Reply #34: Meet the key players + some interesting links

[Satyagrahi]

I don't like Putin, but there is mounting evidence that he could be telling the truth (at least this time).

These seem to be the key players in this neocon cabal:

Matthew Bryza (Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs) and Randy Scheunemann (John McCain's top foreign policy adviser):

U.S. envoy with links to Scheunemann informed in advance about Georgian invasion plans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3813319

Brigadier General (Res.) Gal Hirsch:

Proof that the war in Georgia was a neocon project? Former IDF soldier admits training Georgian forces for war in Ossetia
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3807738

What Really Happened in Georgia/Ossetia
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3827274

Western intelligence sources: First draft of Saakashvili's invasion plans prepared in 2006 (!)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3454892#3456409

- Joseph R. Wood (Cheney's deputy assistant for national security affairs):

Why was Cheney's guy in Georgia before the war?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=102&topic_id=3457882&mesg_id=3457882

Daniel Fried (Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs):

"Within the Bush administration, “the fight between the hawks and the doves” erupted anew, said one administration official. In this case, the people he called the “hawks” —Mr. Cheney and the assistant secretary of state for Europe, Daniel Fried — argued for more American military aid for Georgia; the “doves” — Ms. Rice, Mr. Hadley, Mr. Burns — urged restraint."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/washington/18diplo.html?pagewanted=print

Vice President Dick Cheney:

"As with many foreign policy issues, this one highlighted a continuing fight within the administration. Vice President Dick Cheney and his aides and allies, who saw Georgia as a role model for their democracy promotion campaign, pushed to sell Georgia more arms, including Stinger antiaircraft missiles, so that it could defend itself against possible Russian aggression."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/washington/18diplo.html?pagewanted=print

"The Georgia debacle started on May 4, 2006, with a longer and more considered statement, by Vice President Cheney, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Cheney there threatened Russia with a new Cold War if Russia did not capitulate to American demands of cheap oil for Russia's pro-American neighbors."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-bromwich/georgia-and-the-push-for_b_120478.html

And, last but not least, John McCain:

"It was February 2006 in Munich, and John McCain's eyes were flashing with the mischievous spark that comes when he's about to fire a verbal rocket. "I've got a zinger coming," he told me, referring to a speech on Russia he would give a few hours later at the annual Munich Conference on Security Policy.

And McCain did indeed deliver a zinger. He blasted Vladimir Putin for "the pursuit of autocracy at home and abroad" -- and then urged that Russia be excluded from the G-8 summit of industrialized nations. For good measure, he included a call for Georgia, already a thorn in Russia's side, to join NATO.
...

Now that Russia has invaded Georgia, McCain can point to that speech and argue, "I told you so." ..."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/19/AR2008081902257.html?hpid=opinionsbox1