Display:
It is much more likely that it was McCain's senior foreign policy adviser that whispered reassurances into the gullible ear of Shaakashvili than that it was any official representative of the USA.  It would be interesting to see McCain's reaction to an invitation to Shaakashvili from a Congressional Oversight Committee to discuss the events leading up to his attack on S. Ossetia under oath.  Could be very interesting.  Especially if he accepts.  Tell him honest answers are the only chance he has of future US backing, let alone NATO membership.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Thu Aug 28th, 2008 at 08:54:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Dear estemed colleague.

My analysis of your comment leads me to believe that a fact vector was missing or is not providing enough weight when you made your calculations.

Quoting AP - Georgia, US start military exercises despite tensions with Russia
The US and Israeli military were both in Georgia on a joint training exercize with the Georgian military for 3 weeks, beginning no later than the 12th of July...it seems they finished less than a week before Saakashvili got his war on during the Olympics' Opening Ceremony on 7 August.

Israel has sold hundreds of millions of dollars worth of arms to Georgia. US donates billions to Israel, much in arms, though it seems a lot is in cement these days.

Was it a coincidence that the Russian forces were at the gates of the problem in Georgia, ready for action? No; as reported here at ET at the time, the Russians decided on their own war games on the other side of the border.

The first that I read of the war was a Stratfor piece the following day where they mentioned that they had assets on the ground, giving reports back, on that Friday night. My guess is that if these assets were Georgian, they spoke with a Southern Drawl more common to Atlanta.

You'll remember also, reported in ET, that during the Georgian retreat, American voices were heard on the radios. The Russians have been claiming US involvement since that time, not just today's mention of found US Passports. 5$ on the found passport belonging to someone in Blackwater's employ.

Intercontinental ballistic missile tests, telling the US that 900,000 tons of yearly poultry and pork meat imports are not going to be on Russian menus (good news for the EU suppliers, no?)...the US better be very serious about using all the military hardware they have in those humanitarian boxes they're unpacking over there now. This is no longer Soros, et al, buying a pretty colored revolution. And the Georgians turning tail and running the last time...how soon until all those arms are in Russian hands?

We're seeing the equivalence of Russia having warships on The Great Lakes and unloading goods on the Canadian side of the Saint Laurent Seaway in support of the break-away province of Quebec. What would the US be doing in that situation?

Last point: to the spineless democrats who thought it would be impolite to impeach Cheney and Bush, the stain for any and all death and mayhem from these events is on your hands.

Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.

Frank Delaney ~ Ireland

by siegestate (siegestate or beyondwarispeace.com) on Fri Aug 29th, 2008 at 01:58:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Unless Putin and Medvedev prefer McCain, I would hope that they will content themselves with digesting Abkhazia and S. Ossetia until January.  Knowledge of the US role in that fiasco is starting to seep out even in Arkansas.  Today there was an LTE in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette that made many of the points you just did, absent mention of George Soros.

Bringing such things up during an election in the US can be problematic.  I do think that it could be effective to challenge McCain's judgement in relying on a known lobbyist for foreign governments including Georgia and who was a supporter of Ahmed Chalabi and a conduit for his lies.  

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Aug 29th, 2008 at 12:13:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Also note that US Congressional comments to Saak about NATO are hardly sufficient to get NATO protection for Georgia.  I would hope that European NATO members would continue to oppose such a move.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Aug 29th, 2008 at 12:36:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
We're seeing the equivalence of Russia having warships on The Great Lakes and unloading goods on the Canadian side of the Saint Laurent Seaway in support of the break-away province of Quebec. What would the US be doing in that situation?

Last I checked neither Georgia nor Turkey were Russian allies. Ukraine has also tended to be rather pro-Georgian in this crisis.

by MarekNYC on Fri Aug 29th, 2008 at 12:18:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]
It was too early when I came up with that analogy, and it is too late to unravel your point.

I am only willing to concede that it is the river (fleuve) I was talking about, not the seaway.

And, whether Turkey is equivalent to Minnesota or New Brunswick, Russian War Ships on the St Laurent would be a challenge.

Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.

Frank Delaney ~ Ireland

by siegestate (siegestate or beyondwarispeace.com) on Fri Aug 29th, 2008 at 04:30:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Russian warships on the St. Lawrence would be useless sitting ducks.
by MarekNYC on Fri Aug 29th, 2008 at 04:32:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]
If you want a proper analogy, try the Mediterranean. In fact, NATO countries are a significantly greater part of the coastline there, than Russia on the Black Sea. Or say the North Sea, or the Baltic. In fact, NATO has much more of the Black Sea coastline than Russia. (Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria) So, in fact, we should presumably be outraged than Russian naval ships are on the Black Sea. You were asking how we would react to a situation like that - well, you've got your answer.
by MarekNYC on Fri Aug 29th, 2008 at 04:40:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]
But I want an case of Russian ships on the US border, and I like the provocation of helping the Quebecois (imagining that they have voted to secede.) Kinda like a Cuban thing, but right there...

I acknowledge that it doesn't quite work.

Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.

Frank Delaney ~ Ireland

by siegestate (siegestate or beyondwarispeace.com) on Sat Aug 30th, 2008 at 03:55:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Display:
Login
. Make a new account
. Reset password
Occasional Series