Obama, McCain On South Ossetia

By Cernig

The Politico's Ben Smith writes that the conflict in the Caucusus presents a true “3 a.m. moment,” and notes the marked differences in Obama and McCain's responses.

While Obama offered a response largely in line with statements issued by democratically elected world leaders, including President Bush, first calling on both sides to negotiate, John McCain took a remarkably—and uniquely—more aggressive stance, siding clearly with Georgia’s pro-Western leaders and placing the blame for the conflict entirely on Russia.

The abrupt crisis in an obscure hotspot had the features of the real foreign policy situations presidents face—not the clean hypotheticals of candidates’ white papers and debating points.

Russia, has long attempted to reclaim now sovereign parts of the former Soviet Union, stoking conflicts in the enclaves of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which are universally recognized to be Georgian soil. They’ve also used the ensuing military tensions to set back Georgia’s bid to enter NATO.

But Georgia appears to have sparked the conflict by marching on the South Ossetian capital as Russia’s powerful Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, headed to Beijing for the Olympic Games. Russia, in turn, welcomed the conflict, launching a large-scale attack on its smaller neighbor and sending tanks across its border.

Both American candidates back Georgia’s sovereignty and its turn toward the West. But their first statements on the crisis revealed differences of substance and style.

Obama’s statement put him in line with the White House, the European Union, NATO, and a series of European powers, while McCain’s initial statement—which he delivered in Iowa and ran on a blog on his Web site under the title “McCain Statement on Russian Invasion of Georgia,”—put him more closely in line with the moral clarity and American exceptionalism projected by President Bush’s first term.

McCain's campaign says Obama wanting both sides to negotiate is "appeasement" - an interesting charge to level at Bush, Sarkozy, Merkel, Brown et al, who have alll also called for the same thing. But John "Cotton Hill" McCain doesn't care for pantywaist effete elitism - no negotiations for him. He's got a Cold War hate on for Russia, as evidenced by his previous calls to expel Russia from the G-8.

But as McCain backs "freedom loving" little Georgia (and his neocon/lobbyist senior advisor Randy Scheunemann, who until march was working for gGeorgia) and accuses Russia of trampling all over its sovereignty, he's neglecting a couple of major factors. For one, Russia is in South Ossetia with a CIS mandate for peacekeeping. For a second, tiny freedom-loving  South Ossetia has voted several times for independence from it's bigger neighbour, which won't let it go.

James Joyner discusses the notion of small-state sovereignty today in relation to South Ossetia and quotes Daniel Larison writing for American Conservative magazine.

To understand the Russian response, imagine how Americans would respond if Serbia launched an attack into Kosovo while our KFOR troops were still there, and then imagine how much stronger the U.S. response would be if, in the course of the attack to retake the province, our troops took casualties because of that attack.  These are the unfortunate, ruinous things that happen when state sovereignty is reduced to a meaningless phrase by past interventions and partitions, and the governments that attacked Yugoslavia over its internal affairs and partitioned Kosovo have no authority to find fault with what Russia is doing now.

McCain doesn't want to understand the Russian response. If he was the one taking those 3am phone cals on this conflict, there would be American armed might on its way to Georgia to confront Russia right now and the world would be listening to the ticking clock of holocaust. That's far too dangerous a man to allow into the Oval Office.

Comments

[Arsenal123]

Just to pick up on this - the parallels between Kosovo and South Ossetia are less exact than the ones between Republika Srpska, the break-away Serb region during the Balkan meltdown, and South Ossetia. They share in common both a prospensity for gangsterism, as well as the reality that both separatist movements were born out of the desires of a big brother than of the people of the region. South Ossetia is not a viable nation; the conflict there and in Abkhazia - and further afield, in Transdniestr - as a way to divide the post-Soviet republics. And in the particular case of Georgia, by preventing a peaceful settlement, NATO membership is rendered impossible.

This is not to defend Georgia, who did fire the first shots. But South Ossetia was a breakaway region that began as a way to create Russian leverage against Georgia. Their response in this conflict is not in the defence of minority rights. The Russian escalation of the conflict has been designed purely as a method to put in place a stumbling block of its Western ambitions, and as a way to reinforce its control over what it sees as its Caucasian backyard. In the balance of reality, Russia bears more culpability than Georgia.

And as an aside - what is the difference between Georgia's actions in South Ossetia and Russia's in Chechnya?

[Steve Hynd]

Hi Arsenal,

I am not trying to defend Russia in this - they've certainly been stirring the pot. Although I think the question of who started this or holds greater culpability is rather more confused than you might. It's certainly far more confused than McCain is trying to paint it.

[ff11]

As much as it pains me to take McCain's side, even partially, this divide and conquer strategy has been Russia's MO for centuries. Foment rebellion in a neighboring country, induce pieces to break away, then step in and grab them one at a time.

With Georgia it started with Abkazia, and now South Ossetia. If Georgia hadn't acted today, there would have been no Georgia in a few years.

[Earl]

So should someone ask if we should committ American Troops in order to preserve democracy (or whatever) in Georgia?

I'm just curious.

[courtneyme109]

It may be more about Russia than Georgia or Ossetia.

Rowdy Russia acting out is no mystery - indeed - Russia needs several things. 1st off, to put fear and trrembling back into the same sentence with 'spiritual sons of the Red Army". After getting their assets handed to them in Chechnya (not once but twice) - it's been really embarrassing for Russia military wise.
She needs a quick blitz prestige wise.

"The former pro-Western Soviet republic of Georgia, long a thorn in Moscow's side, has two secessionist regions that rely on Russia for their economic and military existence. Russia could easily absorb them outright and thus break the myth that
American protection in the Caucasus is sustainable."

"Gazprom could swallow up Russian-British joint oil venture TNK-BP, destroying billions in U.K. investment in a heartbeat. Union with Belarus would return the Red Army to the European frontier and turn the security framework of Eurasia inside-out overnight."

"When that happens, Russia will face a resurgent United States that commands alliances in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Russia must use the ongoing U.S. entanglement in the Middle East to redefine its immediate neighborhood or risk a developing geopolitic far less benign to Russian interests than Washington's Cold War policy of containment."

Since Great Satan will most likely be unbound from Iraq sooner than later - Russia needs to act out now to try and re estab the old school Imperium.

http://greatsatansgirlfriend.blogspot.com/2008/01/rowdy-russia-reprise.html

[Maff]

The "Great Satan" is just trying to ensave it`s military bases and civilians from being stabbed at 0.00am while the whole world is prepareing for the exciting event - olympic games.
---
"After getting their assets handed to them in Chechnya (not once but twice) - it's been really embarrassing for Russia military wise."
The second Chechnya campaign is already over - it was ended by destroying almost all of resistant forces, their supply lines and for now republic is being rebuilt from ash.
---
People, just try to understand - there is no "Great Red Satan" anymore, russians want to live in peace, trade with other nations, and ruled by THEIR NATIONAL INERESTS, just like americans. But when their citizens are under attack - there will be no mercy for agressor's military forces.
---
Mr. Saakashvili, the freedom loving, humanist man rise military expenses by 30 times in a period of 3 y. Then he destroyed opposition just as "horrible russian XXI age dictator mr. Putin", cut medicine and study expences off, then move georgian army to border of ossetia (which is independent fron georgia, not on paper but by fact) and opened artillery fire, which destroyed about 1600 citizen and whole town! And this was made with the support of world community. This is another true which you will not see on cnn. dixi

[Nikolay]

Guys, if you would be faced with a dilemma of helping a woman who's going to be raped right in front of your eyes and then facing consequences from the rich and extremely powerful and influencial parents of one of the rapers, would you step in? I'm certain you would.

Now, what we have in Ossetia (and yes, I'm Russian) is exactly the same thing. Everyone here certainly realized Russia is going to loose the info war, since we're still suckers in it, but we just HAD TO do that, because:

1. We've seen women and children been literally slughtered in great numbers just outside our borders (and this is not far-far away, like in Iraq)

2. We've seen Georgia breaking all of the promises they've made THE SAME EVENING

3. We've seen Georgian peacekeeping force attacking their Russian counterparts, which is a bold violation of numerous international laws and principles, let alone this is actually called a betrayal

Now that it seems like International Community was finally able to realize Gerogia bears the responsibility in starting this mess (it took suprpisingly long though), there's another major issue: Russia is pictured being an agressor, conquering Georgia, killing civilians etc. Open your eyes, people: our army faced a well-trained, perfectly equipped and equally numbered Georgian troops, not quite playing chess with us. People are actually shooting each other at war - that's the malevolent nature of it.

However, the important thing is that we're not conquering Gerorgia - we've pushed them back to eliminate hostilities, we've quite naturally hit a number of their military infrastrucure objects in-land, but that's it. Mr. Saakashvilly can say whatever he wants, but we're not bombing Tbilisy and we're not shelling their cities with rockets (unlike Georgian guys, actually).

---***---

I've just read most recent news and I've actually been shocked to learn Georgian President claimed that he is regarding South Ossetia and Abkhazia being occupied by hostile forces.

Let's take a brief look back - these territories broke apart from Georgia over 10 years ago, and although nobody ever questioned Georgia's territorial integrity, they've never been under Georgian control ever since. And Georgia never claimed them to be occupied.

Claiming this now, Mr. Saakhashvilly actually says he feels free to excercise whatever force he feels appropriate on these territories - just a few days after the terrible slaughter he carried out in Tskhinvaly.

What would you feel seeing that young raper you've just beaten a couple of days before saying out lound on open public he feels it's his natural-born right to rape whatever woman he encounters?...

[demask]

I hope some day God will punish Saakashvili and all his accessories. But it will be too late for them.

I don't defend Russia, IMHO their response could be more gentle. But can you ask yourselves just two simple questions: 1) who did the strike in South Ossetia first? 2) how many innocent people were killed by this strike? I apologize, but if you still believe that "In the balance of reality, Russia bears more culpability than Georgia", then you just mentally disabled person.

No words to say how many blind and naive people in America, brainwashed by falsifications and one-sided propaganda presented in U.S. mass media. I'm pretty sure this conflict was thoroughly planned by CIA or NSA lobby. It's long time already Russia is not Soviet Union, and it's now YOUR mass media, not Russian, strictly controlled by the government. And it's long time America doesn't export any democracy. If only your democracy is not the same as chaos, violence and bloodshit.

[yk]

With all due respect - how could it be that so few have any simpathy to ossetia people? It's a small country, only about 90'000 I believe - and 2'000 of them were killed in just a few days! It's more then 2% of the country population, equivalent to 6 mln for USA. And whatever some may think thay are normal pieceful people, not gangster... The whole city, their capital is destroyed - and we are sending humanitarian help to the Georgia who has done this terrible thing :-( Why? Are we so blinded by hate (and probably fear) of Russia? Is it again - of course he is son of the bitch but he is our son of the bitch?

[Nick]

It is indeed reassuring to see that a lot of people have quite decent and well-formed point of view on these events.
However, what we really didn't yet consider is that an overwhelming majority of US or EU population are heavily brainwashed by anti-russian propaganda. Literally, they think that this conflict started when Russian tanks crossed the Roki Tunnel, not almost a day earlier when Georgia fired MLRS and heavy artillery towards civil settlements of South Ossetia and later targeted Russian peacekeepers specificaly.
And even if we can see such intelligent people even among the Conservatives, like Daniel Larison, who can see the picture from the both sides, we still have to consider that should some leader get popular support for his actions, he'll lead those brainwashed people into the streets and squares, not those who think and have their own opinion.
If e.g. Bush will say "the US will no longer tolerate Russian actions, we are firing cruise missiles towards their main cities" - there will be a lot of people in the streets supporting him, right after watching braking news on Fox or CNN.

[Oleg]

Tomorrow in Russian Federation is a memorial day for all viktims of georgian assault upon South Osetia. since Friday late evening the've been killing civilians and peacekeepers from tanks and multiple-rocket launching systems for 16 hours, before any reinforcements from Russia could arrive. more than 2k are dead, and >30k fled to Russia. And yet, there were not a single report from CNN or BBC, except "Georgia breakdown upon separatists". Are women and children separatist too? or if >90% of population in a distinct area vote for separation from Georgia -- are they all being separatist guerillas?
When Russian troops came to protect them, CNN reported "Russia strike georgia", and when russian airforces bomb georgian artillery, which bombed osetians and peacekeepers -- its "russia bombs Gori".

Have a look at all that pictures from Gori -- does it look like any of bombs hit those buildings? no, because those building were set on fire by detonated ammo from bombed artillery, which stayed IN town.

When russian aircraft bomb airfields, from which Georgian aircraft assaulted civilians and peacekeepers -- CNN qotes georgian officials: "Russians bomb Tbilisi!" -- not a single russian bomb hit any civilian building (except for secondary damage, probably)!

so -- go on, and listen more to your ministry of truth.

PS: This is the person, that USA deeply support:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQtPZusv_ZA (from about minute 2:00)
PPS: this is how we see the situation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtXw74TWpWQ&feature=related

[Roman]

Good day. I'm from Russia, the city of Yaroslavl. I am heartened by the comments on this page. I am glad that the people can think independently of the State. I can say the following:
1) Georgia has had 20 years of independence (from 1918 to 1921 and from 1991 to date) and during this time she unleashed a genocide against Ossetians 3!
In just 20 years it has started wars 7! In 1918, she was a free country (immediately proclaimed independence from Moscow) and start a war against Ossetia (regular troops entered and began to loot, kill and rape civilians). U Ossetia army was not only farmers, merchants, artisans. All who remained alive fled to the north. They wrote a letter to Moscow asking to protect them (and see all this today - Georgians killed raping and looting - have destroyed 10 villages (villages) of all young women and girls taken away in an unknown direction - see reports from refugees)
We fully understand that the war unleashed the Saakashvili to support NATO and the United States. With the collapse of the Soviet Union we went along the path of reform and democracy, but with the start of the Chechen war, all embarked on their seats (I understand that you have little information about this, the war has started it with U.S. support - to Chechnya otkololas and opened the way for oil and Caspian gas)
Your policy led neo who want to lead the world, but Russia has for centuries been very independent and strong country (who have not only tried to zavaevyvat - Starting from the Mongols, Germans, Frenchmen and Britons so on. I do not understand the aggression of these countries, Russian want peace and peaceful coexistence of interaction between peoples (in Russia more than 100 nationalities and never in Russia was not any genocide people! We lived peacefully among themselves and with neighbours)
I see (often read your press) that the Russians exhibited barbarians, but let ...
Not our country began to bomb Belgrade, Baghdad and Afghanistan. Do not we foment widespread in the zone of conflict of interests for their benefit.
Today, nobody dares to somnivatsya agresii NATO to the world! (NATO armed Georgians taught - knew who would then all this)
If the Kremlin has waged such a policy would then have.
1) Incitement conflicts in Mexico
2) Armament Iraqi resistance and afganistanskogo new weapons systems (S-400 anti aircraft complexes and individual application)
I think this should be taken in the direction of their actions - that the United States no longer spovadno would maintain such a policy.

[fantik]

Forgive for English, but I had to take advantage on-line of the translator. This text for those who considers, that Russia has wrongfully led itself in South Ossetia, excessively applied force against aggressive Georgia. Present, that in меленьком region of any country of the world - for example, Brazil, there live 90 % of citizens of the USA (people having the American citizenship). And here at night armed forces of Brazil from heavy artillery start to fire at city, is not simple by capture of authority, arrest of the government try to seize power, and destroy the peace population without analysis. What then will make your government what you will speak Americans? Will look at it from? Will support the government which destroys your citizens? Will send Brazil the humanitarian help, and to spit on the citizens? Yes to you enough illusive hints on threat to your population to intrude in the another's country even territorially located on other continent, and Russia has the legitimate right to act with peace-making mission. Your mission in Iraq was not peace-making! Statements against Russia speak yours, that in a similar situation of the USA will spit on the citizens. Russia tried to return force the world in South Ossetia, other way was not. If Russia as well as all world would close eyes to this situation who will answer how many peace in what not повинных people was lost? Unless you do not see, what your government conducts the military policy worldwide, pries into any military conflict, itself creates conflicts? Who supports and finances the Georgian army who trains their soldier? The answer of the USA! For what? To your government instability in the world is favourable, namely in those countries which are directly connected with oil. You kill people for the sake of own prosperity and a survival. You differ from Hitler, only that that try to hide the intentions, but this all turns out worse and worse. I do not think, that simple citizens of America want death of innocent people, stop thoughtlessly to listen, that imposes you the government and TV, you clever people estimate that occurs around of you! The truth considering the information policy-blockade of your government is difficultly to make. Our armies did not leave territory of South Ossetia and on attacked the Georgian cities and villages. Saakashvili purposefully declared obviously a false information an event including even ridiculous charge, that the Russian tanks have approached to Tbilisi when it has appeared, that it were the Georgian tanks! Why on yours Saakashvili does all applications not on the native language, and in English, English for it native can, knowingly it long lived in America and the wife at it the American. Unequivocally, military actions occured in Georgia it is a policy of the USA, Russia - the peacemaker!

[fantik]

Here references in Russian about an event those days in Georgia.

The chronicle of war in South Ossetia: day the first
www. translate. ru/url/tran_url.asp?lang=ru&url=http%3A%2F%2Flenta.ru%2Farticles%2F2008%2F08%2F08%2Fossetia%2F&direction=re&template=General&cp1=NO&cp2=NO&autotranslate=on&psubmit2.x=61&psubmit2.y=12

The chronicle of war in South Ossetia: day the second
www. translate. ru/url/tran_url.asp?lang=ru&url=http%3A%2F%2Flenta.ru%2Farticles%2F2008%2F08%2F09%2Fossetia%2F&direction=re&template=General&cp1=NO&cp2=NO&autotranslate=on&psubmit2.x=61&psubmit2.y=12

The chronicle of war in South Ossetia: day the third
www. translate. ru/url/tran_url.asp?lang=ru&url=http%3A%2F%2Flenta.ru%2Farticles%2F2008%2F08%2F10%2Fossetia%2F&direction=re&template=General&cp1=NO&cp2=NO&autotranslate=on&psubmit2.x=61&psubmit2.y=12

The chronicle of war in South Ossetia: day the fourth
www. translate. ru/url/tran_url.asp?lang=ru&url=http%3A%2F%2Flenta.ru%2Farticles%2F2008%2F08%2F11%2Fossetia%2F&direction=re&template=General&cp1=NO&cp2=NO&autotranslate=on&psubmit2.x=61&psubmit2.y=12

The chronicle of war in South Ossetia: day the fifth
www. translate. ru/url/tran_url.asp?lang=ru&url=http%3A%2F%2Flenta.ru%2Farticles%2F2008%2F08%2F12%2Fossetia%2F&direction=re&template=General&cp1=NO&cp2=NO&autotranslate=on&psubmit2.x=61&psubmit2.y=12

The chronicle of war in South Ossetia: day the sixth
www. translate. ru/url/tran_url.asp?lang=ru&url=http%3A%2F%2Flenta.ru%2Farticles%2F2008%2F08%2F13%2Fossetia%2F&direction=re&template=General&cp1=NO&cp2=NO&autotranslate=on&psubmit2.x=61&psubmit2.y=12

[fantik]

Times OnLine

Georgia loses the fight with Russia, but manages to win the PR war

Victors and vanquished

Winners

— Vladimir Putin: he made it clear to the world that Georgia had been the aggressor and that his soldiers were intervening to stop “genocide”

— Dmitri Medvedev: he announced the end of the war to coincide with the arrival in Moscow of President Sarkozy, providing him with a diplomatic coup

— Russian military might: as a contest it was Russia 10, Georgia 0

Losers

— Mikhail Saakashvili: the picture of the Georgian President cowering from a Russian helicopter said it all

— The Georgian people: thousands paid with their lives or had their homes destroyed because of their Government’s misadventure

— Nato membership: Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the Secretary-General, insisted that the war did not mean that Georgia had sacrificed its chance of joining the alliance, but it will not have improved its chances

— Western leaders: despite the diplomatic efforts and statements of outrage, they were outmanoeuvred by Moscow, unable to offer even a hint of military combat assistance for the would-be Nato member

[Frank]

In Western Georgia, in Kutaisi, the groups from Western Ukraine and Pribaltic fashists are generated which have changed clothes in the Russian form and have received the Russian weapon. Many cities of Western Georgia are now left by the Georgian armies and police, and Russia does not want to begin occupation actually of Georgia, therefore there complete anarhy, the population is given to itself and is without protection.
Under the information of the military journalists, USA by hands óêðàèíöåâ and Balts is prepared grandiose provocation - by(with) mass atrocities among the local population under a kind of the Russian militarians.

All of them, certainly, speak Russian also white, so the Georgian population will not distinguish them from Russian. With these European "misters" a video and photoequipment for record "of «Russian" atrocities.
THE PROVOCATIONS ARE POSSIBLE(PROBABLE) In the NEAR FUTURE!

Georgia is need help! Save country of Saakashvili

[Slave Revolt]

What is confusing for me, as a US citizen, is this: if the Georgian people are such lovers of freedom, then how can they help Bush with his criminal invasion and occupation of Iraq? This is not freedom--it is pure, unmitigated imperialism.

Bush and Saakashvili are clearly war criminals.

Lastly, England and the NATO alliance are the new facists of Europe--they are colonizers and thugs.

Defense is one thing--but trying to surround and and threaten Russia is criminal.

[Saratov]

Kosovo is similar to Georgia but, North Mitrovica is similar to South Ossetia.
As the United States Institute for Peace says, "No solution for Kosovo can last without a solution for Mitrovica."
http://www.usip.org/pubs/usipeace_briefings/2006/0724_mitrovica.html
Serbs number only 130,000 of Kosovo's nearly two million population. Half of Kosovo's Serbs live in North Mitrovica and its hinterland up to the border of Serbia proper.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2007/08/mil-070810-voa06.htm

[Roman]

In South Ossetia almost no Georgians, they were not fired - they just departed because of the conflict. Ossetians left - because this is their land. Those of that Georgians living in Ossetia - they do not touch. They sometimes live in the Ossetian cities and there are absolutely no conflict. Because everybody understands that this is not the desire of the Georgians, and the top line nationalism criminal Georgia.
We are now in all cities collect humanitarian aid convoy has been a lot now recovering in Ossetia. The entire Russian government and people supported Ossetia. West recall and for arming criminals (fascists) Saakashvilli and duplicity.

[Frank]

But we forgot main line debates,elections. They is strongly get involve with a war in South Osetia. Really,the war in South Ossetia - what's it? The escapade of exaltated Georgian President or clearly thought political act? Mr.Saakashvili tries to accuse Russia and such authoritative channels as CNN and BBC help him very much in it. Besides these eminent representatives of western world risk their reputation very much: in addition to saying nothing about the first bombardments of Tzhinvali - watchful eye can easily discern militaries in Georgian uniform and exactly Georgian armament (though this country makes war using the same samples of armament as Russia does, but they're too moth-eaten).What has made the famous channels risk? It was merely somebody’s strong will…
Let’s abstract from situation on the Caucasus for a while and think, who’s interested in it. The first suitable answer (especially in the countries of the CIS) – the Americans! They sponsor a mode of Saakashvili, they create new bases in Europe and besides they merely wish to put a knife to Russia’s throat. But this answer doesn’t reflect the situation in the very USA…
Afghanistan and Iraq make the government of the USA spend milliards of dollars in vain. The number of beggars’s growing, and dollar’s quickly “falling”. If Russia sharply reacts on the infringement of its interests a nd deaths of its citizens (international law allows that under these conditions ), America will come to unpleasant choice: either to find one more “hot point” and to come to an awful economical and international crisis (Russia is not Iraq: there will be several times more brought down planes and destroyed militaries; it’s a risk for it to become “the second Vietnam”), or to give out the most malign enemy of Russia, and as a result it will lose its positions on the territories of the former USSR. The people working in the White house are not so stupid to misunderstand that.
Who else but the USA needs that? Suspicions can fall on Ukraine and the Baltic countries, but the first has enough of its own problems, and the Baltics never carry out their threats (their power is not enough). The most sensible is to suppose that Saakashvili has begun this conflict without his bosses’ permission. But that seems to be a suicide – as Russia can capture even Tbilisi without great efforts. It means that the USA protect Saakashvili, though it contradicts their interests at the moment. How could this happen?
It’s very easy: the elections of the President will be performed on 4, November 2008. The problem of power for the political elite of this country is much higher than the state’s interests. Pre-elective competition is like war, and all the means are suitable at war. Only a week ago the democrat Barak Obama was a relatively certain leader, who supports the idea of priority of internal policy before the foreign policy, where he tends to sensible cooperation with Russia in problems thrilling both countries (international terrorism etc.). And the republican McCane became famous due to his appeal for to exclude Russia from G8. And now let’s think who will make profit before the elections from this war, in which Russia will seem to be an aggressor? And now remember, what party do George Bush and his team represent? All is clear even without explanations… During last three days McCane’s rating grew for approximately 3%, while Obama has begun to make up missed – though now he looks like an unlucky parodist. But both candidates have escaped discussing the problems of America. Neither American people nor world unity are being asked. Thousands of peaceful citizens perish, and they perish not even for the interests of the USA. They lose their lives during a wide PR company. And that spoils the image of the USA as “the main stronghold of democracy”. Besides it surely worsens the country’s attitudes with other countries: if they don’t help Saakashvili, allies like him will get unpleased, and if they take part into the open conflict, the European Union and China can think about the change.

[I'd never say]

This is Obama's fault. If here were up-to-date on the foreign issues he wouldn't be issuing weak statements about them. He would be able to make up his mind. He must realize that as President, what you say and do can make wars.

His weak statements about support for Georgia (because he is uninformed), made Georogia's prez freak out and send troops into South Ossetia before Obama is elected.

We know how the Russians responded. I'm voting for Nader, he's going to be on the ballot in 48 states.

[Constance]

Whatever the historical and political rights and wrongs of ANY conflict,what absolutely horrifies,revolts and disgusts me is the behaviour of so-called 'men' who brutally rape helpless girls and young women,some married and mothers,under the guise of 'fighting'. Shame on them all,they are not 'soldiers' but evil sick cowards with no conscience, decency or respect for themselves or anyone else : I wish they all die a painful and lingering death in the not too distant future, whereevr they come from.

[Dmitry]

The Europe and USA should understand that Russia does not want to start the cold war. The cooperation is necessary for all of us , we need each other. It is the economical fact and the world's safety fact. The USA places the rockets in the territory of Poland , telling us that it is the protection against some countries from the Middle East. But Russia is dissatisfied with it, because we know the real aim of all these.
What would Americans do if we have placed the rockets in Mexico near by? Do to others what you want, they do with you.
Nowadays there is a rigid information war against the Russian Federation: the facts are distorted, gossips are extending. Russia has set of proofs of a genocide of the Ossetian and Abkhazian people since 1990 till 2008. Mr. Saakashvili asserts that he has entered the armies into South Ossetia only after the Russian armour and armies have begun movement to Tbilisi. This information is a parcel of rubbish and does not represent the facts at all. You ask why? I explain:
1) Russia respects territorial integrity of other coutries and throughout 17 years hoped that Georgia can be integrated by peace, humane way with unrecognized republics. But Georgia has chosen another way, an aggression way, the way of force.
2) Russia does not try to dethrone the government and politicians of Georgia because it considers that the Georgian people deserve the head whom they have chosen themself.
3) Russia has reacted and enter the 58th army into the territory of Georgia ONLY AFTER the attack of national Georgian army on August 7th and 8th in South Ossetia. Our forces have military maps and charts which tell us that Georgians had the plan of military capture of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia and Mr. Saakashvili did not worry that hundred thousands of peace citizens live in these territories. "His citizen" as he always says! The Georgian army perfidiously attacked the sleeping Tshinvali by the fiery rain of rockets. Afterwards the world mass media showed that shots making comments that russians attacked Georgia! What a nonsense! Who told you that? Mr. Saakashvili? The man who killed about 2000 people during the night when they have slept. 20 hours the rockets were falling down in the poor Tshinvali! And then he said that russians bomed and destroyed a beautiful town - Tshinvali. Is it not a hypocrisy? Ask any ossetian who bomed Tshinvali and you''ll get the answer. Each russian was upset by cynicism of the TV presenter on Fox-News channel which has shut up the small Ossetian girl and her aunt who spoke the truth! It's unfair.

More than 2000 people were dead. About our 150 peace keepers have been killed. Russia is completely not agree with the opinion that the recognition of republics Abkhazia and South Ossetia will bring a disbalance in the Caucasian region and will lead to military operations. For a maintenance of peace and calmness in that region Russia has approved the desire of the Abkhazia and South Ossetia peoples to be independent at last.

Behind the back of Georgia there is Europe and the USA. Georgia, feeling the impunity, is capable to provoke the huge world conflict, which nobody needs. We ask the West to recognise the fact of a genocide, destruction of the Osset and Abkhazian people and to condemn actions of the Georgian government.
For Mr. Saakashvili the paramount problem is the introduction into the NATO. How you think for what? For NATO armies there will be nothing else to do than to stand up for an unfair member of the NATO (Georgia) that will lead to the Third World War. Saakashvili achieves it. He misinforms the West, he deceives you and his own people. Investigate this incident, ask for proofs in Russian Federation, send reporters and journalists to Abkhazia, South Ossetia, show to the world the point of view different from Michael Saakashvili's point of view. It's time to know the truth unless it become even worse.