The European nations have dramatically failed to live up to their responsibilities in the War on Terror. They have failed to take any responsibility in Darfur, or countless other world trouble spots. Will they do any better when the threat is more immediate? Will they even act when the threat moves to Ukraine or the Baltic states, which are right on their borders? NATO was created for a reason, and NATO is not just the United States. In fact, the reason NATO was created was to fight Russian expansionism. Doesn't that mission still apply even if the authoritarian regime there no longer bears the communist label?
In the absence of direct military intervention, which seems unrealistic in the current environment, nothing short of absolute and unified worldwide condemnation of Russia's aggression will be sufficient to give them pause. Medvedev and Putin need to be told unequivocally that a return to the days of Stalinistic expansionism will not be tolerated. The world is looking to NATO and the nations of the EU. They must speak up, if not for love of freedom, at least out of self interest. Will they stand with Georgia and with freedom? Or will Georgia stand, and ultimately fall, alone?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Alan
Must Georgia Stand Alone? Well if you act alone, then stand alone.
2 - Blunt Force Trauma
"Last week Ossetian forces took control of the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali and according to Georgian accounts, "foreign mercenaries" were being sent in to support them. On Friday, Georgia bombed areas around Tskhinvali, and shelled parts of it, but contrary to some reports, they did not take control of the city."
What an absolute fabrication! How can South Ossetian forces take control of, uh, South Ossetia? They are Russian citizens. The only true part of this non-truth is the fact that Georgia did attack South Ossetia flattening the homes of civilians last Friday morning. These attacks were backed by the US who have trained Georgians, sold them weapons and have about 1000 US troops in Georgia. What I am telling you is not hard to research. But the whole article reads like a shillster's propaganda piece if I ever read one. It's abhorrent.
3 - Carl
"Their culture is inherently incompatible with the authoritarianism which Russia tends to prefer".
Stalin was a Georgian [personal attack deleted].
4 - Bo
Saakashvili won the last election by 95% of the vote? It smells like fishy to me. This kind of support level can only be seen in totalitarian states where dictators run mock elections (e.g. Saddam and Castro). There is no reason for the international community to rally its support around a dictatorship, much less a one that started this latest crisis. If Saakashvili acted alone in starting this crisis first (what was he thinking sending in troops against Russia), then he must bear all the consequences ALONE.
5 - Leo
The answer to your questions is a resounding "YES!".
Saakashvili messed with the bull and got the horns.
6 - Dave Nalle's conscious
Oh well at least US trained and equipped Sudan's Rebel in 1996, trained and equipped Saddam Hussein in the 1980's, and the list goes on and on.
7 - Gene
I think you don't really understand the world we are living in today. The song about freedom and NATO been only good guys and bad Russia. Number one, it is not Russia who started this. Russia pulled its troops in after Georgia killed almost 1500 people in Osetia. But it is difficult for many people to think when propaganda machine of CNN, AP, SkyNews doing its job. There must it be will to first find out what really happen, compare all different sources and only then jump to conclusion. I understand it is much easier just flow with propaganda than do your own research. I really feel sorry for your readers because at list 4 direct lies in your article but from what I see you just borrowed it from CNN, "the most trusted source"
8 - Ruvy
Dave,
It appears that you are buying the bullshit being served up by the pricks at CNN and the like.
What ever the deal with Gruzia joining NATO was to have been, the facts are that Gruzian troops and tanks, with Israel's training and assistance, took over the capital of the rebel South Ossetian province on Friday after bombing it in the early morning hours of Friday; the Russian response was to threaten military intervention, and to send in first bombers, and then their own tanks, an action that scared off both the Gruzian government, and their Israeli arms suppliers.
So, what will play out in the MSM is that it will be "exposed" at some convenient time that Israel was supporting a cruel attack upon poor "freedom-seeking" separatists. Watch and see, Dave. The hostile attitude of the MSM towards Gruzia was something I had not considered in my own article on the subject, but this is what will happen.
Eventually attention will be drawn away from Gruzia, which will languish in isolation, and be re-focused on guess where....?
9 - Dave Nalle
Ok, stop telling me I'm getting my information from CNN. The only MSM sourse I referenced for this was an article from Reuters, and that was for a timeline of recent Georgian history. The rest came from global strategy analysis sites and media sources in central asia.
Ruvy, I'd be interested to see your source for Georgian troops actually being in the S. Ossetian capital. Are you getting reports from these supposed Israeli advisers there in Israel which aren't getting out anywhere else? Supposedly all Israeli advisers were out of there a week ago.
More news is coming out through central asian sources. The latest is that the Georgian troops were in S. Ossetia primarily because S. Ossetian militia attacked ethnically Georgian villages and that that is what touched off the confluct. The Georgian army's role may have primarily been to help evacuate and provide cover for the evacuation of Georgian civilians from S. Ossetia. After the massacres of Georgian civilians in Abkhazia they want to make sure the same thing doesn't happen in S. Ossetia.
To clear up some confusion about the election in Georgia, the accusations of rigging the election were not directed at Saakashvili, but at the ruling party and the Russians. Saakashvili came into power as a result of the overwhelming backlash against Russian interference in the election, so his high percentage of approval is not surprising.
In the latest development on this crisis, the Washington Post reports that the Russians are insisting that Saakashvili be removed from power, presumably so that they can put another puppet in his place. That's exactly the kind of demand which I would expect and it vindicates the concernes I expressed in this article.
And yes, I'm sympathetic to the Georgians. I've lived in Russia and I've traveled to Georgia, and I like Georgians (Stalin excepted). Putting together all the many reports I've read I have zero doubt that the sudden outbreaks of violence in Abkhazia and S. Ossetia were absolutely engineered by the Russians to create a pretext for going into Georgia and bringing it back under their control.
Dave
10 - Ruvy
Just go to my article and check my links, Dave. Try Debkafiles for a start. They have a whole rafter of articles on Gruzia. You can also check out Y-Netnews.
Have fun!
11 - Ruvy
More news is coming out through central Asian sources....
My barber, who is Gruzian, could probably tell me a lot about what's going on there. But I don't need a haircut, and need more compelling reasons to travel to Jerusalem.....
12 - Franco
Dave, good job and well put together.
It will be interesting to see how your report holds up as the days move forward. I have faith it will.
I would like to add this from another thread I posted it in if Doc will let me.
There was a unique opportunity - a lost opportunity - to mobilize NATO years ago by all its members to include Georgia. Georgia wanted in to NATO with all its heart. That is quite a transition for a once communist block state to be transformed into a democracy, hold free elections (something the mother ship Russia itself could not do) and they called to the West for inclusion into the families of democracy.
I mean that is the time you embrace such a newly free state. Had all fo NATO whole heatedly throughn itself behind Georgia, their would be not war today and not threat of war on the horzien.
The US offered Georgia its full support for joining NATO and did all it could to rally EU to do the same. But the EU blinked from the Russia authoritarian shadow and backed off. A move Putin needed to pull off at all costs or he would forever have to be seen as not a power greater then all of free Europe. He gambled and won and the EU sold out and left Georgia to defend itself all alone. The US still went ahead and backed up its position by supplying Georgia with military equipment and training its forces in hope this action or just talk would give Europe the back bone is lacked.
But Europe's cave and appease leaving Georgia to the wolves and this assured a lone time coming attack by Russia. In fact it was an invetation. The fact that it occurred on the same day as the opening of the Olympics ceremonies in China, who is the major Russian military ally, I some how do not see as a coincidence. Are Russia and Chine talking to the world right now?
Georgia has the courage the greater EU lacks and with no one to fight with them, they went it alone to defend their freedom from the authoritarian oppressor. I guess their taking hte pharse give me liberty or give me death pretty seriously over there. I'd give 1000 Europeans for 1 Gerogiainin right now.
Through European "cave and appease" they are allowing history to repeat itself right before our eyes as we all watch the spear tip of the new European toleration suppor power inserting into the throat of a free state.
This European sacrificial lamb is now being slaughtered as Europe looks on in hopes that their throwing it to this new aggressor will keep if from their doors. Russia likes the way the good EU'ers have fallen in to Kremlin line.
Seeing this is in Europe's back yard and they look to be doing nothing to challenge it makes it almost impossible for the US to act alone.
Another measure Russia was counting on.
But they can not escape the fact that the outbreak of war is on their soil at their hands now and its shadow is dark, cold and long. A shadow they once had opportunity of prevent.
If there was ever a time in history for a missle defence system in Europe it would be now.
Watch the European cave and appease on that too!!!!!
13 - Franco
Germany was a vocal opponent of Georgia’s bid championed by the United States to obtain candidate status for NATO membership at a summit of the transatlantic alliance last April in Bucharest, in large part due to Georgia’s unresolved conflict with Russia.
Now Georgia is under attack by the bear and Germany faces a strategic question, namely securing it's energy supplies. Putim has brought Europe to its knees and the Europeans have to bow to the bear.
I say let up bow the spinless bastards.
14 - Ananim
The regular troops of Georgia stuck a bitter fight the Russian peacemakers.
On the south outskirts of Ckhinvali a bitter fight goes between the Russian peacemakers and Georgian regular troops. As revealed to the correspondent IA REGNUM in the incorporated staff of SSPM, for passing after the beginning of the Georgian operation against South Ossetia days perished in general complication twelve Russian peacemakers, almost 150 got wounds.
Exact information about the amount of victims among a peaceful population is not present, however, according to the president of South Ossetia Edward Kokoyty, to 1400 persons perished.
On the last information, Georgian military powers continue to control part of city Ckhinvali. As a correspondent IA REGNUM passes, Georgian BMP drive on a city and open a fire on dwellings buildings.Georgian BMP stand in the district of fifth school (south outskirts) of city and Oak grove (western outskirts). A population, gradually abandoning shelters, fears a sniper fire.
15 - Ananim
The Georgian army began a military operation in South Ossetia in night with 7 on August, 8 â€" after an aviation attack and preparation fire it passed to assault of Ckhinvali. Through a few clock yugoosetinskaya the capital appeared almost fully under control Georgian soldiery. They took 11 ossetic villages: Groni, Acevi, Cinagara, Znauri, Sarabuki, Khetagurovo, Atoci, Kvemo Okuna, Dmenisi, Bubuki, Didmukha. All civil population is destroyed in them, a yugoosetinskiy state committee reported on information and seal.
On about August, 15.00 8 to the city for help to the Russian peacemakers and ossetic military, retaining small place of arms in Ckhinvali, parts of 58-y of the Russian army walked up. VVS of Russia was inflicted by a few shots on soldiery bases on Georgian territory, in particular on soldiery storages in town Burn to the port terminal in town Poti. To knock out Georgian from the capital of Ossetia succeeded only to the evening of resurrection. « clean. Farther â€" vydavlivanie», â€" reported «» representative of the Russian peacemakers.
On confession of zamnachal'nika general Staff SS of Russia of Anatolia Nogovicyna, Georgians succeeded to hammer together two Russian airplanes â€" Su-25 and That-22. But a minister asserts on the redintegration of Georgia Temur Yakobishvili, that them it was four. In fights after Ckhinvali the commander of 58-y army is injured lieutenant-general Anatoliy Khrulev.
The Russian fleet, from data of Georgian SMI, blocked territorial waters of Georgia. But Nogovicyn asserts that about a blockade the question is not â€" the Russian soldiery ships indeed make examination of ships, going to Georgia, to prevent deliveries there of armaments, and also guarantee non-aggression Georgian on Abhazia.On the first stage of operation the Georgian army provided itself more than double superiority above an opponent, but to the evening of resurrection Russian soldiery, on confession of Yakobishvili, scored a considerable numeral advantage.
« one is clear: attack of otbita», â€" told by phone from predmestiy Ckhinvali of gossovetnik president of South Ossetia Konstantin Kochiev. The habitants of city conducted these days, taking cover in basements. Losses no less than 2000 persons, but to define it is exactly impossible, as many are buried under ruins, he talks.
Georgia for three days lost killed more than 300 persons, Reuters reported representative of MVD Shota Utiashvili.
About 16.30 MSK Yakobishvili reported on Sunday, that the Georgian army had abandoned Ckhinvali and peregruppirovalas' â€" about retreat speech it is not. From his data, military operations were begun by Abhazia, its military powers try to take Kodorskoe canyon.About 19.00 Georgian authorities through the Russian ambassador in Tbilisi passed to Russia a note: « nemedlenno is ready to begin negotiations with Russian FEDERATION about completion of battle actions and stopping of ognya». Reported MFA of Russia, that military operations Georgians, in spite of note, did not halt. Before it Georgian SMI reported about motion of the Russian troops in the direction of city Burn, and ossetic side â€" about liberation of Prisskikh of heights which territory of all Ckhinvali is shot through from
.Already in the evening Moscow obtained the consent of Georgia to the input of additional groupment of the Russian troops on territory border-line with Abhazia of Zugdidskogo of district. This decision was accepted by local governor Zaza Morokhiya.
16 - Ananim
The fire of the Russian peacemakers under Ckhinvali is not halted
08:11 «.Ru»
As a commander declared by the mixed forces on maintenance of the world (SSPM) in the area of gruzino-osetinskogo conflict major-general Marat Kulakhmetov, despite statements Tbilisi about taking of the troops from Ckhinvali, the fires of positions of peacemakers proceeded and in night on Monday. On separate areas in the area of responsibility of peacemakers the active opposing proceeded by past night. Especially in a southward.Fortunately, at attacks nobody suffered.
Words by word commanding, the main task of peacemakers of August, 11 is providing of safe exit from Ckhinvali toward North Ossetia of columns with postradavshimi and peaceful population. Thus, according to him, unfortunately, to the hundred-per-cent guarantee that the Georgian side will hold back from fire influence on these columns, is not present."The events of closing dates, unfortunately, taught us not to trust all those statements which sound from Tbilisi. Alike, that all these statements are addressed mainly westward â€" for London, Brussels, Washington, and have nothing in common with those realities which we have in Ckhinvali», â€" general Kulakhmetov underlined. In addition, according to him, to the primary concerns of peacemaking contingent works behave on a search and burial place of lost.« that, coming us to recover the normal life-support of peacemaking subdivisions, deliver people water, prodovol'stvie», â€" an agency quotes general Kulakhmetova.
17 - Ruvy
Ananim,
Where are you writing from? Are you in Gruzia (either in S. Ossetia or elsewhere) now? Are you safe where you are?
Please do keep this commentary coming.
18 - BiLLy
It is necessary to talk that not Russia declared war of Georgia, but Georgia of Russia!!!
19 - BiLLy
Dear Ruvy,
Alike people in general went mad, one time does not see all what be going on...
One time you disbelieve me, call on other sites, only not on American and will see everything...you think that I specially write all of it that all to tangle, but it not at all so!!!! game of politicians, and not very much besides good, so much blood, thousand the people of otalis', is one time spilled without houses, families etc one Time you object my comments, you do not quite have a heart...People perish, and among them women, children, old men..Well is it really possible to wage war with them???
20 - Dave Nalle
Based on the slant of the content I immediately guessed he was in Russia and confirmed it through his IP which is owned by a souvenir wholesale company in Moscow. He's running the articles through some sort of robot translator so they make only limited sense. I can probably get more out of them than some people will because of my Russian language background, but they look like they're coming straight off of the Tass newswire which has much better translations available on their site.
But it IS Tass and therefor everything they're putting out is likely to be mostly government propaganda. Media observers have already called foul on Russia's reporting of the war, which seems to be just chock full of misrepresentations of events and stuff that's just pure fiction.
I wonder if the BBC or any other legit news service has anyone on the ground in Georgia. I'll keep looking around.
Oh, and it would be nice if our Russian friend would stop posting responses to his own comments under a different name.
Dave
21 - Dave Nalle
Speaking of women and children and old men, I've seen actual photos from Xinhua news service of Georgian troops evacuating civilians from S. Ossetia - which is a far cry from Ananim/Billy's claim that the Georgians were attacking villages in S. Ossetia.
Dave
22 - troll
...Tabilisi is a major hub in the BP Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (completed sometime around '05) carrying Caspian oil to the West
Russian tanks there might be problematic
23 - Ruvy
troll, Dave,
Go check out my last comment on my own article.
24 - Ruvy
Ananim/Billy,
I'm glad to know that you are safe in Moskva, not facing shelling by either Gruzian or Russian forces. I suggest that you not take any vacations on the eastern shore of the Black Sea in the near future....
Stay closer to Odessa.
25 - Arch Conservative
Is there anyone who doubts Putin's burning desire to once again raise the hammer and sickle?