"Georgia would never be able to do all this without America"

[leftchick]

Published on The Smirking Chimp (http://smirkingchimp.com)

PUTIN'S CHOICE: Flyswatter or Blunderbuss

http://smirkingchimp.com/print/16442/

By Mike Whitney
Created Aug 12 2008 - 1:43pm

Washington's bloody fingerprints are all over the invasion of South Ossetia. Georgia President Mikhail Saakashvili would never dream of launching a massive military attack unless he got explicit orders from his bosses at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. After all, Saakashvili owes his entire political career to American power-brokers and US intelligence agencies. If he disobeyed them, he'd be gone in a fortnight. Besides an operation like this takes months of planning and logistical support; especially if it's perfectly timed to coincide with the beginning of the Olympic games. (another petty neocon touch) That means Pentagon planners must have been working hand in hand with Georgian generals for months in advance. Nothing was left to chance.

Another tell-tale sign of US complicity is the way President Bush has avoided ordering Georgian troops to withdraw from a province that has been under the protection of international peacekeepers. Remember how quickly Bush ordered Sharon to withdraw from his rampage in Jenin? Apparently it's different when the aggression serves US interests.

Saakashvili has been working closely with the Bush administration ever since he replaced Eduard Shevardnadze as president in 2003. That's when US-backed NGOs and western intelligence agencies toppled the Shevardnadze regime in the so-called color-coded "Rose Revolution". Since then, Saakashvili has done everything that's been asked of him; he's built up the military and internal security apparatus, he's allowed US advisers to train and arm Georgian troops, he's applied for membership in NATO, and he's been a general nuisance to his Russian neighbors. Now, he has sent his army into battle ostensibly on Washington's orders. At least, that is how the Kremlin sees it. Vladimir Vasilyev, the Chairman of Russia's State Duma Security Committee, summed up the feelings of many Russians like this: "The further the situation unfolds, the more the world will understand that Georgia would never be able to do all this without America. In essence, the Americans have prepared the force, which destroys everything in South Ossetia, attacks civilians and hospitals."

True. That's why Bush is flying Georgian troops back home from Iraq to join the fighting rather than pursuing peaceful alternatives. An Israeli newspaper is also reporting that the US is shipping weaponry to the war zone. Bush still believes that political solutions only arise through the use of force.

But that still doesn't answer the larger question: Why would Saakashvili embark on such a pointless military adventure when he had no chance of winning? After all, Russia has 20 times the firepower and has been conducting military maneuvers anticipating this very scenario for months. Does Bush really want another war that bad or is the fighting in South Ossetia is just head-fake for a larger war that is brewing in the Straits of Hormuz?

[mmonk]

1. A lot to think about.

[Time for change]

20. Damn right

Excellent article

[Andy823]

2. Good post.

I have to agree, Bush was in on this from the beginning. What I think is that he wants to drag up Russia to get the country behind McCain. One thing that has always got the country up in arms is the idea that "Russia" will take over the world! The cold war worked wonders with the "fear" tactics, and it is doing the same thing now. From what I understand Georgia started this, yet when you listen to the MSM, it's all Russia's fault, and they keep bringing up comments from the people of Georgia, but I don't see anything from those who were invaded by Georgia in the first place!

Even here on DU, I see many people defending Georgia, and attacking Russia. Don't get me wrong, I don't trust Russia one bit, but I don't buy all the crap coming from the president of Georgia, who is backed by "Bush" and company either.

McCain is dragging up the cold war days to try and get the votes from those who still remember those days, and it looks like it might be working.

[leftchick]

3. The geopolitics of Georgia

http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=74&jumival=187

The geopolitics of Georgia

F William Engdahl: There are far bigger stakes being played out in Georgia than a territorial dispute

[agent46]

4. You'd almost conclude

With this information you'd almost conclude we're watching a new emerging version of "proxy war" that was all the rage during the Cold War era. Unfortunately for the neocons, their wet dream of world-spanning generational war for profit and super-power dominance has already failed. Miserably.

I doubt though, that Cheney will do anything other than try to escalate this conflict from the comfort of his cushy chair.

mick

[pampango]

5. So Saakashvili got his a** kicked and his government thrown out of two of its own regions

in order to give Bush a "head-fake for a larger war that is brewing in the Straits of Hormuz"?

They must be paying, or threatening, him a lot in order to get him to play such a sacrificial lamb. He's got Russian tanks on the way to his capital apparently and no rescue in sight. Guess Saakashvili was too clever by half.

(He ought to get the Russians to kick in a little money on the side since he presented them with such a golden opportunity to flex their muscles in a region and against a small country where they cannot lose.)

[leftchick]

6. Who's to blame for the Russian Georgian conflict?

http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=2042

Pepe Escobar: Georgia is a strategic client state of the US with close ties to the Bush administration

[BanTheGOP]

7. NO NEED FOR US PERMISSION TO TRY BUSH NOW

This is too easy. Bush, and in extension virtually everyone in the republican party, can be convicted in the World Court for this OBVIOUS war crime committed through the auspices of his minions in the Georgian government. This goes BEYOND impeachment, and should ALWAYS be on the table for the remainder of George Bush's life.

I wish the World Court would authorize adjudicating cases in absentia, in which case they could try the entire membership of the GOP.

[theboss]

14. What is the war crime?

Why can Georgia not retake its own territory?

[BanTheGOP]

19. Because it's the Bush backed GOVERNMENT after the land grab

...and does not reflect the views of most people in Georgia. Yes, they are angry to a certain degree at Russia. But remember the Georgian government, much like half the ex soviet republics, are Republican Party puppets who whore themselves with republicanist/nazi policies.

The bottom line: Once the dems take control of the government, the Bush cronies around the world will be on NOTICE, and most probably have to leave their various government positions to those of a more democratic, socialist bent. Georgia is going to follow suit once they elect a NON-republican-backed candidate, and everything will be better.

[leftchick]

8. Russia: US must choose Moscow or "project Georgia"

ruh, roh!

:scared:

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LD516992.htm


13 Aug 2008 17:47:20 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds comments, details)

MEIENDORF CASTLE, Russia, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Russia's foreign minister said on Wednesday the United States had to choose between partnership with Moscow and the Georgian leadership which he described as a "virtual project".

"We understand that this current Georgian leadership is a special project of the United States, but one day the United States will have to choose between defending its prestige over a virtual project or real partnership which requires joint action," Sergei Lavrov told reporters.

U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday demanded Russia resolve a crisis with Georgia and said he would dispatch U.S. military aircraft with humanitarian supplies.

But Lavrov, speaking to reporters at a state residence outside Moscow, slammed Washington for playing a dangerous game in the Caucasus by backing Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

"Bush's speech said nothing of how Georgia was armed all these years, including by the United States," Lavrov said.

"We have more than once warned our partners that this is a dangerous game. It (the Bush speech) said nothing about what had happened on Aug 8, when Western leaders maintained silence when Tskhinvali became a target of massive bombing," Lavrov said.

[theboss]

9. I still don't see how any of this benefits the US

We are on the verge of handing Russia a satellite country, control of an oil pipeline, and the head of an ally...for what exactly?

[DogPoundPup]

10. You still think for one moment that the Cons give a flying fuck about the U.S.?

Their mission all along since Reagan is to destroy the U.S. and drown it's govt.!

[theboss]

12. So...they want Georgia to fail...so the US fails so....where's the profit here exactly?

I'm now lost on the cause and effect.

[DogPoundPup]

16. I have my view on why this is happening ...

but can't really prove that it is correct. I just suggest you keep reading and watching and pretty soon you will figure it out for yourself.

Here is some reading material for you ...
http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2008/08/using-georgia-to-target-russia.html

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

11. Be able to do what? Fail?

I mean, we're talking epic, humiliating fail here.

[MadrasT]

13. Seriously epic fail.

[theboss]

15. By the way, I should point out that Saakashvili is an idiot

At the same time, allowing Russia to suddenly control parts of Georgia is a disaster for the US.

So...there you go.

[bemildred]

17. Whitney gives the Bushites too much credit.

Thoughtless belligerence is their trademark, there is no need to introduce a global plot to explain this latest fuckup. It's the old "we make our own reality" delusion at work.

"Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence."

[Skidmore]

18. It's *'s in-kind contribution to the McCain campaign, an attempt

to bolster the national security creds of the GOP and it's hapless candidate.