not I agree. Far more dangerous is the "journalism" that hides its point of view in the "facts" it chooses to present, withhold, and/or alter in service of an agenda it prefers to pretend isn't present. The thing I liked the most about the piece was its discussion of the concept of defiance,and how it might inform some otherwise incomprehensible choices. To the uninitiated, Saakashvili's decision to tweak the tale of the Russian bear seems insane. What did he think Putin et al would choose to do in response? Did he really believe whatever whispers were emanating from the halls of neocon alley that the United States would send the Air Force as back-up to his invasion? But, placed in the context of the emotional history, it assumes a strange and twisted kind of logic. And I'd like to humbly suggest to the two posters who preceded me, a compelling case for the kind of open-minded negotiations with both our allies and our enemies that Barack Obama believes are the best kind of foreign policy. It helps to know what the person sitting on the other side of the table is actually thinking when one is formulating a response.

  • Posted By: bhchesser @ 08/18/2008 7:26:33 AM

    To bad journalism is dead at Newsweek with examples of articles like this and pro Obama (anti-captialist) editors you employee. I will remind you and your staff the job of reporting the news is the 5 Ws (Who, What, Where, When and Why) and not your personal opinion that was fed to you by some socialist professor at one of greater institutions of lower learning.

  • Posted By: Koncious @ 08/18/2008 5:27:12 AM

    That article was the wrost piece of agitprop I've ever read.

    Why don't you just come out and say only democrats can read books, because republicans are too ignorant to read, and the ones that can read have trouble with dick and jane. Lets not beat around the bush here,
    you're liberal writer who is trying to push forward the Idea only OBAMA can lead in these hard times we face.
    Obama a man who was on vication while goergia was being ran-sacked by russia. How come you don't even mention the August 1st incidents which lead up to the august 8th conflict? Those peacekeepers were in bed with russia, they weren't neutral. Saahkavili has stated many times on august 8th those peacekeepers and south ossetia popped off first. Whether it's true or not hardly matters because it's your job as a objective journalist to inform everyone of it. You could of just thrown in the word allegedly for good measure.

    Anyway, you're article was a waste of time just thought I let you know that.

    I want the facts, not your dumb opinion, journalism is a joke, this is yellow journalism at it's worst.

  • Posted By: Glenno @ 08/18/2008 2:49:18 AM

    Europe should stay out of this one. Every US president needs a war and the whoever the next president is he will have to follow up the legacy of aggression against Russia. Now that the US has reached the borders of Russia and are allowing genocide and rocket shield, Europe should not support this aggression on our soil. Get US army out of Europe now!

  • Posted By: johnsmithfromohio @ 08/17/2008 2:35:08 PM

    As Fulbright wrote, "Once imbued with the idea of a mission, a great power assumes that it has the means as well as the duty to do God's work"--Barack "The Massiah" has his own "mission" to do "God's work". It involves taking away from those of us who have worked their asses off to build a better life. My parents came to this country with nothing. Now I have a nice house, cars, health care, etc becuase I worked hard and took risks. Benevolent dictators are the worst kind of tyrants bacause they never have to deal with their own consciences. They do it to "help" is because we are too stupid to do it ourselves. Please DO NOT let this arrogant man, Obama, gain power. Our freedom will be the price we pay.

  • Posted By: whyme 2008 @ 08/17/2008 8:45:13 AM

    I fail to see how a person who has always voted for Democrats saying that she will vote for the new candidate is a sign of "defiance." She and the "yellow dog" would vote for anyone their party put on the ballot. My county in the "red state" of Texas and although there is a GOP chapter, all local elections are settled in the Democratic primary, as no one runs onder any other group or as independent.
    I would like to know a little more of the "better health care" discussion, is the problem the doctor or the need to follow the most current nationalization scheme. Remember that VA hospitals tend to be rated among the worst places to receive treatment until overhauls due to the Iraq war vets began. Still some service requests take weeks to be processed.
    I do like the comment about the Starbucks-drinking readers being assumed Obama supports. I wonder if the book titles helped in anyway (The Audacity of Hope?).
    I really hope that this is a blog entry, and not a sign of where journalism is going.

  • Posted By: Vadim @ 08/17/2008 7:49:55 AM

    I think, that here work badly going to school!
    Read a history and do not try to change it with the your discretion.
    The next bad estimation in school.
    Do not make by blockheads of your citizens!
    Example: Georgia is going down.What is farther?
    Do not make muck for Russia! Russia will answer to you with the unpredictability!
    The result will be similar! If certainly these problems are needed for you!

    Citizen of the world from Russia!

  • Posted By: Vadim @ 08/17/2008 7:48:52 AM

    I think, that here work badly going to school!
    Read a history and do not try to change it with the your discretion.
    The next bad estimation in school.
    Do not make by blockheads of your citizens!
    Example: Georgia is going down.What is farther?
    Do not make muck for Russia! Russia will answer to you with the unpredictability!
    The result will be similar! If certainly these problems are needed for you!

    Citizen of the world from Russia!

  • Posted By: misterharban @ 08/16/2008 9:58:52 AM

    It is indeed unfortunate that Georgia was so stupid as to stand up against the Russian bear. Stupid and presumptuous. These people lived for decades under the tyranny of the Soviet Union. They should have known better. I don???t buy all the neocon crap about prosperity leading to freedom leading to democracy. Today our foreign policy based on the belief that people, given the choice, will always choose freedom and democracy. That is demonstrably not always true. Anyway it is none of our business.

    But maybe Mr. Dickey just doesn???t appreciate that sometimes and in some places people stumble across a taste of freedom and liberty and find it to their liking. And sometimes that discovery creates an unquenchable appetite for more. And sometimes that unquenchable appetite causes people to do stupid things like defy daunting insurmountable odds to secure that freedom. Like the things our founding fathers did when they defied England so long ago. That was surely a stupid thing to do.

    Maybe Mr. Dickey would do well to spend more time searching for the things that ennoble humankind and less time dwelling on the shortcomings of humans. Especially Georgians, whether they live in Tblisi or Atlanta.

  • Posted By: WarEagle @ 08/15/2008 10:58:29 PM

    This was a great article until the very end. Thanks for using your theory of crisis to give a nudge towards your agenda.

  • Posted By: WarEagle @ 08/15/2008 10:56:35 PM

    The article was very interesting until the end. Thanks for turning a theory on crisis into a nudge for your agenda.

  • Posted By: Davole @ 08/15/2008 10:12:54 PM

    After Russia's invasion of Georgia, what now for the West?
    At least for now, the smoke seems to be clearing from the Georgian battlefield. But the extent of the wreckage reaches far beyond that small country.
    Telegraph.co.uk by John R Bolton 15 Aug 2008

    Saying this may cause angst in Europe???s capitals, but now is the time to find out if Nato can withstand a potential renewed confrontation with Moscow, or whether Europe will cause Nato to wilt. Far better to discover this sooner rather than later, when the stakes may be considerably higher. If there were ever a moment since the fall of the Berlin Wall when Europe should be worried, this is it. If Europeans are not willing to engage through Nato, that tells us everything we need to know about the true state of health of what is, after all, supposedly a ???North Atlantic??? alliance.

    Finally, the most important step will take place right here in the United States. With a Presidential election on November 4, Americans have an opportunity to take our own national pulse, given the widely differing reactions to Russia???s blitzkrieg from Senator McCain and (at least initially) Senator Obama. First reactions, before the campaigns??? pollsters and consultants get involved, are always the best indicators of a candidate???s real views. McCain at once grasped the larger, geostrategic significance of Russia???s attack, and the need for a strong response, whereas Obama at first sounded as timorous and tentative as the Bush Administration. Ironically, Obama later moved closer to McCain???s more robust approach, followed only belatedly by Bush.

    In any event, let us have a full general election debate over the implications of Russia???s march through Georgia. Even before this incident, McCain had suggested expelling Russia from the G8; others have proposed blocking Russia???s application to join the World Trade Organisation or imposing economic sanctions as long as Russian troops remain in Georgia. Obama has assiduously avoided specifics in foreign policy ??? other than withdrawing speedily from Iraq ??? but that luxury should no longer be available to him. We need to know if Obama???s reprise of George McGovern???s 1972 campaign theme, ???Come home, America???, is really what our voters want, or if we remain willing to persevere in difficult circumstances, as McCain has consistently advocated. Querulous Europe should hope, for its own sake, that America makes the latter choice.

  • Posted By: slimbam @ 08/15/2008 8:02:27 PM

    This is the most bizarre thing I've ever read. You managed to mention Obama along with George Wallace and the Confederacy when we're taliing about the rape of a naiton. Where are your interests?

    • Posted By: loriw @ 08/15/2008 8:35:30 PM

      Glad I'm not the only one who thought this article was bizarre at the very least.

  • Posted By: Omaar @ 08/15/2008 4:32:37 PM

    Military Donations seen favoring Obama

    Report finds reversal of trend

    Associated Press

    Friday, August 15, 2008

    U.S. soldiers have donated more presidential campaign money to Democratic Sen. Barack Obama than to Republican Sen. John McCain, a reversal of previous campaigns in which military donations tended to favor Republican White House hopefuls, a nonpartisan group reported Thursday.

    Troops serving abroad have given nearly six times as much money to Mr. Obama's presidential campaign as they have to Mr. McCain's, the Center for Responsive Politics said.

    The results also are striking because they favored Mr. Obama, who never has served in the military. Mr. McCain meanwhile, is a decorated war veteran who spent nearly five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The Arizona senator graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and had a 22-year career as a naval aviator.

    Mr. Obama has opposed the war in Iraq and says he would withdraw combat troops within 16 months. Mr. McCain has been a steadfast supporter of the war, saying he would withdraw the troops only when conditions on the ground warrant it.

    ???Obama will work tirelessly to uphold this nation's sacred trust with its veterans, to ensure they are not forgotten after they return home and he will provide our troops with the leadership they deserve, as well as the support they and their families need,??? Obama spokesman Nick Shapiro said.

    Mr. McCain's campaign played down the significance of the donations.

    ???John McCain has been endorsed by more retired admirals and generals than Barack Obama has military donors,??? McCain spokesman Michael Goldfarb said.

    ???We feel confident that many U.S. troops stationed overseas will support John McCain in the election this fall, but we suspect most are too busy doing the important work of defending this country than to make political contributions,??? Mr. Goldfarb said.

    The report tracked donations of $200 or more. It found that 859 members of the military donated a total of $335,536 to Mr. Obama. Mr. McCain received $280,513 from 558 military donors.

    Among soldiers serving overseas at the time of their donations, 134 gave a total of $60,642 to Mr. Obama while 26 gave a total of $10,665 to Mr. McCain. That was less than the amount received by Republican Ron Paul, who collected $45,512 from 99 soldiers serving abroad, the report said.

  • Posted By: RENEA @ 08/15/2008 4:18:07 PM

    That what you get when hire the neo-con-hot headed-high priced lobbyist to shape your foreign policy.I watched the President Saakashvill news avail he nailed every neo-con talking point that we heard coming from the White House before the War with Iraq.Your lobbyist freinds should be so proud Mr.Saakashvill.

  • Posted By: bwilliams20 @ 08/15/2008 4:06:49 PM

    Yes. Let's defy the North and sign the dotted line................. You are going to be shipped to a Saudi Master's processing base in Rijad where you will give up your life and fight in one of the lost battles of Afghanistan or Iraq - your pick. Sure you will have a sign-up bonus that in todays dollars giving the high cost of fuel, a weak dollar and real estate bust will be worth less than what a Minority makes in a week in the US enjoying life, smiling and laughing all the way to the bank while you defy the world and spread democracy and freedom. Getting blown up and dying in a far away landto prove the US is no. 1.

    Oh, Let's go fight the Russians in Georgia or Poland sign the line........... and you can pick too. Why not? the US is no. 1 right? Do you see any rich Saidis fighting in Poland ***? No. Becaue they are no. 1. but won't tell you. They prefer that you believe they are no. 2. See they will continue living in their billion dollar mansions with beautiful models form the US, eating Filet Mignon cooked by a french cook and wine from france as well. Sing the line............. and you will get dust, rations, magazines and a Russian kicking in the ass.

  • Posted By: Omaar @ 08/15/2008 2:31:42 PM

    Georian Pres. Blames America, for his Country's Problems

    Georgian President Signs Cease Fire..

    Source: www. msnbc. com



    TBILISI, Georgia - Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said Friday that he had signed a cease-fire agreement with Russia, but that he would "Never, Ever Surrender" in a Showdown with Moscow Over 2 Pro-Russia Separatist Regions.


    Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, standing beside the Pro-American Georgian Leader, said she had been assured that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will sign an Identical document· "With this signature by Georgia, this must take place and take place NOW," she said....

    An Emotional Saakashvili, speaking Hours after President Bush accused Russia of "Bullying and Intimidation" Against Georgia, also Accused the West of Inviting Russian Aggression by Denying Georgia a Door to NATO Membership.




    Note: This Statement or Assertion by Saashkavilli is INSANE !!

    It was in fact Saashkavilli and (Georgia) that Attacked (Osettia) without Provocation last Thursday and for several Reasons too.


    ----------------------------------------------

    1. Saashkavilli is a CRAZY MANIAC and made an even CRAZIER MOVE by ATTACKING (Osettia) knowing that it was protected by Russian PeaceKeepers...

    Though Saashkavilli was WARNED by the U.S. Government and Condoleeza Rice in particular, not to Use Force, this 40 yr. Old Maniac, Disregarded this Stern Warning and Charted his own Course, with Dire Consequences & Reprecussions.


    2. Saashkavilli thinking that We (USA) would go to WAR over his Country, based on Oil Interest based on (Georgia) sending 2000 of it's Troops to Iraq, would go to War over them, is Presumptuous and Naieve Indeed .


    3. Saashkavilli's Ambition to Influence this YEAR'S ELECTION in John McCain's FAVOR also comes into play.. Remember McCain saying that Russia should be Kicked out of the G-8, Weeks ago and His Campaign saying that, if a War Crisis were to Occur, it would BENEFIT McCain, in a ELECTION YEAR as well as Joe Lieberman Stating the same thing, OVER & OVER AGAIN.... Hmmmm

    -----------------------------

    This is a Poorly Devised and Ill Advised Move and it will have the Reverse Effect, Because The Bush Admnistration is in Fact using (Direct Deplomacy) as Obama has Suggested doing anyway.


    4. Saashkavilli is Pushing the USA to have his Small Country as a part of NATO, for one REASON ALONE and that is....

    The Next Time, this Maniac Attacks Osettia, he'll have the Backing of NATO FORCES....

    THEN WORLD WAR 3 OR SHALL I SAY, NUCLEAR WORLD WAR 1 WILL OFFICIALLY BEGIN AND NOONE WINS !!

  • Posted By: Gessho @ 08/15/2008 2:26:08 PM

    Dickey is incorrect in comparing Iraqi terrorists killing their own people to some kind of "noble defiance" of an invader. According to several post-war polls in Iraq, most people are grateful for Saddam's removal.

    Dickey, please check your facts!

  • Posted By: Johnny_Reb @ 08/15/2008 1:33:44 PM

    ilia25: Russian aggression against Georgia, The Republic of, started the day after it declared its independence. Georgia's move into its breakaway province of South Ossetia was in response to increased acts of aggression by Russian "peace keepers" occupying that province. Ya'll can spin it all you want but the history is well recorded.

  • Posted By: ilia25 @ 08/15/2008 12:30:31 PM

    To everyone accusing Russia of aggression and bullying. You think this was part of Russa's plan:
    http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080808/wl_nm/georgia_ossetia_dc_26

    Saakashvili today lied again that Russia was ready for the escalation and he was on vacation. How could that be if Georgia had invaded the rebel province with a declared goal to take over it -- hours before Russia started to respond by sending its troops in? How could Russia make Georgia doing that?

    What in the world happend to US media so it could not do a simple fact check and start asking why Saakashvili and US leaders try to mislead American people? Russia was not an agressor in this conflict, Gerogia was not a victim!

    • Posted By: RO in Reno @ 08/15/2008 7:47:35 PM

      I think most people judging from the posts know the truth; the initial news was over powered by the speed that news was breaking.
      The media generally is interested in reporting the truth as evidenced by the link you posted.
      And not all people are as mislead as you might think.by government posturing.

    • Posted By: Akmatic @ 08/15/2008 1:44:10 PM

      Not that I don???t think the entire situation is completely unnecessary, but if you read the article carefully you???ll notice the following which doesn???t even mention the Russians alleged ???Peace Keepers??? hostilities beforehand:
      ???The issue has bedeviled Georgia's relations with Russia, which is angered by Tbilisi's moves towards the Western fold and its pursuit of NATO membership.
      On Thursday Saakashvili announced a unilateral truce and gave a go-ahead for peace talks in Tskhinvali on Friday. But just few hours later Tbilisi accused separatists of shelling Georgian-populated villages and set troops in motion.???
      It was stupid of Saakashvili to attempt to reassert control over those areas by force knowing full well that the Russian army would never let that happen. It was a poor foreign policy decision by the US government to provide training to 2500 or so of the Georgian troops for 2 years b/c without that training they never would???ve even considered trying to forcefully take those areas. If anything it emboldened them to use force over diplomacy under the assumed auspices of the US. They should???ve pushed ahead with their aspirations of NATO membership and left those areas alone to be arbitrarily handled afterwards.
      Russia simply doesn???t like the encroachment of NATO allied countries because they really haven???t moved on from their old Cold War mentality and the invasion of Georgia was clearly planned for quite some time. Not that they needed to takeover most of the country, but it would???ve been difficult for them to achieve their objective of destroying as much of the Georgian civilian & military infrastructure as possible without having done so. Allowing the Separatist Militias to loot and set fires under the protection of the Russian ???Peace Keepers??? as they pushed forward was just gravy as far as Russia is concerned. As a human being I find their actions to be rather disgusting, but it???s to be expected when dealing with the Russian army.
      As far as military operations go, this went perfectly for Russia b/c they have plausible deniability in regards to all the looting/civilian casualties by way of the militias and full run of the country to achieve their own objectives on their own timetable while the West sits back and resorts to harsh language, empty threats and distributing humanitarian aid. Russia will eventually absorb Ossetia & Abkhazia while also sending a clear message to other breakaway countries that they???re not afraid to move in and flex their muscles under the guise of a perceived threat. It???s debatable as to whether that message will be positive or negative for them moving forward, but they???ve cleared displayed their intentions moving forward.

  • Posted By: Johnny_Reb @ 08/15/2008 12:21:47 PM

    Rick_Halverson: Cool!...my death will be too good for me! Now I have something to look forward to, thanks! I don't need you apologizing for OUR actions (yeah as you say your an American too, so it is OUR actions)

  • Posted By: Johnny_Reb @ 08/15/2008 12:12:27 PM

    trooper_101st: Actually except for the 82nd Airborne I've extolled the virtues of the actions you've mentioned, i.e. the fleet to the Black Sea and hitting their armor (also supply lines). If you disagree, fine but to say there is nothing we can do is not true...it may not be easy but it is possible

  • Posted By: Rick_Halverson @ 08/15/2008 12:09:54 PM

    There is a big difference in an opinion or disagreement and what the Bush backers did. Real people died because of this. It was not meerly thoughts or opinions. It was actions.

  • Posted By: Rick_Halverson @ 08/15/2008 12:06:17 PM

    We must ask ourselves. What would we do if Russia placed missils on our boarder? Perhaps in Mexico or Cuba.

    We know what we would do.

    If Russia has any pride, Poland should be bombed out of existence. The closest the United States ever came to WWIII was when Cuba let Russia place missils on their land. Now we are doing the exact same thing. Russia must make the United States and Poland pay. The Unites States, we are in the wrong on this one.

    It just hit me that perhaps a few might buy the missil defense scam. That is a joke. But it matters none. Poland wilol be invaded as they should be.

  • Posted By: Fugonn @ 08/15/2008 12:03:06 PM

    Rick Halverson: Have you introduced yourself to the United States Constitution or the Bill of Rights? Great documents that allow people to have freedom of thought without oppression. You would be a great communist in that you support the murder and/or deportation of those you disagree with. REAL Americans can disagree with another man's opinion, yet fight to the death to afford that dolt the right to express that opinion. You have a warped sense of what a REAL American is. Get a life.

    • Posted By: RO in Reno @ 08/15/2008 8:09:33 PM

      I would say Halverson is exactly what he says he is. I find it interesting that the fanatics now hide behind the same constitution and bill of rights they would deny others.
      Just because these people wear flag pins and call them selves patriots and compassionate people doesn't make it so.
      And yes I have read the constitution and bill of rights, and am a firm believer that every government employee be forced to read it and sign an affidavit to that effect. elected or otherwise.

  • Posted By: Fugonn @ 08/15/2008 12:02:49 PM

    Rick Halverson: Have you introduced yourself to the United States Constitution or the Bill of Rights? Great documents that allow people to have freedom of thought without oppression. You would be a great communist in that you support the murder and/or deportation of those you disagree with. REAL Americans can disagree with another man's opinion, yet fight to the death to afford that dolt the right to express that opinion. You have a warped sense of what a REAL American is. Get a life.

  • Posted By: Johnny_Reb @ 08/15/2008 12:01:46 PM

    Destroy the Russian Armor and they are a mass of Infantry trapped in a very unfriendly country. Georgia, The Republic of is Russia's attempt to intimidate on the cheap...we need to make it much more expensive for them.

  • Posted By: Johnny_Reb @ 08/15/2008 11:57:12 AM

    The Republic of Georgia, formerly the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia, is most definitely NOT the State of Georgia a member of these United States. Even Johnny Rebs know that! What we also know is Armored vehicles without access to fuel are just big lumps of metal. After the job the Russians did on the ports of Georgia their only supply line is the one main road into the Republic. No road, no supplies...no fuel!

  • Posted By: Rick_Halverson @ 08/15/2008 11:53:55 AM

    Isn't it odd how all newscasters forget to mention the missiles the United States wants to plant in Russia???s backyard?
    This is exactly what led to The US and Cuba???s demise. Wake up people. There is a lot of propaganda going on here.

    It took the United States the better part of a week to bring aid to New Orleans when the dikes broke???.
    But with its interest in the pipeline (OIL) through Georgia??? they pretend to bring in aid to a country not in need of. Really they used military personal under the guise of aid??? they are merely sacrificial lambs placed there for a completely different reason.

    The thing that bothers me??? how foolish does the Bush administration think we are?

    Yes I am from the United States but I am a true American. I look at the Bush backers as not true Americans. They have hurt my great country and should be deported. They are not true Americans. Their death would be too good for them. Do not judge us on what they do. We tried hard to stop them from invading Iraq, but their thirst for blood and ignorance was too great.
    We do not all think this way. Millions of us true Americans have fought for our country. Fought for human rights and we respect life and freedom. The Bush administration managed to trick many weak minded people into following their lies. Many of us were more intelligent then that. We are the true Americans.

    Best regards,

    Rick Halverson

    • Posted By: bwilliams20 @ 08/15/2008 4:39:05 PM

      You are mistaken, the US is already invaded. Mexicans, Cubans, Colombians are already here!! Let's not forget that the Lations are the largest minorities in this country and pretty soon will be the majority. Where does that leave you??

  • Posted By: trueconserv @ 08/15/2008 11:46:15 AM

    What kool-aid drink did this guy drink ? Typical liberal snob to blame southerners for biasis and not saying that people are NOT for Obama because of his stands on socialism. To take a portion from a famous Virginian who is a decendent of mine - George Marshall is pitiful. We know the left loved communism and wants to find fault with anything that the Bush Adm. does. The author of this article FAILED to mention that Russia went into Afgahnistan and LOST. Nor, did he mention the expertis of our Sec. of State when it deals with Russia and that she may know MORE than he does about their history.The Russian invasion into Georgia is Putins' way of trying to get back territory lost and not letting them absorb western thinking; and also no mention of the oil pipe line and the lives lost to Russian bullying. Please, the Presidents to actually sap our military was Clinton. Carter didn't do ANYTHING to help Iran when the Shah pleaded for our help and looked what happend! The south seems to be the ONLY section of the country to see what a mistake it would be to have Obama as President. The typical southern democrat is known as a northern republican. So please, spare us this liberal snobby crap.

  • Posted By: david-fahey @ 08/15/2008 11:41:17 AM

    johnny reb the only way grown ups/america is not going to lose Georgia is to put toops in there and all of e.europe. the bushies pulled troops out of Georgia just prior to invasion, which should have told Georgia something, actually many things. are you willing to risk world war(nuke or conventional)over e.europe much less georgia(you do know this is not the state of georgia(usa) we are talking about?). but the unsaid thing here is that europe and the EU have to grow a set! because with the state of u.s. convenaional power and energy they are out there by themselves, this is not 1968 as Rice pointed out. a heavy rearm of germany might have a calming effect ? as might an armed japan. if china chimed in(maybe a few divisions moved to the border by the bushie new BFF) on the u.s. side we might back them away. but that takes years and the russians could have their empire back in months. despite the u.s. being the only superpower. maybe if the bushies block the sale of hummer to russia(some mil. versions of which are in soviet mil. inventory now, maybe rolling in GEORGIA)it will back down the soviets. but i hope you are right afterall these are real lives at stake, and the cost of failure will be high. maybe the soviets are just trying to back down nato/u.s. in e.europe and know they really do not have the military means to do so. if the nato planned expansion faulters and the missle shield plans are withdrawn the russians win. big picture this may not be about georgia at all. we may not "lose"georgia but we will have lost none the less. losing by other means, remember the russians are grand chess masters.

  • Posted By: ike2000 @ 08/15/2008 11:39:46 AM

    When McCain's campaign strategist, Randy Scheunemann, a lobbyist for Georgia is involved, IT SMELLS MORE LIKE A DRAMA. I believe the whole debacle was scripted. But they underestimated the Russian resolve to act with force.

  • Posted By: Trooper101st @ 08/15/2008 11:38:32 AM

    The US should NOT be the worlds police. Look at all the help we are getting in Afghanistan. Its a DISGRACE. Article 5, NATO charter was invoked, and wat help has NATO been? Almost none. Georgia is hanging by a thread, and the Russians ain't leaving. Its a done deal. Go ahead and vote for Mc Cain, it will be more of the same. The gap between the "have's" and "have nots" is now a canyon. Union shops closing down, outsourcing of jobs, how bout that 12 BILLION DOLLAR profit Exxon made in 3 months? You people are like sheeps to the slaughter. They will try and scare white voters into voting Republican, they will do ANYTHING to hang onto power. This Administration got us into an unneccessary war with Iraq, costing over 4,000 KIA, another 30k that will never serve again. For wat? Well, the oil co's got thier deal, so Bush can break out the "Mission Accomplished" banner. The ceremony should be held at WALTER REED ARMY HOSPITAL, ask the patients wat they think....criminals, all of them.

  • Posted By: Johnny_Reb @ 08/15/2008 11:30:00 AM

    It ain't no DRAMA in Georgia boy-yo...it be REALITY! And for once it is NOT about the US presidential election. What it is about is life or death for a US ally in a showdown an organized crime syndicate masquerading as a national government (that would be RUSSIA to you Bush Derangement Syndrome sufferers out there).

    • Posted By: Trooper101st @ 08/15/2008 11:47:11 AM

      And wat do you expect the US to do, Mr. REALITY? Yeah, Putins KGB buddies are gangsters, "siloviki" in Russian. Sure, Putin is corrupt and cannot be trusted. He had Dubya fooled now didn't he? Wat should the response be? Send the 5th fleet into the Black Sea? Bomb Russian armored columns? Have the 82nd AB jump onto a Georgian airfield? ITS DONE. You tell us, wat should we do? Jonny Reb...

      • Posted By: cadet @ 08/15/2008 9:02:21 PM

        This time the Russians justified in their actions. They were attacked first and they responded with a heavy hammer tp wake up this nut who is the Pres of Georgia. Also, why don't you neo cons respond to the Cuban Missle Crisis analogy? I don't blame Russia for taking offense to our actions in Poland. We are not always the good guys and this time we have it all wrong. Being the world's biggest bully is not something to be proud of.
        L. Roberts
        Grayson, GA

  • Posted By: Trooper101st @ 08/15/2008 11:25:20 AM

    The Georgian President miscalculated the response from the US-royally. The Russians may have been provoking Georgia with overflights of warplanes, but the Georgians STARTED this. They are in no shape to take on Russia, and the US cannot get involved. We are active in 2 theatres now. Judging NATO's response in A-stan, I would say NATO is a paper tiger. Germany, Italy, Spain, to a lesser extent France, have not committed a sizable force to combat ops in the south and east of A-stan. The Europeans will not honor thier NATO commitments. Its the US, UK, Dutch, Australians and Canadians who are doing the fighting and dying. NATO members who do not honor commitments are a DISGRACE. Its pretty sad Georgia was looking to that fangless org. to help-now or ever. Germany spends 1.5% of thier GDP on defense, thier social programs draw moslems by the thousands, to get a free ride. Germany, the Bear is getting stronger, the US should let you defend urselves, since we did it for over 50 yrs. Yeah, thanks alot, have another DAB and a bratwurst....DISGRACE!!!!

    • Posted By: Atavie @ 08/16/2008 4:17:22 PM

      Trooper101st: You should check again. Before moving the 5th fleet into the Black Sea the US has to ask for Turkey's permission to go through the Bosphorus and Dardanelle. Russia is one of their biggest trading partners and both countries's fleets share the Black Sea. You can bet your behind that Turkey's permission ain't coming soon.

    • Posted By: Atavie @ 08/16/2008 3:33:50 PM

      Trooper101st: You should check again. Before moving the 5th fleet into the Black Sea the US has to ask for Turkey's permission to go through the Bosphorus and Dardanelle. Russia is one of their biggest trading partners and both countries's fleets share the Black Sea. You can bet your behind that Turkey's permission ain't coming soon.

  • Posted By: ike2000 @ 08/15/2008 11:24:53 AM

    meant: THE DRAMA IN GEORGIA MAY HAVE BEEN PROMPTED BY McCain, THROUGH HIS TIES TO Saakashvili.

  • Posted By: ike2000 @ 08/15/2008 11:20:34 AM

    Can somebody tell me, WHO IS THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE United States of America? Is Bush still the president? If Obama was acting like the hawk McCain has proved he is, the media would have gone agog to brand him names and: "acting too presidential." That was the case in his (obama) tour-de-france and germany. Hypocritically, the have kept mum over McCain's excesses in assuming and "speaking for America!" How difference a week makes.

    Come to think of it, I believe and reasonably so, that THE DRAMA IN GEORGIA MAY HAVE PROMPTED BY McCain THROUGH HIS TIES TO SAASKAVILLY. Through his aid and agent to the Georgian government, this must have been a ruse to expose America to the dangers that still exist ahead and how risky it will be to elect Obama to tackle those. The legislature must investigate this allegation, I smell another bible has been signed for the Ayatollah here. Win at all cost, that's the republican way!

  • Posted By: Johnny_Reb @ 08/15/2008 11:09:18 AM

    If you want a "world cop" you don't want "clean and virtuous"...you want Jack Bauer from "24" or that real nasty S.O. b. from "The Shield"...we ARE talking confronting the RUSSIANS boy-yo!

  • Posted By: scottjc16 @ 08/15/2008 11:08:17 AM

    Mr. Dickey

    In what world do you live in? i stopped reading your article when I discovered it was a waste of my time. you ignorance is plain a day. we never talked with the argentines about the Falkland's! they assumed we would not get involved! are you stupid or something? if we follow your fairyland logic then every war happening now, all 150 or so, is our fault! oh oh i know! it was all bush's fault for the french-English 100 years war! cuz cuz bush used a time machine to tell the Brits "We stand united!" yha yha and bush he uh like killed Kennedy! yha like cuz he was a Dem! yha yeah that's it!

    i hope you where high as a kite when you wrote this creative essay, if not you are truly a idiota. (that's one of them Latin words, you remember Latin right?)

    Ho boulomenos

  • Posted By: Wazzon @ 08/15/2008 10:57:46 AM

    Well of course it's AMERICA, who it should be? France maybe? That's why you need to keep a clean profile, be virtuous and stuff, in case we need you :)

  • Posted By: SPORTLOCK09 @ 08/15/2008 10:50:59 AM

    The irony of this whole situation is that although everyone complains about America sticking their nose in everyone else's business. First sign of trouble, and it's, AMERICA, where are you? Can someone make up their minds? Either you want us to be the world police or you don't. Shouldn't be case sensitive.

  • Posted By: Johnny_Reb @ 08/15/2008 10:34:20 AM

    We ain't lost Georgia quite yet...it ain't over till it's over. Ya'll can take your string quartets plying Chamberlain Music and tut-tut all you want...the Grown Ups are going to have the final say when McCain takes office.

  • Posted By: david-fahey @ 08/15/2008 10:25:56 AM

    as was feared by many the bush doctrine of pre-emptive war and unilateral action has been turned against the u.s. the russians just did not bother to lie why they are invading another country and it is hard for the bushies invasion outrage to be taken seriously.. remember all that WORLD OPINION the bushies showed so much contempt for, we need now- flash- it is gone! bush(in a chamberlin moment) declared putin and the soviets folks we can work with and new BFF. at the same time, believing their own press clippings about u.s,. the only superpower blatther, arrogently proceeded redo e. europe as a "buffer region" continuing the cold war policies and selling all the starwars dreams; expensive and untested mil. hardware, to e.europe . along with promises of security. if the bushies fail to secure Georgia they will lose all of e.europe. who will believe u.s. promises? e.europe, which has been a pawn/tripwire in world power politics since ww1. you are right about the romance of resistance. but the czech's and hungarians did not rebel on their own. R F E and the CIA and the first coming of the neo-cons(d's actually) were wispering sweet nothing into their ears. their caculation was if revolts worked -fine. if the revolts did not ,they made trouble for the russians. and most of all it was a media nightmare for the ussr. C's saw success or failure a win-win. it did not matter who died, the u.s. won. and as far a surgates getting powers into wars, the region is infamous. just ask the germans about their covert actions in the region to hamstring the russians and their serb nationalist bud's with ear's still wet from whispered german bon mots in said ears . started a little thing called WW1. maybe good can come from this. maybe the threat of world war will knock brittney, paris, wondering politians and reality shows off the nets and nightly news. and maybe we will pay more attention to what matters! maybe the R's/C's will stop carping about chamberlin loosing the czeck's now that bush has lost Georgia. it will be george the appeaser, because he cannot act thanks using up the military and refusing to tax his base to defend the country. george bush has broken this country and now he does not even have a functioning state dept. to help him out of this mess! is he still prez?

  • Posted By: Johnny_Reb @ 08/15/2008 9:47:14 AM

    Continued:
    If the Russian Air Force and or their precious Black Sea Fleet want to come out to play...so be it as I am confident the USAF and US Navy will make short work of them. To HELL with the Russian Bear!

  • Posted By: Johnny_Reb @ 08/15/2008 9:44:17 AM

    You want DEFIANCE? 1) Med Fleet transits to the Black Sea via the Bosporus covered by USAF based out of Incerlik, Turkey. 2) Bring a USMC Amphibious Assault Group with it (the super-harriers will come in handy) This is all to support the Humanitarian Mission our troops are being sent on. If Russia so much as lips off to our guys we take out every piece of Russian Armor in any region of internationally recognized Georgia.
    IfRssRus

  • Posted By: woohoo @ 08/15/2008 9:14:32 AM

    america has to stop getting into other people's business so that it can stop thinking it is obligated to help any and every country. Georgia is a sovereign nation not little US who thought on its own and has to bear the consequences. The GA president should've thought more crititically. something like this ...russia is bigger let's be careful. That would've been a great place to start. That's part of being independent. Georgia and Russia have had longer relationship than the US has been in existence and Russia and Europe warned the US of getting too close to home when they were inviting all of their past territories to join NATO. The US is not invincible nor are its policies perfect so GA should've thought more wisely.
    these news organizations seem to always highlight what's wrong with america or everything for that matter. yes the US deserves to be reprimanded from time to time but to always dish out that the US is an overall pathetic country though it is the country that pays your bills is poor journalism.

  • Posted By: Jill from Florida @ 08/15/2008 9:06:47 AM

    The Western World and the Council on Foreign Relations are using Georgia and Poland to expand their control for the one Globalization World, which they will rule. CFR has put in their puppet, Saakashvili in Georgia, and is attempting to replace their US puppet George W Bush with puppet Barack Obama.

    Russia is being punished by the CFR and the Western World for their action last week to bar BP's CEO, Robert Dudley, from any corporate office in Russia for two years. (BP currently owns 50% of Russia's oil company TNK-BP.)

    The CFR controlled Western World would prefer to have a cold war with Russia than to be unable to control the world's wealth and the world.

    Those of us who are against the CFR controlling the world must look to Russia and China for our own sovereignty. David Rockefeller (founder of CFR), Zbigniew Brzezinski (co-founder of Trilateral Commission and #1 adviser to Obama), Richard Haass (President of CFR), Peter Sutherland (President of Trilateral Commission and Chairman of BP OIL.) are not friends of the working class, but are for themselves ruling the world.

    Until we rid our governments of CFR members and their chosen puppets, we must look to Russia and China to stop their domination.

    To see the CFR members in the US
    http://www.stopthenorthamericanunion.com/CFRMembers.html

    To see the Western World members of the Trilateral Commission
    http://www.stopthenorthamericanunion.com/TCMembers.html

    And may our God help us from their harm.

  • Posted By: Cloudosmoke @ 08/15/2008 8:55:19 AM

    He wasn't miscalculating anything. Saakashvili is provoking something between Russia and the U.S. This is nothing but a proxy war.

  • Posted By: Medge @ 08/15/2008 12:34:13 AM

    It seems as if defiant senators like William Fulbright are gone forever. Today's senators just play along, no guts. Fulbright told it like it was. His book The Arrogance of Power (1966) tells of the failure of congress to set limits to the Vietnam war. Does it ring a bell? He gave voice to the anti-war movement and legitimized it.
    In the book he states that "the arrogance of power tends to confuse itself with virtue and a great nation is...susceptible to the idea that its power is a sign of God's favor, believing that God confers upon it special responsibility to make other nations richer and happier, to remake them in its own image. Power confuses itself with virtue and tends to take itself for omnipotence; imbued with the idea of a mission, assuming that it has the duty to do God's work." This is the mission that Bush and his White House have assumed as a mandate from the Almighty itself. They feel that they have to propagate their brand of democracy around the world, for the purpose of exerting political influence and control on other nations. The former Soviet republic of Georgia has fallen victims to this arrogance of power which has resulted in Georgia's adoption of their own arrogance ending in their demise. There is a need in Congress for a new voice like Senator Fulbright 's to bring back enlightment to government.

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 08/14/2008 10:59:30 PM

    But isn't all the US actions and inactions are what the majority of the Americans want, that the USA is great enough to start war anywhere they like and to eventually control the whole world? The Americans are willing to sacrifice their lives and comfort to achieve the untimate goal. The Americans do not mind to be destitute as a result of all these calamities whether natural like Katrina, California fires, floods, draughts, or man made likesubprime mess, 9/11, the war in Afgjanistan and Iraq, all the calandestine actions in Latin America and ither third world countries, proxy wars, high oil price which are stretching and straining the USA to the limits.

  • Posted By: RO in Reno @ 08/14/2008 8:44:49 PM

    Interesting and thought provoking article.
    It points out the real problem of a foreign policy that is emotion based, the current administration is based wholly on emotion, something Bush has made a point of his "gut feeling" if you will as though he had superior instincts.
    Many of the problems and even the support of this administration are emotion based.
    It's not uncommon among Bush supporters to claim his tax reduction as proof he is acting in their best interests.
    The truth of course is a family of four with an income of $60,000 received a meager $15.00 per year tax reduction the total of which is now spent with every visit to the grocery store.
    The entire push to invade Iraq was based on emotion, and since bin Laudin was allowed to simply walk away in Afghanistan the residual emotion from the twin towers attack was intact and allowed Bush to invade Iraq in spite of facts, the truth or common sense.

    The polls are interesting in that college graduates over whelming support Obama and we see only emotion driven derogatory campaigning going on and I take the comment about well read southerners to make reference to that fact.

    But at some point emotion driven policies have to come head to head with reality as we now see in Georgia.
    As a very wise man once pointed out "the fact is emotions have no brains"

  • Posted By: donbl @ 08/14/2008 8:27:43 PM

    Time to grade on the results and not somebody's opinion of what could happen or what could have happened..

    For example, if the Russians continue to back out (grudgingly) then the US position was a good one and the President of Georgia should have listened when the administration told him to not tease the bear.

  • Posted By: the babe @ 08/14/2008 7:45:21 PM

    Under the presidency of this idiot....bush...th u.s. has gone back to pre ..1939 economically and pre 1980 politically...he should be impeached now and his entire administration held accountable for crimes against the americn people

  • Posted By: the babe @ 08/14/2008 7:42:58 PM

    the bush administration should resign or be arrested in total for war crimes....it is a mockery of the history of the united states ..this man in the white house...is an idiot

  • Posted By: HolyRoller @ 08/14/2008 7:36:28 PM

    Yeah...Hussein stopped the violence...according to dingleberry, Tim Kain't. Boy, Virginia ya'll got a real winner. Someone apparently forgot to tell the Russians.

    Hussein really hit it on the head. his initial statement was basically..."This isn't within the "spirit" of the Olympics." The he wants the U.N. Security Council to get involved. The Russians are on the Council. They have veto power. Hussein is really showing his inexperience, and lack of knowledge, about real world events.

    Yet the Kool_Aide Kids...the devout obamamohammed....they still support the dunce. Ya'll are WEIRD.

    NOBAMA!!!

  • Posted By: lw/w&w @ 08/14/2008 6:29:14 PM

    Boy, you people will take any subject and make it a reason why you think we ought to vote for Obama. If Obama gets into the Whitehouse, all of our allies can forget about us coming to their rescue. If he can't charm them, or talk them into compliant ( you know "tear down these walls!"), it is just going to be too bad.

  • Posted By: jordanadah @ 08/14/2008 5:22:42 PM

    there are now 3 superpowers in the world and 2 of them are not are friends. We are not about to get into a shooting war with Russia over
    Georgia. We've thrown many countries and peoples under the bus for the so called greater good. think Taiwan or the former republic os free China. They even had to lose their name. Mainly we need Russia to help keep Iran nuclear free. And us complaining about them attacking and occupying another country is a joke. Think Iraq. We have no moral authority here. If George Bush and the republicans are so keen on keeping us safe that they read our emails and listen in to our phone calls but totally missed this, They're looking in the wrong place. Where were the satilite photos of russia moving their troops to the georgian border? Just like before 9/11 bush was so focased on finding a reason any reason, whether it was true or not to attack Iraq that they dismissed all the reports of an attack coming from afganistan as unaceptable intel. bush over played his hand by taunting russia by wanting to put our missles on their borders. Remember what happened when russia was trying to put missles in cuba? So we will play our little games using the pawns but never engaging the big players, and countries like georgia will suffer. They just don't see the big picture.

  • Posted By: loriw @ 08/14/2008 5:11:38 PM

    I thought this article was going to be about Georgia the country not Georgia USA and the history of the south.
    Can Newsweek please title the articles to reflect the content. I guess I will look elsewhere for information on Georgia the country. Oh and by the way, it is my understanding thatGeorgia (the country) did not start this war, Russia did. To imply, as the the author did ,that Georgia started this war "expecting Washington to finish it " goes against what I have seen from other sources. If you can't get the title right at least get the information in the article right.

    • Posted By: bwilliams20 @ 08/14/2008 5:29:52 PM

      That's right. What the US is going to go to war with Russia? Who are you kidding. Thousands of Americans have lost their lives on the streets of Iraq and Afghanistan for what? For their Rich Saudi Arabian and Jewish Masters, that the reason! And now people want the US to fight Russia while the US is losing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are more Mexicans living in the US enjoying the free lunch than living in Mexico? The confedarates lost the war to the North and the North has lost the war to the whole world. Wake up and learn your lesson from history. There is a new world order where the US dollar is very weak and weaker is its leadership. Europe and Russia combined allied with China!

  • Posted By: star3 @ 08/14/2008 5:06:02 PM

    Wasn't it defiance that caused a group of Europeans to tell old King George to shove it, and they, then left to travel to a foreign land, not knowing what they would find, yet they were willing to risk their very lives for something they believed strongly in---the right to be free--free to worship in their own way, without interferrence or control, free to use their skills & various talents to reach their dreams, dreams a varied as they were, but in each one obtaining their goal, they in turn benefitted each other, learning from each other, sharing their abilities with each other, so that they eventually became the most powerful nation in the world in a relative short time, while other nations had millenniums to accomplish the same, yet did not. It took a few who were determined and strong spirited enough to finally do what seemed impossible. So, defiance can often be a positive thing, when it results in something good for everyone. Defiance can, also, be a negative thing, it all depends on what the goals are of the defiant ones, and what the end results are.

  • Posted By: Questions2 @ 08/14/2008 4:33:50 PM

    There are many similarities between the rhetoric and behaviour of Germany in 1938 and Russia in 2008, for example the defending of one???s citizens abroad argument, accusing a smaller country of attacking a larger one, claiming that the world is biased against them, fostering separatism and ethnic conflict in its neighbours??? territories. Carl Bildt drew some good parallels between Russia and Hitler???s Germany in a recent article.

  • Posted By: Questions2 @ 08/14/2008 4:33:31 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 was 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: anotherview @ 08/14/2008 4:22:28 PM

    Where is the EU and NATO. Talk about wimps! Unwilling to take a stand. No wonder they like Obama so much!

  • Posted By: cuppa jo @ 08/14/2008 4:22:25 PM

    This article is laughable. I think the public has been desensitized to the "Bush Derangement Syndrome" of so many journalists. I wouldn't use this magazine to wipe my rear end.

  • Posted By: forparity @ 08/14/2008 4:11:32 PM

    By this analysis, then we can blame Bill Clinton for millions of deaths in Africa from HIV/Aids during his term, because, unlike Pres. Bush, Clinton looked the other way and did not lead. We can blame Bill Clinton, and others, for ignoring the human tragedy which occurred when the Taliban, by force, took control of Afghanistan in the mid to late 1990's. We can blame Bill Clinton for the deaths of the 3 1/2 million who died in the D R Congo conflict between 1996 and 2000 - just after Bill Clinton went to Rwanda (for which we also give him immunity) and promised "never again." What a joke, with contributor and diamond merchant Maurice Templesman standing at Clinton's side, the millions who died there, and hundreds of thousands who died amongst the other genocidal like conflicts in Africa during the late 90's (Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Angola, etc) are the true legacy of one Democratic administration. Now personally, I would have never blamed Clinton for those millions of deaths, the millions of refugees, the millions more who contracted HIV/Aids, and the hundred of thousands of human beings who were seriously injured or whom suffered in the rape wars of the Congo; rather I would have only held him as a member of the complacent crowd, who simply looked the other way, and who prayed that the stigma of such horror might not get attached to his legacy, but when I see how quickly the media and others tend to blame relatively little conflicts like Darfur and Georgia on President Bush, I see that this is the way of our media.

  • Posted By: chebyrashka @ 08/14/2008 3:33:26 PM

    The basic thing is Saakashvili is an idiot. I still don't understand why there isn't the outrage against what Georgia did to South Ossetia. They can't have it both ways. And it's dull and tiring reading that whenever Russia is involved, it's evil.

    • Posted By: thehappyamerican @ 08/14/2008 4:27:33 PM

      You are in luck! No more dull and tiring reading! The Democrat Party, USA, is committed to Americans Suck First! From them you can read about how evil the USA is!
      Featuring no fewer than 5 (five!) discrimination campaigns against everyday Americans you can get on board with lies, half-truths and deception! And never be dulled or tired again!

  • Posted By: mvbasten @ 08/14/2008 3:27:01 PM

    Why does a Georgian believe he can start a conflict and sucker the US into backing them militarily? Beacuse Kosovo Albanians did exactly that in 1998, and got exactly what they had hoped for. And now every little warlord around thinks he can do the same. That can of worms can't be closed that easily...

    • Posted By: RetiredMarine @ 08/15/2008 8:51:57 AM

      Because he has organizations like Newsweek and the rest of the liberal agenda US media backing them, making a story of how the US is responsible for everything under the sun. He also has the "Obama Supporters" who do the same. These idiots make every subject a point to blame the current administration and the US as a whole for every ill in the world. They are quick to point out a problem, place the blame, call leaders "idiots", yet offer no solution whatsoever. Too many supposedly educated yet "ignorant to real life" leftist worshippers out here....

  • Posted By: stevenpatrickmarshall @ 08/14/2008 3:26:56 PM

    Ah, Mr. Dickey, you're trying to make the case that an Obama vote is defiant. It is not, however fervently you may wish for it. I have read that when Grants army captured some rebels in Tennissee they were asked why they were fighting to which they replied,"'cause you're down here." That's Defiance. Voting for a condescending, arrogant, less than truthful elitist liberal who will undoubtredly try to tell folks how to live and make them pay for the privilege ain't defiance; it's silly. Don't hold you're breath Mr. Dickey, your face will be the only thing blue in the South this year. Steven Marshall (of that ilk.)

    • Posted By: jasonfm @ 08/15/2008 5:31:13 PM

      You brought a tear to my eye with this post. (not being sarcastic) I love it

  • Posted By: Lee Holmes @ 08/14/2008 3:13:09 PM

    Dickey; Dont be an idiot. You will be reminded that not a single world governement ever recognized the Confederacy['' It's slavery. You know that our country can never recognize you'',remarked British Army Col. Arthur Fremantle to Confederate general James Longstreet immediately before the battle of Gettysburg in 1863].
    Yet within only a few days of the Russian invasion,the leaders from no fewer than five Baltic states including Latvia,Lithuania,Ukraine,Estonia,and Poland appeared in Tiblisi to offer support for the embattled Georgians ,well knowing that their time,unlike a Confederate invasion of Canada or Mexico,would come next.
    Further,it is plain that the dullwitted Dickey[who continues to allow gross Obaman partisanship to cloud his judgement], never heard of the Berlin Airlift,which was:

    humanitarian aid without military confrontation. Against the Russians,no less.

    Dickey joins Juan Cole and Matt Ygelsias in the leftwinged chimeric Changing Of The Story. First it was Georgian perfidy ,yet as Russian tanks get closer and closer to Tblisi,it is now All George Bushs Fault That The Megalomanical Putin and ex-KGB Man Is Acting In Such A Fashion.
    Bravo-Sierra. Putin is acting in this fashion because he is Putin. And Bushs humanitarian aid can indeed come in the form of several JAVELIN anti-armour or anti-air arms stashed among the food ,medicine and clothing. Charlie Krauthammer,writing this morning, observes that a lost Georgia in no way means an ultimately victorious Russia. Kick them out of the G-8[or better,all seven democracies resign,and reform the G-7 again,shutting out Ivan]. No WTO membership for Ivan. Bad Russkie. No bisquit.
    All European and American corporations now doing business with the Russians are to forthwith withdraw,packing up their engineering and technological expertise.
    Thus there is no end to the non-military arsenal that the EU and the US can use in reponse to the lying Russians. Dismiss the Coles and Dickeys of the world who merely dance to a Kremlin wirepuller,as they are singing Putins tune right now. As far as the leftwinged goes,here is your REAL ''War For Oil'',courtesy of the Kremlin. As they are merely stooges for Putin it will be interesting to observe their rationale once Tblisi has fallen to the Red Army.

  • Posted By: Shankardada2 @ 08/14/2008 2:50:29 PM

    I still don't get it... What does the American South have to do with Georgia, and what does Obama have to do with George Marshall?

    • Posted By: star3 @ 08/14/2008 5:28:10 PM

      The American south became defiant in the 1800s, resulting in a war between them & the north; the south wanted to leave the union to become an independant country, and the north opposed that. Some of the southern states did not agree with the south's defiant plans, but once the decision was made to go to war, these states had no choice but to go along with their southeren sisters, since their state was located in the middle of the conflict. As we know the outcome of that particular war, no need to get into that, but most southerners are quite glad to still be a part of the union, as God intended, since it would have been disastrous if the south had accomplished its goal. Some of us are wise enough to realize that, and are thankful it turned out for the best of all concerned.

      • Posted By: jasonfm @ 08/15/2008 5:26:37 PM

        Star3 missed the historical point of South's defiance. The article isn't talking about defiance in the 1800's that LEAD to the Civil war, he's talking about defiance that lasted long after the war was OVER. Interestingly enough, that feeling was expressed by his "yellow dog democrats."
        Historical fact: It was Lincolns' REPUBLICAN party who wanted to abolish slavery. And "Defiant Democrats" were the ones wanting to continue "social slavery", "seperate but equal", etc...

  • Posted By: logic&reason @ 08/14/2008 2:40:57 PM

    Why does every newsweek article turn into an Obama fluff piece?

    • Posted By: star3 @ 08/14/2008 5:35:20 PM

      Can't be helped, Logic, everything about Obama is fluff; no substance there to get anything remotely resembling a solid peice of info to write about.

  • Posted By: Billstuart @ 08/14/2008 2:39:35 PM

    That's odd Chris. Everyone I've spoken with in the South said they wouldn't vote for Obama under any circumstances. You may need to broaden your sampling....

  • Posted By: mark5608 @ 08/14/2008 2:23:49 PM

    Does anybody respond to these stories, that actually THINKS? Please tell me what an appropriate response would have been to this crisis. Has everyone forgotten the 20,000 nuclear armed ICBM's, submarines and bombers that Russia possesses? Do they really think that the US would have responded militarily had we not been in IRAQ? How? Buy getting into a shooting war with Russian troops? Where does THAT lead? Think about it! People are absolutely BLINDED by their bias against this administration. The truth? There is very little we can do without starting world war three, which wouldn't last 5 years, but more like 5 minutes. There would be no one left to debate it later. We need people to go back and read some history before commenting. The rules change when your opponent can destroy you with a push of a button. Thank GOD that most elected officials learn this early.

    • Posted By: star3 @ 08/14/2008 5:48:23 PM

      Don't worry, Chicken Little, the sky isn't falling---yet. But, yes, I hear what you are saying, however, I am counting on common sense to prevail. Russia may be alot of things, but, unlike the terrorist, Russia still wants to continue living , just as the U.S. does, so while the U.S. is not stupid, neither is Russia, so even though they may not agree with each other's policies, they do recognize the implications of using poor judgement If we annihilate each other, what would be the point? There would be nothing left worth having control over.

    • Posted By: Akmatic @ 08/14/2008 3:43:37 PM

      The point you're missing is that there shouldn't have to be a military response b/c the aforementioned actions shouldn't be occurring in the first place and is only being allowed to precede due to the lack of a realistic counter balance to the Russian military within the region in question.

      The various semantics surrounding each countries nuclear arsenal no longer have a bearing on the ???battlefield??? b/c the truth is that they're nothing more than symbols of the Cold War era whose entire existence is based around being their own deterrent as far as hypothetical large scale nuclear war is concerned between any of the 'super powers'. Both countries fully understand that there can be no winner in that kind of war and it's not even a factor worth mentioning in conversation.

      My recommendation would be for you to do some research on the foreign policy problems that lead to this entire fiasco and stick to what you do know; blindly supporting the Bush administration & outdated Cold War era nuclear policy.

      The situation in Georgia is one of many examples displaying just how little our current administration understands the consequences of their actions both political and militarily; of which we???ll be spending at leas