Meanwhile, over in Georgia

But the most-read stories on a website are usually going to be the quirkies, aren't they? The GBP doesn't really need to read the the BBC news site's brief stuff on Russia/Georgia when it's on every TV and radio news bulletin and the papers have plenty of in-depth stuff for those who want it.

I'd like to see Moscow-based Mitya's answer to Ned's question before it gets buried and forgotten in this thread

Holbrooke was just on CNN repeating the admin line that "Russia started this"

I'm waiting on Mitya's answer as well -- we need to know more about this from the perspective he has and has access to!

so now bush wants to use military aircraft and ships to send aid to the region. is he fucking crazy?

Sully's been on fire the last couple of days:

It's possible to have differing views on how to handle Russia, although, depressingly, Obama seems to take the maximalist position of bringing Georgia into NATO. But what interests me about McCain's position is not so much the content as the tone. Check out the video above. McCain clearly believes that a nasty spat in the Caucasus is somehow the defining struggle of the next generation. He speaks in ominous tones about Russia, a state he obviously regards as some dark menace on the verge of dominating the planet. He speaks of faraway countries about which we know nothing in the manner of some Wilderness Years Churchill worrying about Hitler.

All of this is quite potty. Russia is no longer the Soviet Union. You'd think conservatives would understand this distinction. There is a difference between totalitarian states seeking world expansion and authoritarian petro-states in demographic collapse bullying neighboring states because of perceived humiliations.

Look: every Republican wants to be Churchill. But this is not 1938. And Putin's Russia is not Hitler's Germany. You'll have to find another fantasy on which to base a campaign.

Mud phobia pig gets its own boots

lol this story is still around

Something not quite thorough about "Russia's not dangerous so give 'em Georgia."

So have the tanks reached Tbilisi yet or is that more Saakashvili bull?

Tensions rose in Georgia today after an advancing Russian military convoy sparked concerns of a return to hostilities. President Bush today announced he is sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to France and then to Tbilisi, Georgia, in reaction to the conflict.

lol thanks for the throrough itinerary

so now bush wants to use military aircraft and ships to send aid to the region. is he fucking crazy?

I just saw the statement and this is nothing if not provocative (or maybe just naive). Russia now has ample opportunities to orchestrate 'incidents' in the Eastern Black Sea. Russia gets to do what it wants because the US has no ability to project power and Europe wants to stay warm this winter. I can't see any situation playing out where Russia doesn't 'win' by whatever standards it sets for winning.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7559252.stm

o shit

yeah, but is this world war III??!!

fucking NUKES people!

Can we for a moment NOT assume that we're about to see Threads all over again, thanks?

They're delivering aid. It's the least they can do. Chill, jeremy.

yeah, but russia isn't gonna stand for this, is it? they're going to see it as an act of aggression.

Five to four says the US told the Russians first before the public announcement.

more reassuring words please, i'm having a coronary, here.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but what exactly were Russian peacekeepers, who had been stationed in S. Ossetia for 15 years, supposed to do when the Georgian military invaded Tskhinval? Their entire purpose was to prevent such an attack from succeeding!

Five to four says the US told the Russians first before the public announcement.

Undoubtedly, but it still throws the Russians another grievance/bargaining chip.

Berlin Airlift, jeremy.

the russians will authorise this before hand you mean?

They will be delivering biscuits and blankets, or whatever it is they deliver in these circumstances, not bombs

I'm just saying we've fed their enemies from military aircraft before and no bombs went off.

More like, they can accuse US of brining in troops/arms whatever, then blockade, the US has to back down, Russia wins.

It's humanitarian aid, people! C'mon.

us doesn't back down, bye bye planet

How much you guys want to bet that actual Ossetians see 0 of this aid

Jeremy, since you are clearly NOT interested in being talked down from your ledge...

i dunno, nobody else feeling anxious?

Nope

the US is not interested in a military confrontation with Russia and has nothing to gain from it. they'll drop their food baskets and that'll be it. Russia may see it as a minor provocation and just use it for more grandstanding.

http://sandradodd.com/game/hangman.gif

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE JEREMY

OMG OMG OMG

DIE

DURAN DURAN?

STORE AN AN

Yeah how interested is Russia in a military confrontation with the US?

And vice-versa?

like either country is gonna nuke each other over fucking GEORGIA. no way.

sorry, guys. just a little tense. goes back to cold war fears as a kid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amerika_(TV_miniseries)

I saw most of that TV series, god help me. Talk about a fantasy! (Though I remember how the 'punk' kid was trying to show how edgy he was by wearing a jacket with the Taiwanese flag on it.)

that was a real low moment for Kriss Kristofferson

it was a low moment for everyone

in

AMERIKA

I was really thinking they might go whole hog and get after them pipes but now they haven't and this is all just a wash

it was funny when a georgian emigrant in atlanta decided to host the georgian president's web page in georgia, though, to stave off those dastardly hackers

This doesn't put up a cuban missile crisis or even berlin airlift level of crisis, this just gives Russia the chance to flex it's muscles and strong arm the US at a particularly weak time and I don't doubt it will take the opportunity.

No but it's a crisis all right, with Mr. Saakashvili determined to drag us into this (I was watching this on CNN myself but got irritated when the sophistry and question-dodging became cringe-worthy):

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/world/europe/14saakashvili.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Asked about the cease-fire, Mr. Saakashvili said the Russians “never meant a cease-fire.”

“This is the kind of cease-fire they had in Afghanistan,” he added.

“They even steal toilet seats, I’ve been hearing,” he said.

He made repeated references not only to the Soviet Union’s war in Afghanistan in the 1970s, but also to the invasion Prague in 1968 and even repeated references to the German invasion of Poland before the start of World War II.

As for how he planned to halt the formidable Russian forces if they indeed headed toward Tbilisi, he said, “This will not be only Georgian troops” but an “all-out defense.”

“Freedom is worth fighting for,” he said, adding that his country was doing this “not only for us but for the rest of Europe.”

Asked if the White House was doing enough, he said: “I just spoke to President Bush. Frankly, some of the first statements were seen as a green light for Russia. They were kind of soft.”

He said, “Georgia is the first test case.”

He said the United State should be doing more. “We should realize what is at stake for America; America is losing the whole region,” he said.

“Who else can stand up for liberty in the world?”

As for reports that he was warned not to instigate a conflict by sending troops to South Ossetia, Mr. Saakashvili said angrily: “I’m sickened of this cynical and unfounded allegation. Our troops were always there. It’s our territory. They’re killing our people.”

He dismissed allegations that Georgia started the fighting. “How can we attack Russia?” he asked. “That’s the ludicrous thing.”

Meanwhile the Russian troops are supposedly an hour from Tblisi

Saakasvili is such a douchebag